Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-08-10
Our QuasquetOn Letter.
QUAsQUETON, Ia, Aug. 9Th, II

QUAsQUEToN, Ia, Aug. 9th, IT,
EDITOR BULLETIN:-Quasqueton for
the past week has produced no erciting
news, and you undoubtedly wish moth
ing but news; and for that reason I am
in quandary about holding my pen an
other week. My immense salary for
corresponding, not to be for moment
compared with Edward Kings, now war
correspondent for the Boston Journal,
impresses me with the Importance of
chronicling every dog fight that occurs.
in order to furnish items of interest
The late strike" alarmed our citi-
zens to considerable degree, and great
fears were entertained that the police
would prove insufficient to control the
maddened crowd that took possession of
the machine shops of the Iowa & Min
nesota railroad company at this place
The citizens of Quasqueton, like those
of Pittsburg, worked like beavers to
secure the location of the |. Il M. r.
r. machine shops at this place, and it
was feared that they would regret their
action as much as did the Pittsburgers,
fearing the damage would be greater
than the benefit so far derived
Chief of police Schwartzborough with
a small posse of men assembled early in
Ball Park, in the rear of the passenger
depot, by request of the Superintendent
from AnamOsa, who sent a telegram late
in the evening preceding the expected
riotous day. According to investiga-
ton, it appeared that the company had
made no reduction but the employees re-
fused to work until the company did,
that they might then have an excuse to
plumber and pillage our stores and dwell
lings, and destroy our magnificent city
High School building, built in the year
one thousand eight hundred and fifty
five, description of which | partly gave
in my letter Of May %.
The engineers were working for three
shillings a day, while the firemen, brake
men and trackmen were receiving one
shilling, with the privilege of turning
day into night if so ordered by the Su-
perintendent. Had they received no
news about the Eastern war and strike
in Turkey(s) (market was up in New
York July 23d), probably all would have
remained quiet on the Wapsie. But
they seemed to misunderstood the re-
ports, and wanted their salaries cut
down. The railroad company couldn't
possibly entertain such an idea, and re-
fused, thereby causing much dissatisfac-
ton among some Of the employees, who
drove the workingmen out of the ma
chine and repair shops and surrounded
the round-house.
The crowd were very boisterous, and
being armed with pea-shooters and bean
snappers, occasionally throwing spit
balls. Chief Schwartzborough began to
fear that he could not maintain order,
and was on the point of calling out the
Mutual Protection Society, who have
been so remarkable in accomplishing
their forte, of late, when news was re-
ccived that Russia had called out the
reserve of the landwehr Gf you know
the meaning of that; don't, and Pres
ident Vanderbilt had directed 100000
to be divided among the men on his road
who had kept the peace, which filled the
hearts of the employees of the l. 4 NJ
r. R. with peaceful inclinations, hoping
that Col. Shaw would remember them
as kindly, the wealth of the company
being so enormous So at sunset the
sons set about their business with great
celebrity.
The damage to our commercial men
was not as great as might be expected,
for the trains were discontinued only "a
hours, but dealers in spring chickens
Gin the shelD and dried apples (on the
string) felt rather uneasy, fearing the
cold nights now prevalent would strike
deep into the hearts of both chickens
and apples. But | am happy to say no
loss has been sustained. Trains are now
running on schedule time, making round
trips once in six months during the sum-
mer and postponing business during the
winter.
d. B. Sanford, Deputy, with Mr.. Car
mon n. Smith, and others from your
city, were down Saturday evening and
organized an |. O. G. T. Lodge, which l
spoke of three weeks ago, and the follow
ing officers were chosen; \. w. Trout,
w. C. IT,; Mrs NJ Hastings, w. Y. r.:
Miss Ida Hilton, W. S.; Mrs Mcdonald
w. F. s.; j. Irwin, w. c.; 7. Cooper, w.
IT,; A. p. Burrhus, p. w. C. T., and AL
bert Todd, w. NJ They are to occupy
the same room formerly occupied by the
Sons of Temperance, this organization
now being one of the things that were.
1t would have pleased many if the room,
also, had dissolved into the past. 1t was
a stupendous blunder of the architect to
build room for the accommodation of
100 to 125 adults and have only one ave
nue. of escape for the obnoxious hydro
gen to pass out and pure oxygen to pass
in. Chemistry doesn't teach that doe
trine
Constable Hursey, Monday forenoon
on information given by VIM. Turner
seized a key of whisky concealed in the
rear of the saloon kept by John Brent
ger, and he was brought before Justice
Stoneman that evening, charged with
owning and keeping with intent to sell.
After lengthy trial, he was acquitted,
no evidence being produced that he had
sold or intended to sell
The Greenback party to be organized
Aug 4th, in this place, according to no
tice in your paper, did not take place.
Can't imagine the reason, unless no
greenbacks wanted this way.
ELECTRIC.