Cols. Dick Salmon and Artemus Ward were over last week. They complained of a scarcity of coal cars at the Crabtree mines for a few days.
A former employe at the Barnsley mine, a young Mr. Harris, was one of the victims of the late railroad wreck near there last Thursday night.
So extremely warm has been the weather that the miners dread the trip to and from work. The mine is the place sought by them at present.
Henry Jones has joined the mechanical force of the St. Bernard Coal Co., and as he has been in the Philippines, where the thermometer often registers 120 in the shade, he is able to stand the weather here first rate.
Some new slack washers to replace old ones are now being put in at the coke ovens during the lull in business.
The severe drouth in this county will have a serious effect on all business outside of coal mining, an industry of vast importance to the county, but, strange to say, one that many people are now in a conspiracy to ruin, if possible.
As is usually the case during the heated season, the stock of coke accumulates, and many car loads can be seen stacked up ready for the big winter demand. On account of the falling off of orders in the summer, the St. Bernard never decreases its production, but has a big winter supply on which to begin.
A big coal miners’ strike has been averted in Missouri by both sides in the controversy conceding some minor points.
Like it is with the mine operators in this county, the steel magnates claim there is nothing to arbitrate. It is simply a question of who shall operate the works, a gang of agitators or men of sense and means who have investments trusted to their care.
The idle U.M.W. boys now employ a portion of their time jumping freight trains and stealing rides. They have ceased to work in the mines and have become violators of the law, another proof that idleness always begets crime.