The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-01-07
UNPLEASANT FOR GOTHAM
LOCKOUT ON TWO LINES OF THE
ELEVATED RAILWAYS.
Engineers Who Were Talking Shorter
Hours Surprised at the Company's
Action-The Dear Public Dis
tressed--Business Notes.

NEW YORK, Jan. THE probability of G
general strike of the locomotive engineers
and other employees of the elevated railway
system was eagerly discussed by everybody
Wednesday morning. The Manhattan com
pany took the initiative by closing the Ninth
and Second avenue lines at midnight, Tues
day, witt the design of disconcerting the
dissatisfied engineers and of manning the
Sixth and Third avenue lines with the EN-
ployes who may refuse to join tho proje ted
strike. The managers determined at any
cost to keep trains running on the Third
and Sixth avenue lines. The suspension of
business on the Ninth and Second avenue
lines caused an unprecedented rush to the
stations, Wednesday morning, resulting in
much confusion The crush was so great and
the trains, which were run at short inter
walls, SO packed that at many of the stations
persons going to business had to wait from
twenty minutes to full hour before they
managed to get on board. There was mnch
growing at the way the public was being
inconvenienced, and many people, after
finding out the situation OF affairs at the
station, demanded return OF their fare
This resulted in innumerable quarreis he
tween the railroad employees and indignant
patrons of the road These frequent bick-
erings resulted in the announcement being
made at the foot of the station steps that no
more tickets would be sold Many were
therefore forced to avail themselves OF the
surface roads
The Second and Ninth avenue lines were Or
dcred open again at 1880 O'Clock Wednesday
and Immediately afterward the engineers
Cbiaf Artb tb,,r n.Il Il..4 at
Elevated Railroad conlpany's Office aud
were in conference with the directors of the
company at ll:l5.
The lockout was genuine surprise TO TIE
engineers and firemen employed, and caused
much Indignation among the men CEiet
Arthur, who was called upon at his head
quarters by Press representative, said:
''All things considered. General Manager
Hams treatment of the men on the roads
named was most shabby, and any unbiased
person will not hesitate TO confirm my state
ment in this respect Nothing has been
done either by myself nor men to warrant
such d procedure and it was wholly uncalle6
for We were quietly awaiting the result of
the conference No strike has Geen ordered
hy me nor have I in any way threatened to
order one rs yet" Col Hahn, who was sub
seguently called dpon in regard to his a.
ton, refused absolutely to say anything
The demands Of the dissatisfied employees
are that eight hours shall constitute a days
work, that the wages of engineers and fire
men shall be paid according to the agree
ment made in 1ss0-engneers who have been
in the campanys employ one year to receive
81 30 per day: old engineers hired to receive
si2j per day for the next six months and
$50 thereafter; firemen promoted to
engineers to receive s. and S325 for tie
first year and S 81 thereafter; new firemen
10 receive 81 65 per day for six months, ST.. -
for the next six months, and 81 thereafter
LATER-It can be stated that the strike
of the engineers on til elevated system of
roads has betn at least postponed. General
Manager Ham will submit proposition to
the men inside of twenty four hours. State
Railroad Commissioner O'Donell called on
Eice President Galloway and General Man
aGer Hahn, wednesday morning, and made
5Jah a vigorous argument against the sus-
pension of travel on any of the roads until
such thing was actually necessary, that
the officials backed down and ali order was
issued count srmandng the order for the
discontinuance Of trains on the Second and
Ninth avenues. This leaves the situation
between the engineers and the Manhattan
Elevated company just where it was before.
The result of the conversation between
Arthur and the engineers committee and
dains, the railway manager, is to leave
matters just where they were. An AMIGA
bic talk took place, and Hains promised to
submit a proposition in twenty -four hours
Ia the meantime trains will be run as usuai
On the same terms as before