The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-03-17
ABIG STRIKE IN GEORGIA
THE MEN ON SIX RAILROADS OUT
AT ATLANTA.

AT ATLANTA.
a Demand for Increased Wages at the
Bottom of the Trouble-The Roads
Firm in Their Refusal TO Grant an
Advance-Fears That the Movement
Will Spread.
ATLANTA, GA, March l6-The discon-
tent which has been brewing here some time
among the yardmen on account Of the
wages paid them eliminated last night and
this morning In a general strike, in which
the employees of all the roads centering here.
except the State and Georgia, are involved.
The yard conductors and switchmen are
out on the Ricamond and Danvllle, Geor-
gia Pacific. Atlanta and West Point, Atlanta
and Florida. Central and East Tennessee
roads. On the latter line alone about 500
employees are said TO have struck, the
trouble not being confined to the yardmen,
but embracing the fremen up and down
the road between this point and Chatta-
nooga The strike originated in Rome yes
terday and extended to this city and to
other roads.
COMPLAINT OF THE FIREMEN.
have for quite while complained that un-
just discrimination was made between them
and the engineers, the latter being paid 35
| cents per hour for extra work, while the
flremen receive no additional compensation
at all. They claim that their extra pay for
extra work should be half that paid engin-
! GERS.
The complaint of the yardmen on all the
Lines involved is that the conductors and
switchmen get only $2s30 and 81 80 re-
spectively instead Of 81 go and SO 90 per
diem, which latter they claim to be the
standard price for such labor Rxed by the
railroad officials Of the country. They say
tho Western and Atlantic is the only line
running into Atlanta that pays such wages.
PETITION OF THE YARDMEN.
About week ago the yardmen connected
with each OF the roads mentioned sent to
| their respective superintendents petitions
demanding an increase OF wages. Yester-
| day the yardmasser OF the Central dis
charged four Of the conductors signing the
petition TO the superintendent of that line.
This precipitated the trouble. A meeting
was held and strike was determined upon,
notice being served on the yardmen of
other roads not paying the standard price.
The strike In the Central yards occurred al
10 o'clock last night. Meantime, at o'clock
in the afternoon, the fremen aud switch
struck at Rome and strikes followed all
along that line north Of this city.
AN oMINoUs OUTLOOK.
This morning the yardmen on the various
lines mentioned in this city also quit work,
demanding higher wages. Committees
| were appointed TO see IL an adjustment
could be made, but nothing has been done
| TO relieve the situation.
Prominent officials OF all the roads inter-
ested arrived hero this morning and con-
| ferred with the committees. but IL is an
nounced that the railroad authorities, at a
meeting held this afternoon. positively de-
cllned to meet the demand for standard
wages, and grave app.ehensions are enter
| tanned that tomorrow the strike will spread
to other employees, including the engineers.
THE SCENE IN THE YARDS.
Tho scene in the Central and West Point
| yards this morning was an interesting one.
Two or three hundred strikers were stand.
ing about the Mitchell street crossing quiet
| ly discussing the situation, while their COM
mittee was comforting with the officers In.
| side On the trees about the place was
posted the following order:
| NoTICE-All persons not in the employ OF
| the Central Railroad and Banking Com
pany, or the Atlanta and West Point rail-
roads, are warned not to trespass on the
premises OF the Central Railroad and Bank
| Ing Company. II. X. DILL, Superintendent
COUPLE OF FIGHTS.
There has been very little disorder as yet,
though the police were called out this morn
| ing to prevent the strikers from interfering
| with the Georgia railroad men, from which
| road the former seem bent on seeing no
| freight transferred to other lines. There
| was a fight or two, but nothing resembling
a riot.
| A disastrous freight blockade see Is to bs
| threatened here. The yards are full Of
trains containing perishable goods The
| night train on the Central was delayed an
| hour In starting. Finally the running crew
did the switching and got away shortly
after 8 O'Clock.
The Central men demand the reinstate-
| ment Of two discharged men as well as in
Savannah yards tomorrow to take their
places.
| ANOTHER COMPLICATION.
| A serious complication is threatened by
| tho refusal of the locomotive engineers
throughout the country to haul freight
consigned TO or transferred from the Mari-
eta and North Georgia railroad. The
brotherhood Of engineers have thus boy
cotted the roan on account of the striking
engineers. the boycott will be carried still
| farther, for the engineers have requested
| the express company to decline taking any
| more express matter for the Marietta and
North Georgia railway. This mornino an
| informal meeting of railroad engsuenf9 whs
held, and it was decided to help the stTzxing
| engineers in every way possible.