Albuquerque morning journal., 1922-06-24
HERR|N, ILL.,, IS
A TYPICAL COAL!
MINING CENTER
Scene Of Recent Riots Has a
Population of 10,986; Is
Located in the Little
Egypt District.
(By The Associated press.)

Herrin, ILL.,, June 23 (by the AS
sociated Press) This typical Goa
mining town is approximately 10C
miles southwest of st. Louis. Its
population lacks just a few persons
of being 1900, the exact number
according to the latest population
statistics being 10,9S6. 1t is esti-
mated that easily nine-tenths OF
these people are miners or are di-
rectly or indirectly coal mining in
dustry.
Foreigners, notably Italians,
comprise. 1t Is said. more than one-
third Of the population Of the
county. Many of the foreigners
are naturalized.
Three railroads run into the city,
the Chicago, Burlington and Quin-
cy, the Illinois Central and the
Missouri Pacific.
Marion, IL miles distant, Is the
county seat and has a population
of 1852. 1t is the largest city
near the scene of the killings.
Coal Mines Are Numerous.
Most of the 449 square miles
area Of williamson county is dot
ted with bituminous coal mines.
There are about 35 of the largest
mines in the country within the
county's borders. Strip or surface
collieries in the county number
four, but are considered small
mines in comparison with the deep
shafts.
The county, which is in the part
of Illinois called Little Egypt"
has been noted for minor disorders
at the mines in the past, because of
which it has been called Bloody"
Williamson county.
southern illinois with probably
the largest number of mines in any
section in the country is noted for
its mining industry, and differs
from the central and northern por-
tions Of the state which abounds
with farm lands. During normal
times virtually all of the 10000
in the Illinois miners
union are at work in the mines i'm
this part of the state. Many of the
miners own their own homes, while
the remainder live in houses con-
structed ,and owned by the coal
companies
When the strike began April 1.
the miners seemingly welcomed the
occasion as a vacation. The two
months of the strike were spent by
the men in repairing their homes.
fishing, visiting and some of the
foreigners, mainly the Italians, de-
clared their Intention of visiting
relatives in Europe.
The first payments of strike BEN
efits were paid to the striking men
about two weeks ago. Each miner
was given s5
Few Disorders Reported.
Although the men have been IN
strike for nearly three months few
disorders In connection with the
Walkout were reported from the
tistrict until reports reached the
members of the plan of the South
ern Illinois Coal company to open
strip six miles east of here. This
place. WIN
There is no telephone or te1e-
graph communication to the min.
ng zone from either Herrin or Ma
ion The mine is located close
% q place called Trendshaw Cross
ng, midway between this city and
Marion. ' anu
When plans for the opening of
ne surface pit materialized and
men, who claimed they were MEM
'ers or the steam shovep men,a
inion, were imported from Chi
ago, miners gathered in grouns
X ,Xcitedly discussing the situation
me opening Of the mine, which
vas accomplished with tho aid Of
lrmed guards and a machine pun
vas the sole topic of discussion
Ihousands Of tons of coal were
aken from the surface pits ana
'ome or 1t shipped away. local of~
1cials Of the Illinois miners, MI.
against the action,
but the mining went on uninter.
,uptedly until word came from
lonn u, Lewis, president of the
Jhited Mine Workers of America
nat ne men working in the mine
mould be considered as Common |
'trike breakers" and that the steam
novels mems union to which the
men SAID they belonged had bean
ion of Labor. euera
Several hours after this mas
age was received, the entire COW.
= :, oeveloped nervous tension and
he massacre followed. anu