Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-12
STRIKES OF EARLY DAYS.
History of Coal Situation Reviewed
From Opening OF Fields.

0foiu OpSulug OF Eleius-
-FreH, the New York Tribune
Practically all of the anthracite coat
mined in the United States comes from less
than $50 square miles OF tsrritory--to be ex-
act, ass square miles-fyins between the
Delaware and Susauehania rivers. and in
Guiding the counties of Luzerne. I.aeka-
wanna. schuylkill and Carbon. In Pennsyi-
vania- The three districts into which the
coal field is divided are Known as the wyo-
ming. Lehigh and Schuylkin regions. While
the existence OF hard coal has been traced
back to 1853. the earliest record OF its use
as fuel is In 1871. although II did not be-
come an industry. even IL, limited sense.
until the opening of the Summit Hin mines
In 1870, and the beginning of the operation
Of the Schuylkill canal from Port Carbon
to Philadelphia, five years later.
A popularity of the hard coal desposit Is
that the change Is sharply made on leav-
ing the mountainsides. where Ii Is i'm
bedded. into valleys where not single
pound can be found.
In the early days OF the anthracite Indus
try wages were low, until the use of an
thracfte for smelling purposes and the
opening of new railroads gave them up
ward tendency. During, the civil war.
when there was a scarcity of labor. the
wages advanced almost 20 per cent Toward
the close OF the war contract miners made
as high as $50 and 500 a month. Later
the decrease came discomfort. An organi-
sation was formed and leader elected in
the person OF John Sfney. The organization
was known as the Miners and I.aborers
Benevolent Association. Siney was its first
president, and by that fact leader of the
miners, as John Mitchell Is today. In those
days the employers lost no time In argu-
ing question with the miners When they
said no. that ended Ii.
Ali attempts to hold conferences or sub
nit the question were out or order. Tho
employers said wages could not be raised,
and the subject rested there until the
miners, under Sineys prodding. clinched
their argument with shutting down the
mines. A strike was ordered. the first
strike In the anthracite region, to go into
sued on April 20. The strike included all
classes OF workers except those engaged
In timbering and repairing. The suspen-
sion was general throughout the anthracite
region, with the exception Of the Penn
sylvania Coal Company and the Delaware.
Lackawanna and Western Coal Company.
These miners had decided to postpone sus-
upper regions this first strike continued
from April to August-avs months. Raf
striction OF output was the main object Of
the strike. as stated later on.
Lehigh and schuylin districts In 1859. When
the operators found that these scales work.
ed to their disadvantage. they lowered the
bases" whereupon the next year there
for several months. In the mean tirn6
the operators in the northern field, by pay
ing better wages, kept their men at york,
and obtained permanently much OF the
trade OF the upper regions.
Arbitration was first introduced into the
anthracite district in 1HTt, after a series
Of disastrous strikes. which soreiy affected
both the operators and the rnineys Tho
arbitration was first tried in the Schuykili
region. where. under Judge Elwell. who was
arbiter. provision was made for regular
boards of arbitration to decide future dis
putes.
8 In this year was the first combination
Of the railroad companies to compel individe
ual operators to pay the companies scale OF
wages. In 1878 the operators and the COM
restrict production, The sliding scale OF
wages that went into effect In 1870 was
continued In 1872 by means of an agree
ment made between the Anthracite Board
OF Trade and the Miners and Laborers' AS.
ISOLATION. 1t was revised in 1874 and the
wages fixed on basis OF $3.50 @ ton al
Fort Carbon as a minimum,
with the exception CT one year 1875
wnen there was trouble between the men
and the operators. this sliding scale remaln-
ea IN force until October Of 1900. The strike
OF 1876, which was ordered in 1878 by the
association. against a reduction In wages
lasted six months, and during these months
the anthracite region saw more real misery
and poverty than 1T has seen on any strike
since. On anuary I, 1888, the Knights Of
Labor. which was now the dominant factor
In labor organizations, ordered a strike
Inc miners went back to work inside of
two months at the old rate of wages This
was staggering blow to the knights Of
LaD0r. Inc next strike was the six weeks'
conflict of 1900. and later came the long,
drawn-out strike of 1902. Both strikes left
the miners. especially those with large
families In an impoverished condition.