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34 THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN.
MITCHELL ON THE STRIKE SCARE.
Regarding the recent sensational stories of a
threatened coal strike, John Mitchell, president of
the United Mine Workers, has made the following
statement;
"I believe some apprehension was caused by a report
originating in Pittsburgh that I had sent
T. L. Lewis, vice president of the United Mine
Workers, to arrange with the officers for a general
strike which was supposed to offset a lockout on
the part of the anthracite operators. The strike
was alleged to involve the bituminous and anthracite
miners, and to be effective in a month or two.
"There was no truth whatever in that statement
Mr. Lewis was in Pittsburgh on other business.
All the bituminous miners in Arkansas, Missouri.
Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan. Western and
Central Pennsylvania, and some other points, have
agreements with the operators' association until
April 1, when the award of the anthracite coal commission
expires. It is only natural that when
so many men are released from contract obligations
the public would feel some anxiety. And
regardless of the fact that both operators and
miners may be, and I believe are, desirous of renewing
these contracts as they are now, or modifying
them as the conditions of the coal trade may
warrant, there is, of course, an element of danger
that they may not agree. There is the same risk
in our affairs that there might be in any other.
I am sure that whatever differences may exist between
the anthracite operators and the mine
workers can be readily adjusted if the two interests
will make any efforts to come together in fairness.
"I feel that the last strik of 1902 was a lesson
not soon to be forgotten by miners or operators.
It is. of course, natural that the miners and operators
of the anthracite district would make such
preparations as are necessary to defend themselves
against any emergency that might arise next
spring. Both miners and operators are doing this,
the former by organizing their men, the latter by
stocking coal. But these preparation s do not
necessarily mean there is any danger of a conflict.
They are the precaution of prudent men. In our
case, the indications are that every miner in the
anthracite field will be in the organization by
April 1. They are joining now in thousands."
Low fares to G. A. R. Encampment at Denver.via
Pennsylvania Lines.
August 29th, to September 3d, inclusive, excursion
tickets to Denver, Colorado, account
National Encampment Grand Army of the Republic,
will be sold from all ticket stations on Pennsylvania
Lines. For full information regarding
fares, time of trains, etc., apply to J. K. Dillon.
Distri-rt Passenger Agent. 515 Park Building,
Pittsburgh, Pa.
TO DETERMINE OWNERSHIP OF
COAL BENEATH THE RIVERS.
Judge Joseph Buffington in the United States
court of Pennsylvania recently granted an injunction
against the Bessemer Coal & Coke Co., of
Pittsburgh, restraining that concern from mining
coal on what is termed government property, but
which simply means mining coal under the river.
which it is claimed is property of the government
and cannot be taken without special grant
from Congress. The Bessemer company's coal,
which is being mainly used for coking purposes,
lies near the Monongahela river and some of the
leads have been extended beneath the bed of the
stream. Several attempts have been made in the
past by coal men to secure special grants from
Congress that would give them this coal under
water, but have always failed.
If the government takes the stand that the coal
under the river beds of the Monongahela, Allegheny
and Ohio rivers is property of the national
government, and then seeks to recover for all
coal that has been taken from under these streams
in the past, the damages would amount to millions
of dollars at present coal prices.
The chief defense of the coal men has been that
they owned property on both sides of the stream
and had a right to go under it as long as they did
not interfere with the navigation of the waterway.
On the other hand, it has been held by all those
opposed to this that the government owns not
only the navigable streams, but all that is under
them including mineral rights, and that to take
coal from beneath the stream was taking Uncle
Sam's property.
SAYS MINE FOREMAN SHOT AT HIM.
At the recent session of the hearing in the case
of the Southern Immigration Society against C. S.
Schwartz, an employment agent, before Frederick
C. L. Keating, commissioner of licenses in New
York City, John Hotters, who claims to have been
employed in an Alabama mine, the miners of which
were on a strike testified that he was shot at by
a foreman and that while he worked in the mines
he was in constant fear of his life. "One day,"
he said, "I asked the foreman for the money due
me and he pulled a revolver and fired at me three
times, aiming at my feet, 'Dance,' he shouted, 'or
you get no money.' He struck another man on
the head with the butt of his revolver and knocked
him senseless.
"At night the hut we slept in was guarded by
men with guns, who were to shoot if we tried to
get away. I escaped after two weeks."
The Foster Grain Co., of Germantown, la., is
adding coal to its business.