The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-17
COAL WASHERIES TO RESUME.
NINE DINNERS WILL TEST THE
LOYALTY or TIE MEN.

No Attempt TO BE Made for the Present
10 Omen the Mines-MOre Anthracite
Being Released Dealers Sull He
lleye That n Strike VIII he Declared.
Most Of the anthracite COIL carrying
companies will start work at their wash
cries to-day. While no mining is contem-
plated at present, this will be a test of the
| ability OF President Mitchell Of the United
Mine Workers TO keep the unskilled men out.
When the suspension Of work was ordered
the men at the washeries we're among the
workers included to quit work.
The following statement on behalf Of
the operators was made last evening; .
To-day being q holiday among the
people in the mining districts, little work
was done, but tomorrow a number OF the
washeries will be started UP and more will
be started next day, Thu Delaware, Lacka-
wanna and Western Company has had
it's washeries going for some days. and is
turning out 5000 tons of washery coal every
day. The Delaware and Hudson and the
Erie companies have also started washeries.
Meantime no attempt is being made to
mine coal, but on account Of the scarcity
Of the small steam sizes it was decided to
start the washeries.
THE companies are also arranging to
relea SO more anthracite. The Lehigh Val
ley company is sending is 1000 tons a day
to market, and the Reading company gave
orders to the agents last Friday to ship coal
to market freely. We are getting few,
II any, new men at the washeries. as the
old employees Of the companies are be-
ginning to apply for work. The companies
are making no effort to get the men to go
to work at the washeries. They are going
back voluntarily.
When the operators gave their last
proposition to Mitchell it was understood
by Mitchell that it was final and that the
previous offer to continue the agreement
under the award of the anthracite strike
commission for three years longer had
been withdrawn. 1t was stated yesterday
that the miners can have the latter as an
alternative offer.
Well known coal dealers who we're seen
yesterday said that they still believe
that there will be a strike. One dealer
who is looked on az an authority said:
Il nave kept in touch both with the opera
tors and the mine workers and the idea
that there will be a settlement is considered
very improbable. In fact all we'll posted
men have settled down to the idea that
there ia to be a strike. All the companies
are not releasing coal. Three of the largest
of the companies nave not released any
anthracite for a fortnight. For some
reason domestic anthracite, the demand
for which had eased off last week, is again
at e premium, but the retail price remains
the same"
Health Commissioner Darlington was
asked yesterday if the anthracite strike
takes place il the smoke ordinance will
be enforced to the letter.
THE ordinance was not made by me-"
he said, but it is my duty to enforce it. l
don't cross any bridges until | come to
them. The conditions must be met as
they arrive, whether the strike takes place
in the summer or continues until the winter
months, when the law might become a
burden. The smoke ordinance is gener-
ally misunderstood The ordinance is not
against the burning of soft coal, but against
maintaining a nuisance by coal smoke"