Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-04-01
PLENTY OF COAL
FOR LOCAL USES
Operators and Dealers Prepare
for Shut down Which Took
Place Last Night.
SAY THEY'LL SOON RESUME
Old Wage Scale Has Expired and
Miners Are Idle Pending Final
Answer to Demands.

The coal mines OF Rock Island and
Mercer counties, from which this city
receives the bulk Of its fuel supply,
closed last night, joining with those
throughout the state of Illinois and
other sections OF the country where
the business is conducted in agreement
with the United Mine Workers.
The union miners declared the walk
out was not q strike. but merely a sus-
pension of work pending an arrange
ment between themselves and the op-
year. the old scale having expired with
the month of March. The men are de-
manding an increase in pay, and GER
tain changes in working conditions
Confidence was expressed by the OPP
orators that there will be no general
coal famine. large supplies Of coal hav-
ing been stored in anticipation OF the
tie-up. While the miners predicted the
suspension would be cut short by a
prompt signing Of the wage scales,
some of the operators maintained the
mines might be kept closed for a
month. go days, or longer.
Those That Are Idle.
Among the mines nearby that closed
last night were those Of the Coal Val
ley Mining company at Sherrard and
Cable; those Of ]. J. Pryce & Son, the
Volunteer Coal company, the Eureka
and Section One, In the vicinity of
Coal Valley. One Of the largest Of the
local dealers said:
I'VE estimate that there is sufacient
coal already mined 10 supply this To-
cality for two months, should the
strike extend over that long period.
The railroads have gathered In q plen-
tiful supply and there is considerable
stacked above ground at the mines.
believe that the operators are behind
the shutdown and are encouraging 1t.
Every concern and individual is stock
ed up with coal and none will buy dur
ing April anyway. The strike time is
an unlucky one for the miners and
lucky one for the operators In my
opinion the miners are already being
well paid. They receive more wages
than any other class OF labor.
Though this is the case, predict
that, when the time to reopen the
mines comes. the operators will grant
at least a part of the increase which
the miners ask
An Factories Cared For.
A railroad freight agent who has
charge Of this territory said: There
are mountains Of coal in the yards Of
all local factories and railroads. They
need fear no shortage. Locally the
people and companies are well sup
piled. Some have more than they will
need. The shutdown amounts to no
more than a temporary rest Every
body has so much coal that none will
buy, and it Is practically a case Of
having to shut down until the demand
eats down the supply"
The miners officials will meet Tues |
day in Springfield to consider the stu
alton.
Demands of the Miners.
The miners, under the contract |
which has expired, earned $3.50 to 81 |
a day of eight hours. They demf<d |
an increase Of 10 cents a ton. They |
also ask the operators to pay the ex-
pense of the shot firing. The opera
tors say IL they grant the demands the |
public eventually must pay the differ |
ence.
President Alfred J. Moorehead Of the |
Illinois Coal Operators association,
predicts the mines will be closed for
at least 80 days. The period OF idle |
ness, however, is indefinite, he says.
Miners Have $71s,0oO Fund.
The Illinois miners have a fund of |
900. The policy Of the miners will |
be determined at Tuesdays meeting at |
Springfield, and It then will be decided |
the miners will treat with in |
dividual operators or whether the en- |
tire state will be handled through the |
general executive committees. 81
No disorder is looked for, unless the
operators try to resume operations |
with nonunion miners.
The order to cease work was issued |
by the officers of the Illinois Miners |
OF which Duncan McDon- |