The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-08-22
FERRYMEN STRIKE
Refuse to Run G. R. R.
Boat Lakewood Be-
cause Hands Were
Discharged.
COMPANY GIVES IN
Consents to Employ Two
Firemsn But Won't Keep
Deckhands.

For something like three hours today
The crew of the ferryboat Lakewood OF
the Central Railroad of New Jersey were
out on strike. A conference of over an
hour with Superintendent of Terminals
Richie resulted in an adjustment OF the
difficulties and the boat resumed ITS regu-
lar trip about two o'clock.
The strike was caused because the rail-
road officials decided to reduce the num-
ber of men making up the crew and dls-
charged a fireman The plan was to NIL
his place with an oiler. The company also
INTENDED to dismiss other members or the
crew. The men who struck gave as their
reason that they thought they would pe
placed in danger if they took the boat out
with the crew contemplated by their EN-
pIoyers so they left their posts and re-
fused point blank to do what was re-
quested of them.
When the boat tied up at the Conlnuni-
paw station at 10 o'clock the company
plans were made known and then the
men struck. Superintendent Richie sent
for Captain Richmond and the engineer
who waited on him as committee OF tho
strikers and they had a conference.
Neither Captain Richmond nor Superln-
tendent Richie would tell the details of
Inc cOnIGfence, Dul DOlA ScA0 tliC NO~N
would begin it's regular trips at two
o'clock, and both committee and superin-
tendent parted satisfied and on friendly
terms Superintendent Richie agreed to
run two firement and an oiler but re-
fused to continue to have two deck hands.
and hereafter but one man will be in
charge of the decks. This is the method
the other three boats are run under.
.f ha mn
doubled decked boats. There are two boi-
lers in the hold which require two fire.
men. There is also enough machinery
in the hold to keep one man busy almost
constantly with an oil can. The company
contemplated having but one fireman and
an oiIer. thus saving the salary of one
fireman. The crew contended that it
would make it dangerous for passengers
to cross the river on the boat.
Captain Richmond was seen after the
conference and asked about the strike.
There is no strike now," said he. 1T
Is all over
4Win the Lakewood begin its regular
trips today again?''
yes
with a full erew?'
Yes"
linen the demand OIL Inc SliAKAeiS Aes
been granted?"
well, everything is satisfactory now
to both sides"
Superintendent Richie when seen said
There is no strike. The boat is there
ready to go when we can get firemen for
it. We decided to discharge a fireman
and we had no one to fill his place so we
must tie the boat up for time"
.Will the boat run with full crew
again?''
yes"
ssWas it the company's plan to run the
boat with one fireman and an oiler and
thus save the salary of one fireman?'
WELL you see, we have been using two
firemen and an oiler since the boat was
put in commission. That was because she
was new and we had to pamper and
caress her a bit. but two firemen are not
necessary The Lakewood burns only
half as much coal as our other boats and
she doesn't need two f1remen. But we will
continue with two f1remen and full crew.
But the two firemen who formerly ran on
the boat are discharged and we will fill
their places with others"