Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 83, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 March 1909 — REPARING FENCES AROUND GOAL MINES [ARTICLE]

REPARING FENCES AROUND GOAL MINES

Anthracite Owners Are Preparing for a Strike. Hazleton, Pa., March 22.—1 n order to be prepared for a strike if one is ordered by the United Mine Workers of America, the Lehigh Valley Coal company, a subsidiary concern of the Lehigh Valley Railroad company, began repairing the high fences surrounding the collieries in this city. New barbed wire is 'being strung along the tops of the fences. The fence around the colliery of A. Pardee ft Co. at Cranberry, near here, also is being put in condition. Nearly all the collieries in the anthracite region, during the big strike of 1902, were surrounded by high board fences to keep the strikers off the property and to protect the coal and iron police. The miners called them stockades and several of the fences were set on fire and destroyed. Circulars were received' here from President Lewis of the miners’ union, asking the anthracite men to observe aa usual April 1 as a holiday in commemoration of the granting of the eight-hour day in the soft coal fields. The miners also are advised to banish strife from the union.