Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-03-10
LABOR AND CAPITAL
Dor and Texas Pacific Railroad As.
euming Immense PrOpOrtiODs-HOw
the strike Affects COmmerce-Street
Car Operatives Out.
ST. LOUIS, March 9,

ol. LOulS, NldICu
The condition of affairs in relation to the
strike of employees upon the Gould south
western system is as follows: No freight of
any kind is allowed to pass over the tracks
of the Missouri Pacific railroad, and conse-
quently cars loaded with merchandise to be
shipped from this city can find no exit. Many
are loaded with perishable property and great
loss will result from their detention, unless
they can be unloaded and their cargoes stored
in safer places. Grain elevators are the
worst sufferers thus far from the blockade.
There is an abundance of grain already In
spected in the yards but not a bushel of it
can be gotten to the elevators. The number
of cars thus locked within sight in one yard
is about one hundred, and there are enough
more scattered along the tracks within few
miles of the elevator to swell it to total of
two hundred cars. None of the grain can be
moved until the strike is at an end. In other
lines of business the effects of the strike is
also felt to greater or less extent, the wool
and cotton trades being the greatest suffer-
ers. As regards the settlement of the strike,
neither eide is willing to make definite
statement.
Officials of the railroads say that their men
have no grievances with them and that it Is
impossible to reinstate the discharged fore
man, Hall, of Marshall, Texas. as they have
no authority there. The knights state they
have no cause to call conference of the OF
ficers of the railroad at this point AS they are
striking now simply in support Of the action
taken by their brethren in Texas, and that
that matter must be settled with the receiver
of the Texas Pacific and then, and not till
then. can any of the striking Knights return
to work.
The most important and serious develop
| ftl,o .trtly nd th.,t
which will result most disastrously to pas
senger traffic, is its extension to the yard and
switchmen OF the Bridge and Tunnel Co.
This move includes all the employees of the
company except engineers and fremen, su-
perintendent of transfer and three yard mas
tiers. They will attempt to make transfers
| as usual. The significance of this departure
can be better understood when it is known
that 225 men are employed in the handling Of
the traffic which passes over the bridge, and
that it is not possible for four men at each
end of the bridge to throw" the switches
and perform the other duties incident to the
business. A labyrinth of tracks converges
at the entrance to the bridge and the tunnel
on both sides of the river, and the switches
are worked by automatic apparatus and a
complicated system of levers which can only
be worked by men trained to their use. The
| places OF ldDUIeTs dDOut Tue yhTu lHlgHt Ue
readily supplied, but switchmen skilled in
the manipulation of the switching contrivan-
ces now employed and possessing knowledge
of incoming and out going trains are made
by experience, and their places cannot be
! filled by green hands
The managers of the Missouri Pacific
railway offices in this city today notified their
clerks that they had decided to relieve them
from duty indefinitely. This action has been
taken by the company in order to curtaii as
much as possible their expenses during. the
continuance of the Knights of Labor strike
upon their road. This order affects 60 tele-
graph operators and POO office clerks.
r This morning an order was issued by the
vice president of the Missouri Pacific road to
the heads of all the departments of the road
to at once dispense with the services of every
employee not positively necessary to the
company in its present crippled condition.
In all about 5000 persons not participating in
the present strike will suffer the loss of pay
until the Knights of Labor return to work.
KANSAS CRY, March 9.
The situation in the Missouri Pacific strike:
remains unchanged today. No freight is
handled.
CHICAGO, March Q.
The Times printed the following in its
railroad column Tuesday morning:
The beef controversy and transcontinenta
troubles in railroad affairs are unfortunate
incidents at this particular time, remarked
the veteran manager. Monday. They have
brought into prominence many things thai
have been argued but not proven and given
an incentive for action to those who advocate
governmental control. They furnish ammu
nition to the inter State commerce committee
and make plea in favor of the Cullom bill
For example, compare through rates Of pas
senger fares with local. 1t costs less at this
present moment to 90 from Chicago to Sar
Francisco than any of the intermediate point
1900 miles this side of the latter city. Freigh
of all classes is handled to Ihe Pacific cOas
at lower rates than it is for points 100 mile
west of the Missouri river. OF course it il
stress of war measures and fighting competi
. ton that makes through rates abnormall!
| low, but none the less do these inconsisten
cies influence public opinion. If the Cullou
bill was in operation, notice would be giveI
the Chicago and Transconrinental roads Il
cease discrimination and they would have 4
scale their local fares and rates to correspond
I with through rates. In case of . refusa
~