i STEAM COAL - Clpdigital.org

Because a Russian miner, who had quit some
days previously to go to work in another mine.
did not get his own room back when he was reemployed,
a strike was declared at one of the Ellsworth
Coal Co.'s mines at Ellsworth, Pa. The
complainant interested several of his countrymen
and they in turn, by misrepresentation, succeeded
in involving the checkweighman and some of the
English-speaking miners. Upon tne refusal of
the officials of the coal company to right the
alleged grievance there was some disorder on the
part of the foreign element among the miners
but it was quickly quelled by the civil authorities.
President Dolan, Vice-President Bellingham and
National Organizer McKay, of the miners' organization,
addressed meetings of the strikers after
making a thorough investigation and definitely informed
them that they were wrong and that if
they did not return to work immediately the union
would assist the company to fill their places.
* * *
The mine workers of sub-district No. 1 of the
Second bituminous district held their convention
at Ebensburg, Pa., during the week beginning
February 27. Thirty-five delegates, representing
6,500 miners, were present. In the election of
officers. President Michael McTaggart and Secretary-Treasurer
Patrick McCarthy were both beaten.
David Irvine, of Hastings, was elected president;
James Vallery, of Barnesboro, vice-president; William
Marsden. of Barnesboro, secretary-treasurer,
and John Welch, of Barnesboro, board member of
district No. 2. The convention pledged the miners'
financial and moral support toward the establishment
of the Miners' accident hospital of Northern
Cambria county.
* * *
Mine Inspector T. K. Adams reports that the
output of the Third bituminous district of Pennsylvania,
last year, was 3,213.000 tons. Thirteen
new mines were opened and five were abandoned.
The mines of the district employ 7,100 men. There
were 12 fatal accidents. The output of the district
showed a decrease of 252,782 tons, due
mainly to the strike at the mines of the United
States Steel Corporation. The production of the
district by counties was as follows: Armstrong.
1,362,924; Mercer, 632,506; Clarion, 582,462; Butler,
453,828; Lawrence. 171,293.
* * *
An insurance scheme started by miners in the
Illinois district has received the endorsement of
the national body of United Mine Workers of
America, and it may be extended to take in other
districts, where conditions are favorable.
THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN. 41
The executive boards of three anthracite districts
of the United Mine Workers went into conference
at Hazleton, pa., on March 10 to discuss
the recent court decision upholding the miners'
certificate law and to formulate measures for defending
the statute in the further proceedings to
be taken to test its constitutionality.
* * *
President Gompers, of the American Federation
of Labor, has warned the labor organizations in
the federation to steer clear of the Debs socialist
gathering booked for June 27. Mr. Gompers
tersely remarks that a glance over the list of those
who signed the call should be sufficient to show
the aims and objects of the affair.
* * *
The anthracite mines are taking active steps to
prevent the repeal of the act of July 15, 1897,
which provides for the protection of the lives of
miners by prohibiting any miner to work in any
anthracite mine until after he has secured a certificate
showing that he is competent to fill the
position of a miner.
* * *
An increased force of organizers has been sent
into the Connellsville region to endeavor to organize
the coke workers and miners of that field.
* * *
The Somerset Coal Co. has over 1,000 men at
work at its mines on the Salisbury branch of the
Baltimore & Ohio near Meyersdale, Pa.
* * *
It is estimated that there are over 2,000,000 coal
miners in the world.
Dominion Company To Compete.
The Dominion Coal Co. has decided to invade
the Toronto and Western Ontario eoal markets.
Up to the present time the market of these districts
has been regarded as belonging to the American
coal companies, owing to their being able to
reach it by the water route across the lake. The
Dominion conipany directors hold the opinion that
the market should belong to the Canadian companies,
and when secured would enable them to
greatly increase their output. The Dominion company,
in addition to securing a special class of
boats to handle the inland traffic from Montreal
to Toronto, will also construct large coal elevators
in the harbor of Toronto. The principal customers
will include a number of the industrial concerns
with which some of the interests of the coal
company are also identified. Toronto will be used
as the principal distributing center for Ontario.
The company has also made contracts in Prescott,
Brockville, Kingston and other towns between
Toronto and Montreal.