New Britain herald., 1926-02-01
OVER l42 MILLION
 IS LOST IN WAGES
Coal Strike Enters Its Sixth
 Month Today

Philadelphia, Feb. P-The hard coal strike entered Its sixth month today with the deadlock apparently as tight as when the suspension was ordered.
 IL has already cost tho l5S,000 mine workers approximately sl49,- 4j0,000 in wages and has caused curtailment In coal production Of Sl.9S0,QO0 tons. The loss Of the operators in profits and the cost Of maintenance and other expenses in connection with the upkeep of the mines has never been made public. Loss to the hard coal carrying rail- roads in gross revenues Is estimated al $90.000.OO0.
 Except that the joint negotiating committee of operators and miners have resumed their conferences there is nothing to indicate that peace Is near, So far the negotia- tors have made but little headway. Plan after plan has been rejected, either by one side or the other, and when they adjourned Saturday to meet again tomorrow they had thrown the last definite peace pro- posal into the discard.
 As long as the six operators and six representatives of the mine work CTS comprising the negotiating com- mittee. are around the conference table, however. there is always hope that they will find way to break the deadlock. When they parted Saturday night the question of ar bitration still was the chief stumbling block
 The operators suggested before adjournment that each side con- tinue to work out a propositnon from the plans already considered that would be acceptable to both groups.
 c operators want a contract with a provision for changing the wage rates once a year In case economic conditions warrant and ar bitrations in the event a readjust- ment could not be agreed upon, while the miners arc opposed to any form of arbitration. The men would accept the old wage scale. but If q readjustment is suggested by either side during the contract period they would have it made by the operators and miners themselves without ar
 bitration.
 Anthracite mining measures be- fore the Pennsylvania general assem.
 bly, are due for an airing this week, but with little prospect of either the hor~e or senate reaching vote within the next ten days.
 Wilkes Barre has developed a group of miners" " who are working a mine near Devils Elbow ! abandoned by the Rcd Ash Goa company. More than 100 striking miners are engaged in the work Tunnels are being timbered anc ' driven by modern mining methods [ and from so 10 125 tons of coal k : being brought to the surface daily ! and Carted by trucks 10 consumers Squatter Miners
 years ago the Red Ash com < pany surrendered it's charter and dis solved owing 10 fire in the lower , veins of its workings which could , , not be brought under control. So far the "squatter miners" have not been molested, the authorities ir Laurel Run borough, in which tho land is located. Refusing to allow the mining to be interrupted on th'
 ground that the company is non
 existent and no taxes have been pait for two years.
 Four men were killed yesterday a
 Archibald while digging coal to keel y their families warm. Only one 0 them was an experienced miner, th' others being carpenters. A hug boulder overhanging stripping
 operation on East Mountain crushe,
 out their lives.