The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-15
THE ICE-CUTTERS STRIKE.
WILL THERE ne RIOTING M TIE
UPPER HUDSON MENs
The End Of the strike mud a Victory for tho
Companics-The Military Ready to Queii
u nDIstnrbance-The Abundant Ice Crop.

The End Of the strike nud n victory Tor tho
Companics-The Military Ready to Queii
IA Disturbance-The Abundant Ice Crop.
Most of the Ice sold by the Knicker-
booker, Mutual BENEFIT, Consumers, New York
CITY, National and New Jersey companies Is cut
on the Upper Hudson, except in seasons whom
the crop there is a failure. Annually about half
a million dollars is paid out In wages to men In
Greene. Ulster. and adjoining counties. I'M
mense storage houses have been built on the
rivers edge at heavy cost, and the appliances for
cutting ice and bringing IL to market have neces-
STATED heavy outlay Last year the crop failed
IN that region. and the men who had been ac-
customed to employment were left idle. The
lack Of the usual money from that source was
seriously felt by the workmen and by the store
Keepers and others into whose pockets 1t ult-
matey went. Therefore, this year there was a
disposition ON their part to make up for the loss
Of tho previous year by securing an increase OF
wages. Meetings were held In Ca'skiil. Rondout.
and Kingston, and demand was made for 81
a day.
thought be supposed. There are no police or
ganiz'ticns In the region. the only ordinary
force available for the preservation " order is
the Sherifs and a few constables, all so con-
nected with the strikers as to make them re-
houses invite incendiarism, and the valuable
tools are open 10 easy destruction. Several
wears ago DtnuS OI siilhtTr, NUMBERING nun
dreis, marched IN and down on the frozen
river and did considerable mischief. Cunse-
quenty the companies this year attached grave
importance to the strike. their officers held
meetings IN this city, and at length resolved
tnat they would not occede TO the demand.
They also decided to tike active measures to
pro ect their property. The local authorities
were found to be slow to act. and So form Al
demand was served on the Sherfs aud
Mayors 10 the counties and ciiies concerned, "A
few days ago. That adequate preparation should
be made to reprcss any possible outbreak. he
result was proclamations by the Sherifs Of
Greene and Ulster, warning the icemen that
they must be peaceable.
To-day work IL to be resumed by many II not
most OF the strikers. AZ $l;1 and 81 80 a day. a
few were engaged on saturday In clearing the
snow of the ice, preparatory to cutting. lhe
CROP l. large but "A lOnle er del y IN securing II
would be risky, because OF the possibility Of "A
sud en- tblw and breik-up. As to the prob
ability OF dieturpance, there Is more or less APP
prehensiOn. but the preparations for sup
preston OF trouble are believed to be ample.
lhe military are ready to respond tn a call. Mr.
Alfred &. Cheney, SUPERINTENDENT Of the Mutual
Benefit Comp ny. said Yesterday that most OF
the men were glad to 70 To work. having been
reduced 10y enforced idleness to absolute want.
There is an abundance Of Ice Of a good quality
this year In the Hudson. and, II II does not bre ik
up before the houses are filled. prices need not
be high uext summer. All tnat Is required IN ~
be got Dy river trans sportation, which, OF course,
Il cheaper than to bring II to market from lakes
| only accessible by railroad. Tho cutting and
| storing, delayed by tue strike, VIII now be
| pushed as lost as possible.