Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-07-04
TOlLERs TROUBLES.
The Condition of the Striking
Freight Handlers.
A LuII in Business Giving the Companies an
Adyantage-The Strikers Still Holding
0ut-The Coal Miners-The Iron
Strike.
LATEST NEWS FROM ALL QUARTERS.

New YORK, July 3.-The second week of
the strike Of the railroad freight-bandlers
ended yesterday without any settlement
being arranged between the men and the
companies. The experience of the past
two weeks may be summed up as follows:
The contest now lies entirely with the
three great trunk lines-the Erie, the Penn
sylvania and the New York Central roads.
Yesterday was comparatively light day
with all the roads, so far as the offering of
freight was concerned, and the situation
will probably remain unchanged until after
the Fourth of July. What effect the advance
In freight rates may have on business this
simmer it is impossible now to determine.
The foremen onthe piers al admit tnat IN,
less the companies can fill the places left
vacant by the strikers with different class
of men than those they have been able thus
far to get they will be compelled to do the
next best thing, and make some terms with
the strikers. At pier 16, local depot of
the Pennsylvania road the Superintendent
said Yesterday that he had not an Italian or
Russian Jew on the pier, and would not
have them. He had, he said, about thirty
Americans, Germans and lrishmen, and
was getting along very well. The New
Jersey Central road has 140 Jerseymen.
At pier 20 Superintendent Bloomer said
that he was confident that most of the new
men would make good freight handlers
when properly drilled.
A Falling Ofof Shipments.
There was an immense falling off in the
amount of freight offered for shipment yes
terday, and none of the companies had any
difficulty whatever in disposing of all that
was offered. There was no jam OF loaded
trucks anywhere except at the Erie piers,
Nos 90 and 21 North river, and at the piers
of the Pennsylvania line, Nos 3S and 80.
The crush at the Erie piers was caused by
the tact that the doors on the bulkhead
were not opened until P. NJ. as it took the
Italians employed there until that time to
remove from the bulkhead the eecumu-
lated freight of the day before. At pier 20
a few loads of way freight were received and
Supt. Bloomer managed to unload 60
cars Of East-bound freight. All the trucks
which had accumulated during the day,
some of which had stood there all night,
were uuloaded late in the afternoon. At
pier 80 the line of unloaded drays extended
up Hubert street nearly to st. Johns Park
at 3 p. NJ. This was because OF the lateness
of the hour at which the doors were opened
to receive freights, and the slowness with
which the men worked. The drays were all
unloaded before night. At the various de-
pots of the New York Central Railroad, at
pier 26, at Thirtieth and Sixty-fifth streets,
and at st. Johns Park, there was no change
in the situation except there was less
freight being offered, the same as elsewhere.
There was the same condition OF affairs at
piers 4 5. G, and East River.
The Advance in Rates.
Yesterday was the first day of the in
creased rates of freight, and it is said that
the rise in freights, the holiday OF the
Fourth of July and the fact that yesterday
was Saturday, had a combined influence to
decrease the amount of freight offered for
shipment.
At the Broad street office OF the Pennsyl-
vania railroad, yesterday it was said that
the effect of the advance in West-bound
freights could not he determined for some
time, but that it was probable that the ad-
vance would relieve the blockade some
whrt. Mr.. Cartwright asserted that by
Wednesday the strike would have ceased
to work any injury to the companies, as
during the July holidays there will be
dimiuution in the amount of freight offered
and the new hands will by Wednesday be
capable of handling the freight more
rapidly. :,
Another new feature has been developed
within the past few days, and that IS re-
turn of shippers to the Erie Canal and the
t,"Fes. On pier Z, East River, was piled up
yes[erday afternoon mass Of merchandise
Intended for different points in the West,
and
Half Dozen ColOred Men
were slowing it away in the hold OF an i'm
mense canal boat. The agent in charge
said that the boat belonged to the western
Transportation Company, and that the
freight was going all the way by water to
Buffalo, and thence by lakes to Chicago,
Milwaukee, Detroit and elsewhere. II is
claimed that grese deal of through West
ern freight will be shipped by water during
the summer, owing to the delay caused by
the strikes and the increase in railroad
rates.
The strike of the freight brakemen on
the Hudson River road has been compro-
missed, and the men have returned to work.
They have received an advance OF twenty
five cents trip, which will enable them at
present to make $45 and $50 per month.
The company has also made q general ad-
vance to all their depot and yard employees,
TO take effect beginning yesterday. Switch
men are to get So more per month, gate.
men $3.50, porters $3.50, boss porters ~ ana
doormeu s.. 1t was said yesterday that the
fremen on the freight trains intend to ask
an advance of wages. They now get $5G
for a round trip from New York to Albany.
They want an advance to 81.
The strikers formerly employed vt pier
26 and St. Johns Park were yesterday paid
the wages due them when they quit work.
The men were quiet and orderly, and as
fast as they received their money went
away. Those who had not already joined
the Union went to the headquarters, corner
Desbrosses and Hudson streets, enrolled
their names and paid the initiation fee.
The situation I'm Jersey.
Although yesterday was the day on which
the advanced freight rates went into effect
there was no material change in the reia'
tions between the striking freight-handlers
and the railroad companies in Jersey City.
Freight is still handled by Italians and
Russian Jews, but their work is evidently
not satisfactory. The railroads, however,
are doing much better than during the
early part OF the week. No surplus freight
can be seen anywhere, and goods are re-
moved nearly as fast as they accumulate.
The officials in charge at the different yards
said yesterday that the companies Will not
give in to the strikers. The latter claim on
the other hand that the shipment OF freight
is costing the railroads twice as much as
before, and that in the end, under the in
fuence of all the force brought to beer
upon them, the companies must yield and
grant ihe advance asked for. A small po-
lice force is stiil kept on duty at the yards
in Jersey. City, but the strikers are oraeay
an6 no trouble is apprehended from 'hefA.
The subacripsion Fund
already amounts to $500 and is still IN.
creasing. John * Mcnamara. Presiaent
no money will be distributed until July 10
and even after that date it will be given out
very spsringly.
The striking 'longshoremen and freight
handlers held meeting yesterday az 81,
Michael's Institute, Jersey City. President
Murphy said that an authorized re epresen.,ss-
tba Erecut;xa Tapmittee and had made