New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-06-23
THE BLOCKADE OF FREIGHT.


MERCHANTS DEMANDING A SPEEDY SETTLE
MExr OF THE TROUBLE.
As was foreshadowed in THE TRIBUNE yesterday
there was m important development of fresh dis
satisfaction in connection with the strike OF the
railroad frcight-hmdlers in the course Of the day.
I'm Jersey City the receivers and checkers" az the
piers of the New-York, Lake Erie and Western hall
road Company left their work At the New-Nork
piers strike among this class ofempoycs was I'M
ninent at one time aud it is feared that when the
action of the Jersey City clerks is learned those on
this side of the river Will follow their example.
The receivers direct the loading Of the freight into
the trains bound for the various stations. When
goods arrive at the piers in this city they are
weighed. put In piles. numbered according 10 the
destination of the freight and aftcrward loaded mo
the cars for transportation across the river. Inc
station numbers are placarded over the piles on the
wall of the pier-houses. 4 knowledge OF the sig
nifcance of the numbers, and of what
ears the different freichts should he placed in,
is indispensable to quick and efficient handling
Of shpments To goods received this system IS not
applied 81 il requires no experience to unload east
bound freight and heap it in the one general place
where it is to await the arrival Of the trucks OF the
consignees. The checkers are clerks who check on
in book the parcels they are slowed away Ii the
cars.
The receivers and checkers are paid by the month.
AZ the Erie piers Yesterday they said that their pay
was $50 $54, $63 and $67 month.
Most of the men were said to receive
$50 Those with whom TRIBUNE reporters
talked appeared to be intelligent. They declared
that as the cost of living was so much greater than
il had been. and as the railroads were receiving
higher rates OF freight than during last year, 1t was
only Just that the pay of the clerks should be in
y, +i,o aiy-ors md r.
at Piers Nos 20 and q informed Agent Hoffman
that they wished az advance IN wages OF 10 per
cent After consultation with the higher officers OF
the road the answer was returned that the advance
could not be granted. The men say that message
was added to the reply to the effect that the men
who asked fer the increase were not competent for
their positions Upon consultation the
men decided not to leave their work.
They hal not heard then Of. the action Of Their
fellow oIkMen IN Jersey CITY. ONe q the "Oui4-
be strikers said Yesterday: =" We were prevented
from going out hy thu who receive the hlshes'
wages They axe few in number anu diuA5 want 70
wish we had an organization" said another
checker; " If We had We woLlG suIke rsAt oH
am IL favor Of forming one ,
some OF the checkers were brought over u we
piers from the Jersey City side ON account OF w
greater care and work required III dealing MIN me
Inexperienced Italian tgelght-handers hired by tDe
company. SbOaii the clerks go On strike tO-udy
the company Will be able 70 MI their places al once
only by drafts on its regular Cit-,s. Uhea.iaess
Vyas felt with regard to the position OF the weigaers.
WHO are pal! little than the ordinary freight
handlers, but last evening they had not struck.
THE GENERAL SITUATION UNCAASGED
There was practically no change IN the condition
of affairs along the river front and al the depots Of
the railroad companies. Freight continues 10 We de-
vered and received in moderate quantities, hut IS
RESPECTS the blockade of business II Is Impossible 10
sec any material Improvement At some OF the
hon. Fks.. rl.r
ners consented to handle them themselves.
At other piers the hours during when
merchandise was received were con-
sidegablv shortened. With few exceptions, while
TIC new hands engaged i'll the places Of the strikers
ks 1T freight moving certain extent at the piers
HAT yyere opened the piles Of goods in the yards
| and under the sheds accumulated greatly. At some
OF the piers the only work done was 10 LnOad east
bound freight brought across me IlFef IRON jersey
| city The star Union and the Empire lines BEGAN
70 receive freight yesterday after an INTERRUPTION 81
seyo9 day. Du on Tpce [ less SUB t6an it did
IN W-elue.dav because Of the blockade II its pier
| with accumulated freight. The Central 81 New
more successfully than any other i4e - me com
PAW. officers unite IL deny ing that tlcy nave
! advanced the WAGES of their men. Even ~ jersey
City the company has had 10 open IIouUe' a4'HOusi
! n are IFS force If wOGkmG- IS small
There is 30 abatement il the complaints OF Nor
chants OF great delay IN the shipment OF their gcoas
! and the tutiTe aspects OF the blockade. i ne
SINNERS Of pagIshae freight feel the effects Of the
s.rke most Immediately At the store OF the North
! l!ver Duck and Game Company 10 was said ye,ler-
day that the blockade was causing them the loss o.
| l1Indrcds of dollars a day. Nc nave JUST had
seven barrels Of fish and terrapln sent BACK 10 rs
! from The Ecie Road" said one of the clerks ~
the store il stated At the Barclay st. per o.
the New-Y0rk Central aud at Enc piers Nos. 70 ana
u that pcfishab,c goods were received ony AT tHe
! TlSk of the shipper 4 salesman OF the alter \.
| Wood Moving and Keaplng Machine Company said
that the company Va lo,lnf Tinri9 ~ i i
tended for point Pcuusy Iyauld, NeW-Jciscy ana
| Mar, land which could not be shipped.
We will load some of the machines ourselves tnls
artcrnnnu nj Pier No. 10 he added. Among the
drv goods houses 10 VAS SAID that no improvement
vas noticeable IN the shipment OF thcia goods
some firms said that the situation was eN en- worse
than on Wednesday. The general sentiment among
merchants is OF sympathy with the strikers.
AN ADDRESS SIGNED BY MERCHANTS
The 70 lowing address was prepared yesterday
for presentation to the general traffic managers Of
the railroads:
The undersigned beg to call your attention TO the ser
embarrassment aud injury TO me uane 't l"s cry
0ccaoutd by the controversy between the Railroads ana
WEiic moi drsruc 20 nicr!eIc in the management o.
youI b4sIlcss, We Zee. tha business oil PUBIC il-Ie
Ike Of railroads should be m-nAse4 Win lir ilri
ence to the general welfare anu We - a. 80,
upon yen the absolute necessity on SOM =" 10 ~
taken to solve present difficulty as speedily a. pos
slbie
! This was signed by many prominent mercantile
firms, including II. b. Cl4Ain u Co., Bliss, t&byan
& Co., Tefft, Weller Il Co., Bates Reed ~ Cooley,
! Halsted Haiues u Co., JOY, Langdon ~ Co.. the
| Wuhmantic Linen Company, Van No.ken'urgh .
Ieavltt; Austin Nichols * Co., l.. Z. Hazard - Co.,
| CAN'T, Jones 4 Co.. IL. X * /. H. Ihuroef ~
! Co., John 6. Henry * Co., l. * o. Ward and
| WHEY, Wickes Il Wing.
| 80 httle interest was manifested among repre-
! ssut4tlyes Of The gram trade at tho Frcdute LA-
change when II learned thai the gram lahoteI5
| cin,!ovrd III the Pennsyi wanna Railroad elevators
had r5ue on STRIKE. 1t was feared that tie strike
| would also extend 10 the Erio ana New a9IA Zen
| gagged tOr shipment would not 20 4Or"drd. II was
stated that the strike should extend as was feared,