The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-04-18
STRIKE ON THE BELT RAILROAD.
Attemptins the Ruinous Experiment OF
Montgomery Queen-squcczins Fourteen
Hours and Half Day out OF the Driv-
ers-striving for Impossibilitios.

AuemptinG the Buinous Experiment OF
Montgomery Qucen-saueczins Fourteen
Hours and Half Day out OF the Driv-
ers-strivinG for Impossibilitios.
About week ago Mr.. Cummings II. Tucker
president Of the Belt Railroad Line-the passenger
railway which ensrdles the city below Fifty-ninth
sreet-ordered that on and after Saturday last the
cars OF the Eastern Division should make sevcn
trips daily. instead OF six. On Saturday morning
the drivers Nos. I, q and so on started In regu-
lar order. Jehus came back, and returned to the
depot after making their trip, but whom called 10
start again they failed TO appear.
Fro long there stood in and around the depot no
fewer than thirtr cars-a the rolling stock Of this
division OF the Belt Line-and sixty harnessed
horses, glad Of q rest, but wondrousy surprised
thereat, champed their bits In q meditative way;
while travellers, score or more, either burdened
the sests OF the foremost car or made Hghty visits
to the Superintendent once TO vent their anger.
The drivers had struck. and so quietly had they
arranged matters that II wns some time before the
ofeers Of the Company could be brought TO believe
that their authority had been de6ed. Bot for the
accumulation Of idle at tie door OF their very
shabby depot, IL is doubtful whether they could
have been made to believe II yet, except that tse
call OF delegation OF the drivers upon the Presi-
dent might have given them IN inkng OF q move
ment OF that character.
Mr.. Tucker received the delegation. and listened
locted drivers that II they would obey his orders he
would raise their wages from ta1 70 t260, and
eomfors a. r q pos,Se The O o.r was ~
y rejected, and the business Of this section OF the
rosS ~ was as eroush, practically to stand still
other, toos the whip themselves. Ths superin.
rios. and sishoush h .o%swh.s % '0s too OF ..Ou, tout
TO mske brilliant eymnas, in the double Of driving
bis Grss .rip he made South Ferry IL IS minutes.
Mr.; Terry's son also drove several trips but not
with equal success. The inspectors. time keepers,
clerks, book-keepers. messengers, and other en-
ployes OF tho road made themselves famous on the
Esst side on Saturday, many OF them taking their
nrst lesson In handling the ribbons.
But the feature OF the day on the Eastern Dlvi
sion Of.the Belt Line, was the splendid driving Of the
Washington one OF the few surviving members OF the
family 70 which the Father Of his Country belonged
The SolOis in his 18th year but !. hale and
vusaa cell IL sss oS By ne s sf0is Gosn "a A aost
The cOlonels second trip. was an ovation. He
In iorty.three minutes he had reached the south
terminus Of the route, fresh as when he started
number of daily trips was intended only as
experiment The men WHO have struck are
the company except in quitting without giving
The driver. say ,h,, they struck because 1t is i'm.
trips take hours and thirty minutes allowing no
time for meals, and seven trips would keep the
down to work thirteen hours and half. The eI-
pertinent OF running seven trips tried once be-
fore but proved ALLURE although the day chosen.
Sunday was the best OF the week, the day
on which the streets are least obstructed.
Counting time lost on this route by being
blocked, six trips average about fourteen
hours and half Sometimes q man makes only
three trips q day, the road being so badly blocked
that he can make no more. Then he gets half pay.
He's docked for every trip he fails to make, mat
ter what may be the cause OF his failure.
In answer to questions touching the condition OF
Affairs the West side. the drivers asserted that
their comrades of the other division would tie
up " this morning after the hrst trip.