The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-06-10
cnlcAso NOTES.
sTRIKER.

There has been an epidemic of strikes In Chi
cago this spring. First, the strike OF the car
drivers and conductors OF the West Side Street
Railway Company, which was peaceable, orderly
and successful, because their claim was just and
was sustained by the moral sentiment Of the
whole community. Then there have been
numerous strikes by the various trades, which
have generally resulted in an increase OF from
10 to Is per cent OF wages There have been
strikes, too, OF landlord merchants and MANN
facturers TO raise the price Of rents aud goods,
and an excessive increase in the cost OF build
ing which has discouraged builders and been
injurious TO both employers and employees.
But the most embarrassing and far-rcaching
strike has been the strike Of the switchmen who
make up the trains and transfer freight-cars on
the different railroads which center In Chicago,
on account OF which hundreds Of thousands OF
tons of freight have been embargoed, delayed
in transit and delayed in shipping and deliy-
cry, resulting IN great Inconvenience and loss TO
merchants and business mcnhere and elsewhere.
Newspaper Offices had carloads OF paper in the
suburbs which they could not get, and we're
obliged to buy and use inferior paper till the
blockade was raised. There ought to be mu-
tual agreement between employers and en-
ployed, but the greed OF corporations Is SO strong
that they seldom raise the wages of their work
men TILL they are compelled to by their united
wages. We do not moralize on the situation.
We only state the facts
But, Notwithstanding these serious draw
backs, the tide of Chicago business rolls on,
with ever-increasing volume, and was never 80
great and imposing as now. We note Few
samples OF leading houses.
JONES AND LAUGHLN american Iron Works.,
The largest manufacturers Of bar iron in Amer
lea, make most OF the goods they sell-iron,
nails, spikes, cold rolled shafting, L rails,
bolts, chains, etc. The Chicago branch, OF
which Mr.. j. NJ Larimer 10 manager, Is Wig
orous plant, Is years old, which has
outgrown the original stock and last
year built mammoth warehouse on its
premises 159 feet on Lake by $50 feet on Canal
street, connected by railway with the Pitts
burgh factory, giving unequaled facilities for
handling their goods by car loads with the
greatest economy and dispatch. For financial
strength, extent of business and ability to meet
the wants OF the trade, II Ii confessedly the
leading irou house Of the West.
HIBBARD SPENCER AND CO., Lake and Wabash,
Hardware, cutlery, tnplate, fence wire, etc.,
stand al the head of the line, like Saul among
the prophets. Have been a landmark in Chi
cago twenty-five years, and sell more goods
than any similar house in the West
GAGE BROS AND CO.,
The leading Chicago millinery house, the fam
GUS hat and bonnet-frame makers, the only
Western manufacturers OF corsets, keep white
goods, notions, and all ladies' apparel except
shoes. Their force initiates the speed Of light
ming ealculators in doing their immense business,
working with hearty good will, because this
was the pioneer house in giving their en-
ployes half holiday during the summer season.
]. A. FAY AND CO., 207-9 LAKE ST.
Woodworking machinery and machine tools
Mr.. J. A. Roche, manager Of the Chicago house, o
practical machinist, has peculiar aptitude for
the business. He has made this the leading house
of its kind in the West, increasing its trade, sc
that its Cincinnati factory, employing from SOC
b 400 hands, can not supply its customers.