Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 June 1891 — A MONSTER INDUSTRY. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A MONSTER INDUSTRY.

4MPORTANCE OF COKE MAKING IN THIS COUNTRY. <ts Relation to Other I’ranches of Trade —Kxtet-t of Field* Developed- ThouMods of Men Employed—Statue of Labor 4a the Regions.

URING the past fifteen years, the .coke interest of theU.nited States has assumed an 'importance in the industr al world, unequalled in the history of any other branch of mining or manufacturing. This progress and dove opment is all the more remarkable, from the fact that the amount of capital invested, the labor equipment and the scope of

tactual operations, are out of al proportion to those employed in kindred industries, where the returns are insignificant by comparison, under like conditions. Closely allied to the iron industry, controlling in a measure the coal output, *nd requiring the services of men dependent and permanently located, coke production affects with its prosperity or •depression the commercial, financial, agricultural, and industrial interests of a, section vitally, and of the country at large to quite an important degree. It practically sways the iron manufacturers, it defeats investment calculations by cutting down running expenses during a lock-out, and when such occurs

« sufficiently large amount of money is withdrawn from circulation to seriously affect the regular routine of trade. There are eighteen States and Territories in which the manufacture of coke is made a feature, but the Connellsville district in Pennsylvania, outrivals all others in the quantity and quality of its ■supply. Here the industry has its cen-

ter, and sufficient capital is massed, ■ natural advantages found, and the bus!-' mess conducted on a broad enough basis to admit of the utilization of the best; 'mechanical means and fine skilled labor, where occasionally required, to claim pre-eminence as the banner coke district -of the world. Here alone 13,511 ovens are, located, employing some 17,000 men, at a' -daily pay-roll average of 825,000, and all-

•surface indications point to a happy and progressive community, on a basis of solid social and industrial integrity. TH«r district is one possessed of rare sanitarj 1 -and climatic advantages, the scenery being of the most picturesque character. -It is situated in the heart of a fine agricultural sect'on, while a network bf renders it accessible in every way, and bring to it in a measure the ‘'bettor influences of a highgrade of ervdizatmu and culture. The history of the coke interest itself, la thQ Connellsville region begins practically vtith 187 a. At that time there were only 3,650 ovens in blast, wh ch were principally manned by natives,

Germans, and Irish, the two former acting as miners and the latter as coke worker^; previous to” that "date, for several years, a great depression had existed in the Industry on account of slack times in the iron trade, and consequent limited demand for the product In 1879 the business took a decided “boom," howeven> the oven capacity was doubled and workmen were in great demand. The contiguous count'es were unable to supply laborers, and the Pittsburg employment agencies were resorted to by the mine-owneis. This lad to the introduction of large numbers o| Hdngariani and Poles. Popular error hqs accredited these men with displacing English-speaking workmen, which is not the fact—they simply augmented the working force and tilled a demand, rapidly acquiring American ways. The prosperity of the plants naturally extended to the men, and led to a centralization of principles. Affairs proceeded smoothly until 18S1, when the Knights of Labor advocated and aided the., ,first general strike of the cokeworkers for higher wag s. The strike wa's unsuccessful, and, after six weeks of idleness, work was resumed. Capital and labor seemed to agree oh equitable terms during the succeeding five years. The depression of 1884, however, had a demoralizing effect on the men. Over half the ovens were idle, and those in blast put in only three-quarters time. It is claimed that abuses chargeable to capital began to appear; that the men were imposed upon, and the result was a second strike. This time success crowned the efforts of the workmen. Its effect was bad, however, for the tables turned and the upper hand gained by the majority, the operators seemed to be marked as victims for retaliation. Trifling affairs were magnified into important issues, the workmen demanded the discharge of this and that obnoxious foreman, they quibbled

over numerous technical points, and day after day strikes were inaugurated, until three distinct advances in wages were scettrcd. In 1887 the dissatisfaction of the men culminated in a geqeral demand for a 20 per cent, advance. This was positively re,fused by the operators, who ottered 5 per cent, instead. The workmen declined to treat on this basis, and the matter was referred to arbitration. An authorized committee took the affair in hind. The mine owners claimed that they had already allowed advances in wages aggregating s(> per cent, and the arbitrators decided in their favor. The men appealed, arbitration was discarded as a valueless expedient for the remedy of existing difficulties, and a lockout ensued. The struggle that followed was a bitter O’.e, replete with hard feeling, guttering, and loss of time and money for both capital and labor. Finally, the mine owners pretty generally conceded the demands of their cm ployed. A sliding scale was arranged, whereby the men were to receive pay according to the ruling price of the coke. Some of the operators, however, proceeded on an independent basis, refusing to have any dealings with labor organizations or*vith union men. Petty difficulties let to serious troubles. The workmen were resolute in new demands and complaints, the owners firm. Successive strikes and finally a general lock-out occurred, and all the elements of disorder wi re brought into p'.ay. Outside laborers were imported, i the local police and even the military 1 were called in, culminating in the ter- • rible scenes of bloodshed and suffering I with which every reader of the dally

prints is familiar. The shooting down of strikers, their murderous retaliation on non-union men, the eviction of tenants by the mine owners, the acts of lawlessness, vandalism, and incendiarism of the past year fully rival the deplorable days of the Mollie Maguires. The men cavilled at their employers, the Jattfo. held them responsible for the lock out - fKat had Jeopardized the best business interests of the country, and for months the once peaceful Connellsville district struggled in the grasp of mob rale, while disorder, hardship, and terror existed on every side. The discussion of the right and wrong Of the affair from either aspect of the

question attracted the attention of the civilized world. The men claimed that in good faith, and that later the mine owners would <>r»ijjpubate the cok«

market so as to have the price of the product rule high or low, according as they desired to pay the men. The owners offset this claim by averring that the fluctuations in the value of the coke were Controlled by the legitimate outside demand —that it would rule at 82.25 per ton for a time, and then sink to the remarkably low price of 81 per ton, preventing them almost from even making expenses. They furthermore charged the prevailing trouble to professional labor agitators, and c aimed that the workmen lived better and earned more than at other mines, which latter statement was true, but, although the Connellsville coal is easily mined and the men work at their leisure, and have the wagons to fill at their hand, they accomplish much more than in mines in less favored localities. It was estimated, previous to the last great strike, that the Connellsville workmen received for unskilled labor 25 per cent, more wages than was pa d elsewhere for the same, character of work, and that, too, for simply handling the shovel and pickax. Hungarians, Poles and Italians earned from 83 to 83 a day for seven to nine hours’ labor in dry, well-ventilated mines, where soft ninefoot veins existed. The usual seventysix men equipment of mine and oven certainly averaged 5750 per man per annum, a.id, during a strike, the thrift of the men was evidenced by the fact that thirty-six men drew 814,000 from the local banks The homes from which the miners were evicted were, in many instances, places of comfort and convenience. The mine owners leased them to the workers at prices varying from S 3 to 88 per month. These houses usually had four rooms, and hydrant water and coal were provided free of charge. Often there would be a pretty garden spot, the works were accessible, and the scenery delightful, with excellent schools and fine churches near at hand. Some idea of the magnitude of the coke enterprises may be gained from the fact that qm» company had 85,(KM),000 invested, controlled 35,000 acres of coal lands, constituting 42‘ separate plants, with 10,460 ovens in blast Three water plants, with a rapacity of 5,000,000 gallons were operated, and the mines had 35 miles of railroad tracks, 1,200 cars, 23 locomotives, 72 pairs of stationary engines, 172 steam boilers, and 810 horses and mu'es. The pro tit on t|ie coke is said to be enormous, one firm purchasing sufficient of the product to Insure a clear gain of 8200 a day. A new feature of the industry is the breaking of the loke into sizes to correspond to antlira ite coal by means of three large machines, having a capacity of fifty car-loads daily, which is sold for use in forges, and in the manufacture of agricultural implements. There is but little doubt that the troubles between laborer and employer that have temporarily crippled the great coke-making industry w,ll justify themselves in time. The interest is too important, and its ramifications a>e too numerous and c osely allied to the best welfare of the country, to be allowed to lie inert and unproductive. All great enterprises have a period of struggle and uncertainty, and the coke industry will only reach a peaceful basis of progress when a permanent settlement of existing difficulties is made that will prove equitable alike to the rights of capital and labor.

A “BANK” OF OVENS.

CHARGING THE OVENS.

EVICTION SCENE.

ON STRIKE.