Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-06-10


When the Chicago, Milwaukee & st. Paul
began work on its short line road to Mime
apolis it let the work of grading out to con-
tractors by the section, reserving only one
part for itself to do. That portion so re-
served begins at the foot of Chestnut and
extends along the base of the bluff to the
House of the Good Shepherds, and up to
Fort street. Here some of the heaviest
work, grading and blasting, is to be done,
and likely the greatest care in building the
road. bed on the curve and ascent rendered
necessary by the topography. For some rea-
SOD, the company reserved this portion for
itself, and simultaneously with the contrac-
tors began work here, as they did all along
the route. Two hundred men have been
vigorously and constantly at work, presenting
scene of great activity. The sound of the
blast, the delving of the laborers and even
the scaling of the face of the bluff by the
workmen has given an appearance in this
vicinity of most arduous and trying. labor,
attended with no little difficulty and even
peril. This scene has continued from day to
day, under the supervision of Assistant Su-
perintendent Case, of the company, with his
assistants, Road-master j. B. Moll and
others.
THE LABoRERs STRIKE.
Yesterday cessation to this activity took
place. The day gang, 200 strong, got on
the ground at the usual hour, yesterday
morning, at 6 o'clock. Shortly after the
rain storm came up, and all hands were
called to quit work, as has been the custom,
owing to the nature of the ground on which
ceased the men were called to work
again. They have been working in seven
gangs or bodies respectively under John
son, Kinney, Swanc, johnson and Kennedy.
tant to set to, and the several bosses named
above began to call Justify on their gangs to
get at their work. Then came the positive
refusal to do ttany more work." Inquiry was
made as to the cause, and the answer
came back with unanimity, that q pick
wouldn't be handled or shovel OF dirt more
be thrown unless they get $1.50 per day,
the same as contractors along the line were
giving, instead of $1.25, which the com pany
gave for days work.
This state of affairs continued for q short
time, the bosses urging their men to resume
work and the men declining to listen to $1.25
worth of persuasion, when others got
it sweetened for them at $3.50 per day.
Finally some of the men got to work, say
about fifty, while the big majority, about 200,
left peaceably and without threat or demon
stration of any kind.
AT once, so soon as the extent of the strike
was known, Mr.. ]. B. Moll came to the city
and reported the condition of affairs to the
headquarters Office.
Here nothing was proposed, the verdict be-
ing ssplenty of men can be obtained, let
them CO., With this Mr.. Moll returned to
his work, and found his force, of course
greatly decreased, at work.
The above is the account of the affair, and
circumstances attending it, as obtained by
general enquiry.
THE RAILROAD AUTHORITIES.
Next in order was to find out what the
railroad authorities were going to do, or
thought about it.
Supt. Prior was looked for, but could not
be found. Judge Chandler was taken as
| substitute and questioned about tho aspect
of affairs.
s'What do you know about the strike?'' was
the introduction given by the GLOBE omis-
sary.
Judge Chandler seemed dazed by the term
strike, but was free to confess that some of
the men had quit work.
Chow many?'
"Well, Mr.. Moll was down here about
noon, and said two hundred or more men
had stopped work.
Chow will this affect your company"
"Not at all. We can get as many men as
we want
ssWhat's the cause of the dissatisfaction
II believe they want higher wages, and
refused to work unless given to them"
"What do you give?''
Gone dollar and quarter day.
"What do the contractors give?''
II don't know. 81
evil your company accede to the de.
mands of the strikers?"
"Why, no. We can get as many men as
we want for $1.25 per day.
Judge Chandler treated the matter as very
trivial. He believed the greatest mum bel
of the laborers didn't want to work any
way. The fact was that many of thu
men hired would work for
day or two and quit. The company hat
been paying off twenty or more men of thi,
kind on the average every day.
WHAT THE CONTRACTORS SAY.
4 It was limited that the contractors, Messrs
Harrison, Langdon d Sheppard, might tell
something. The GLOBE wedged its fgun
into the doorway of their Office.
, "What do you know about the strike OF
the short liner" was asked outright.
"The strike!' exclaimed Mr.. Harrison
1--WE have no strike among our men,
z"No, but there is With the company's em
ployes on their portion of the grading"
eve know nothing about it.
!, "What do you pay your laborers?"
Gone dollar and half per day.
. THE STRIKERS s1DE OF IT.
After this information the GLOBE departe
3 to find a striker, and get his story. Severa
were quickly found at boarding house O
5 Fourth street. The GLOBE selected one q
! spokesman out of the crowd, and, all agree
q mo with him ha told the following stor,