THE COST OF A BIG STRIKE.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XXVII, Issue 1359, 7 May 1895, Page 5

THE COST OF A BIG STRIKE.

An attempt has been made by Mr John Scott to find out the cost of last winter’s coal strike in the Midlands. He shows that whereas the normal output of the 16 weeks during which, from first to last, the strike endured, is 63,000,000 tons, it fell .actually to 39,000,000 tons. Ordinarily, there would have been exported 11,000,000 tons, used by steamers at sea 2.900.000 tons, and consumed in this country 49,100,000 tons. As it was, we exported 8,750,000 tons, used in steamers 2.750.000 tons, and burnt in this country only 27,500,000 tons. Analysing the home consumption, which, as it thus appears, was chiefly affected, Mr Scott finds that the quantity of coal normally used in colleries and mines (1,964,000 tons) fell to 1,217,680 ; in ironworks and in smelting, 16,203,000 tons to 3,554,480 ; in potteries and glassworks, 1,473,000 to 353,520 ; in factories, 4,419,000 to 3,977,100 ; in gas and waterworks, 2.946.000 to 2,651,400 ; and in dwellinghouses, 9,820,000 to 8,838,000. He is thus enabled to estimate the loss of wages in those occupations which were directly affected, and his estimate shows that, while the miners surrendered £4,800,600, the ironworkers were deprived of £6,840,000, factory and workshop hands of £3,168,000, and other artisans, with these put together, of a sum of £18,208,000. The loss of net profits he works out at £13,255,615, shared as follows by the various interests concerned :—Ooalowners, £2,430,000 ; ironmasters, £1,733,172 ; pottery owners, etc., £153,028; factory owners, £1,381,000 ; railways, £2,056,565 ; shipping, £1,212,500 ; gas and water companies, £647,650 ; shop - keepers, L3,641,G00. Further, householders and other private consumers of coal paid £1,767,600 in increased prices. Adding these losses together, we arrive at the enormous figures of £33,231,215. — Exchange.