The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1910-04-05
100000 BITUMINOUS COAL !.
DIGGERS BECOME idle
The Industries of Eleven States
Are Affected.
WAGE CONTRACTS HAD EXPIRED
Miners Quit Work For an Enforced
Holiday of Unknown Duration ON
Anniversary of Eight-Hour Day
Good Spirit Manifested.

indianapolis, Ind Celebrating the
anniversary of the institution Of the
eight-hour day in the mines of the
country, 100000 bituminouS coal
miners faced an enforced holiday OF
unknown duration.
In many States the two-year wage
contract expired at midnight, and the
miners quit the coal pits, demanding
that their new contract must provide
for wage increase of 5.55 per cent
ton on screened coal and an equiva-
lent increase on run of mine coal
President Lewis, of the United
MineAWorkers of America, said that
100000 men had quit work.
1--WE feel, however" continued the
miners president, "that the prospect
is very satisfactory for the miners.
In many districts 1t is now only
question of the miners and operators
sitting down together and talking over
business.
Gin Eastern Ohio it is reported to
MS that three of the largest companies
are ready to sign the contract we for
mulated at our recent meeting in Gin
cinnati.
GIN Indiana and the Hooking dis
trict of Ohio we will reach a settle
ment next week. There probably will
be more difficulty in Western Penn
sylvania and in Illinois, where the
powder and shot firers' wage question
is involved"
The men affected by the "suspen-
sion" according to President Lewis,
are distributed as follows:
Western and Central Pennsylvania,
100000; Ohio, $4,000; Indiana, 49,
900; West Virginia, 10000; Illinois,
10000; Iowa, 5000; Michigan,
5000; Kansas, Arkansas, Texas and
Oklahoma, $4,000; Colorado, 5000;
Western Kentucky, 5000. Total,
100000.
The tonnage of the various States
is estimated at: Pennsylvania, 150,-
100000 tons; Illinois, 50,000,00O
tons; Ohio, 30,000,000 tons; Indiana,
10000 900 tons; Iowa, 100000
tons; Kansas, 100000 tons; Mis-
souri,, 100000 tons; Oklahoma, 81
100000 tons; Arkansas, 1000 900
tons; Texas, 100000 tons; Michi-
gan, 100000 tons, and Colorado
and Kentucky with small output,
making the total production in excess
of 272 900. 900 tons.
The total bituminous coal produc-
ton in the United States in the year
1907. which was the banner year, was
394,759,112 short tons. In 1908 the
production, due to the trade depres-
sion, fell off about 60.000,000 tons
but last year it increased close to the
1907 total. The production OF an
thracite amounts to approximately
S0,000,000 tons year.
News of the first victory for the
miners was received by the Nationa!
officers of the United Mine Workers
from Brazil, the centre of the Indiare
block coal district. At the close of
secret conference between the miners
and operators of that district, it was
announced that the operators would
grant a wage increase of five cents a
ton to the miners and that there
would be no strike.
The Western Brick Company, CT
Danville. ILL.,, which mines its owr
coal and employees several hundred
men, was granted permission by the
United Mine Workers of Illinois to
continue mining coal with it's present
force, pending the signing of the new
wage contract. The Hegeler plant at
Lasalle also will be permitted to con-
tinue to mine oritsown consumption