Sheffield Independent – Saturday 03 February 1877
Anticipated Stoppage of Collieries
The state of affairs in the South Yorkshire Colliery district is the reverse of promising. The coal trade generally is in a very depressed condition, and coal- owners declare their inability to pay the high tonnage rates by rail, and compete with coal from the North of England, which can be conveyed by sea at a much less figure.
Many of the collieries are not working more than half-time, yet coal is by no means scarce, whilst prices for the season of the year are low. Many of tbe leading colliery owners are weeding out all surplus labour, and some of them are letting down part of their workings until such time as trade becomes more profitable.
The owners of the Denaby Main Colliery , one of the largest in the district, have given notice to from 200 to 300 men and boys to leave their employment.. Notices to workmen employed by several large firms, and to others occupying houses, have been given, the object of which has not been made public.