The coal strike is in some ways as far from
a settlement as ever, but the area of disturbance is slowly shrinking. The decision of the men's conference at Not'ingham, to allow the miners to return to work at the old rate of wages, wherever it is open for them to do so, has already been acted upon, and there are thus fewer miners out than there were last week. Meantime, the distress continues very acute, and the number of businesses closed for want of fuel at a reasonable price increases daily. All the Northern and Midland lines have winced their train services,—a proof how real is the coal -famine. It is curious to note that the strike has revived the talk of a gigantic coal-trust,—to benefit the consumer ! For- tunately, however, that step towards Socialism and Monopoly is a dream. The most that could come of it would be an attempt to keep up prices by " pooling " in certain districts. There is grave reason to fear, as an ultimate result of the whole business, that the miners will succeed in fining the masses of poor Englishmen ten per cent. upon the price of their only fuel.
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