Coal Strike Deepens Amid Shortages
The coal-miners’ strike is becoming more serious as the supplies of coal are being rapidly reduced. Every industry in which this fuel plays a part is feeling the shortage and the increase in price. The great army of anthracite coal-miners has been increased by the addition of thousands of miners in the West Virginia mines. This new strike is affecting every coal railroad in that State as well as navigation on the rivers. The engineers, firemen, and pumpmen in the anthracite region have now been called out, and the mines are filling up with water. If the strike should be declared off now, it would be some time before the mines could be operated on account of their flooded condition. A number of large factories will have to shut down soon if the strike continues. The president is interesting himself in the strike, but so far nothing definite has been accomplished in the matter of reaching an agreement. The great strike of stock-yard employees in Chicago has come to an end, the company having granted the demands of the men. This action was brought about after several days of rioting and bloodshed. The company was unable to move its meat-wagons, with but few exceptions, even with the protection of large numbers of policemen. The threatened strike of all the employees of the packing companies in Chicago brought the strike to a close. In one day alone 150 persons were more or less seriously injured in the rioting incident to the company’s attempt to move its meat-wagons. The large hotels as well as the individual consumers were unable to secure supplies of meat, and a large number of butcher shops were compelled to close.