The age-herald., 1900-04-20
STRIKE SITUATION
 STILL UNCHANGED Railroad Officials Claim Men Are Returning to Work TELEGRAPHERS SATISFIED Say the Men Are Standing Firm and That Railroads Are Hampered
 -Pierson Gets Down
 to Figures.
TELEGRAPHERS SATISFIED

The local condition of the strike inau- gurated by the teegraphers of the South ern and Alabama Great Southern railways on the 12th remains unchanged so far as can be ascertained. Both sides maintain a firm front, and assert that the situation is very favorable. The railroad officials claim that they are not hampered in the movement of trains by the strike, while on the other hand the operators claim that the transportation service is badly crp- pied.
 The Alabama Great Southern suffered more from the strike than did the South ern, but suspension of all traffic south of Birmingham caused ythe heavy rains of the first part of the week makes it impos- sible to form a conclusion as to the effect of the strike on that end of the road The wires are in bad condition south of Tus- caloosa, at some places being under wa ter, which fact would render it impossi- ble to communicate with the stations in that section were all the operators at work. Linemen are at work straightening the poles and repairing the wires, and is is probale that with in the next day or two communication will be reopened be-
 
 Plerson Talks
 T. M Pierson speaking for the striking operators, stated last night that the men who quit work last week were not show ing any signs of weakening. He said that so far as he had been advised no over lures for a settlement of the differences existing between the company and the striking operators had been made by eith- CT side, if such were contemplated he knew nothing of 1t.
 In response to a querry as to the number of men who had quit work on the local division, MT. Pierson stated that only thirteen of the old men were now at work. He said that but one of them between Bir- mingham and Chattanooga had gone out on the strike and that only three remain ed on duty between Birmingham and Mer- dian. On the Birmingham division of the Southern five operators continued to work between Birmingham and Austell, four be- tween Birmingham and Columbus, Miss, and none between Columbus and Green vile.
 MT Pierson stated that the men now at work were being guarded by deputy sher- ifs and that he had been informed that as soon the guards are withdrawn the citizens will force the new operators to leave.
 Addition to Ranks
 MT. Pierson received a telegram last night stating the company had sent clerks, who are not operators, to take the places of the striking operators on the Mt. Airy division where the men went out on strike Wednesday. He said that several addi- tions had been made to the ranks of the strikers within the past two or three days.
 The railroad officials are positive in their statements that traffic has not been in- terrupted by the strike and that all busi- ness can and will be handled regardless of the men who quit work last week.
 Affirmation came from Chattanooga yesterday to the effect that the operators on that division of the Southern had vir- tually conceded defeat and that numbers of them were applying for their old posi- tions.