The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-08-02
The Cost,

The Journal OF Commerce undertakes to
count the cost OF the great strike. Accord
ing to the journal, five railroads concerned
probably lost $4,000 each per day, or, alto
gether, 100000 daily. Add $50, 900 as low
calculation for losses by interruption Of
other roads, and the total is S250,000 per
day, or 81, $50, 900 for the five days suspen-
sion. The losses sustained by the Pennsyl-I
wanna road at Pittsburgh and on the line
between that city and Harrisburg are CAL
cuiated ut S10,0O0,000. Half Of that amount
would scarcely cover the cost OF property
destroyed on the Baltimore and Ohio; and
it is. likely that s1O,000,000 would approNi-
mate the losses Of railroad property other
than those which have been enumerated.
This makes total of S26,250,000.
"A pretty round sum; but then it is i'm
possible for the journal or any paper to
compute the losses attending so great an
excess of outlawry over so large an area.
The stoppage Of communication is full OF
incidental losses, and the suspension OF so
many OF. the ayocations. of life depending
upon the movement, OF commerce must
add Immensely to the losses Of society,":
Above all there has been moral effect
that extended through the country. The
teaching, of,the strikes led to, idleness and
.1ecklessness. It diminished the energy ne
cessaryto support; and impaired the steadi-
ness and perseverance requisite to the contin-
ued and successful maintenance of personal
independence and honest living. Ithelped
to increase the multitude OF CRAMPS at
the North--tbat class Of beings which shows
the increased depravity grown up in the coun-
try, and which has sprung from our political
troubles chiefly; but which has been caused
in a igoodly degree by strikes. Strikes en-
gender idleness and inspire the dispositions
that are alien to manufacturing peace and
success. Employers are disinclined to give
employment to the young men who have
participated in the scdit:ous interference
with property and the right to labor.
These evils are not easily exaggerated.
There is one point which is to be brought
to the consideration OF the strikers that in
wolves much injury to them: Prior to the
strike there was falling OF in business
that rendered it difficult to keep the railroad
men in employment. Numbers were given
partial employment, and very capable hands
were employed sometimes for month or
30 when there was nothing for them to do.
The strike relieves the railways, and they
employ only those they need with their di-
minished business. The returned laborers
will be fewer in number far than those who
struck.
While we depiore the effects in losses and
Generalization of the great strike, unques-i
tionably 1t will produce some changes for
the good OF the railroad people and for So
ciety. The country sees the necessity Of
some laws more effectually to protect the
public interests in matters Of railroad COM
mcrce peculiar to these days, and railroad
corporations will profit by lessons that may
suggest improvement ia stbe regulations OF
trains and work that may alike benefit The
corporations and the large bodies of men
whom they need, and upon whose capacity
and order depend SO much the railroad in.
terests and the public welfare. But the
peSnt OF peculiar interest to all the country
Is that there shall be line more clear and
deeply drawn than eyer between mere
strike and that sed tious striking which u.s.
satnea the II gbt Il. seize property, stop work.
shops, and restrain workmen from their en-
plogHient. Upon the iawiess strikers there
Il Should !. D Y punishment properand lust.