Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1886-03-12
THE GREAT STRIKE.
NoTAPOUND OFFRETGHT PASSES
OYER THE GREAT BRIDGE
The Merchants ofst. Louis Beginning to
Feel the Efcscts Of the strike-Passenger
Traffic Not interrupted - Offers Of
knights OfLabor Refused, Etc.

ST. LOUIS, March 10.-Not a pound
OF freight has passed over the great
bridge into or out of St. Louis since
the employees Of the Bridge and Tun-
mel Company struck at the command
of the Knights of Labor, except over
the st. Louis & San Francisco line,
and its trains can penetrate the
city as far as the Grand Avenue depot.
From there to the Union depot
a distance Of about two miles, they are
obliged to use the Missouri Pacific
tracks, if any, and this the strikers will
not allow. Outside merchants are now
beginning to understand the serious
ness of the situation, and at points all
along the Gould system shipments
have entirely closed, or in very urgent
cases the orders are filled by express.
All through freight from the West and
Southwest is also diverted from the
city, for it is impossible to transfer
any of it from this to the east side Of
the river, or vice versa. The effect Of
all this upon business interests
has already become apparent, and
many prominent business men
express the opinion that the
diverting Of trade from this
city, on account of the strike, is not
only temporary, but will be permanent.
Grocers complain that they are unable
to fill half their orders, and fear that
if the strike continues much longer
their customers will seek other mark
cts, and when once turned away from
st. Louis the majority Of them will
stay away, on account of their un-
Willingness to transfer their patronage
SO often. These same statements are
made by nearly all wholesale dealers,
and their estimates Of the disastrous
effects of this strike varies in proper
ton as their customers are situa-
ted on the Gould or other roads
entering this city. Passenger traffic
has not been jnterfered with, excepting
suburb travel, which has been almost
entirely suspended. All through pas
senger trains are made up by officials
Of the different roads, and those Of the
Bridge and Tunnel company. The
Knights Of Labor have offered to fur
nish men to do this work, but their Of
fers have been refused on account of
the unwillingness Of the companies to
trust their property in the hands of
green men.
The situation remains about I'M
changed in East st. Louis this morn
ing. The Knights Of Labor there have
not struck as yet, but large numbers
Of that organization from this city are
there attempting, it is supposed, to
persuade them to join the movement.
The effect Of the strike in East st
Louis upon the cattle trade is especially
severe. No stock cars can cross the
bridge, and therefore the receipts are
literally lessened as the strike pro-
ceed5.
General Superintendent Karrigan of
the Missouri Pacific railway this morn
ing issued an order expelling from the
Missouri Pacific yards, all Knights of
Labor. This order includes the delega-
ton of men appointed by the knights
to guard the company's property.
The circular issued to the strikers
ordering them off the company's prem.
ises, is as follows: "You are hereby
notified that your action in withdraw
ing from the employment of the Mis-
souri, Pacific Railway Company was a
voluntary abandonment of the service
of the company, and that you are no
longer in its employment, and that
your names have been stricken from
its rolls. All such who are now about
the company's premises are hereby no
titled that they must Immediately leave
the same, to the end that this company
may resume traffic of the country.
WIN. KARRIGAN."
Although tide officials will make no
statement concerning the affair, it is
generally believed that they are now
employing new men to take the places
Of the strikers, and that the move
ments Of freight trains will l.s at
tempted tonight. Should this prove
true, the Knights of Labor will un-
undoubtedly offer assistance.
Dispatches received in this city this
afternoon from points on the Missouri
s. Kansas are to the effect that the
striking Knights of Labor are observ-
ing perfect quiet and no disturbances
have occurred. They remain firm in
their determination to force the rail-
road companies to accept their de-
mands, but as the strike proceeds do
not express such great confidence that
this will be the result as they did when
they first ceased work. The railroad
officials at different points are reticent,
but seem as confident and determined
as their striking employees.