The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1902-07-17
A MILLION A DAY
STRIKE AT CHICAGO VERY Ex
PENsIvE TO WINDY CITY
BUSINESS MEN.
SHIPPING AT A sIANDsTILl

No Attempt Made at Present to Sent
Out or Receive Freight, Many of the
Big Establishments Being Practical
ly Closed Down-Littie Hope Of an
Early Settlement Between the Rail.
roads and the Strikers.
Chicago, July 15.-The second week
of the freight handlers strike began
with 10000 men idle and shipping at
a standstill. The railroad warehouses,
ordinarily hives of industry, were al
most as quiet as they were Sunday so
far as regular business was concerned.
At distance from each warehouse
was company of pickets posted to
keep freight from entering or leaving
the sheds. Nearer the depots were
guards of police, on duty to protect
the men in the warehouses and to quell
any disturbances which might arise.
Gangs of nonunion men brought into
the city to take the places of the strik-
ers lounged about the warehouses or
in their cars with scarcely anything to
do.
Wholesale houses made practically
no attempt to send out freight or to re-
ceive it.
These big establishments were all
but closed down. The strike has cost
them hundreds of thousands of dollars
already and they stand to lose millions
should the conditions which obtain
continue. The loss in wages to the
sympathizers, the teamsters, the rail.
roads and other lines of business is
estimated at considerably over ST.
100000 day. The situation is ad-
mittedly very grave.
Commission merchants on South
Water street declared the usually an
mated market dead. In times of COM
mercial peace this street is one of the
most congested in the Caucasian
world. But now in front of many of
the stores there is not a wagon and
scarcely crate, box, or barrel of prod
uce. Some had few berries brought
by boat from Michigan and Wisconsin,
but these were about the only fresh
arrivals. Thirty cars of highly perish
able stuff was reported on the tracks,
while many more cars containing COM
modities which will last few days
longer lay abandoned. OF the days ar.
rivals by rail only three carloads were
cared for promptly. These contained
live poultry. 1t was said that the HUI
name society would not allow them to
perish and permit was secured to
take them to South Water street.
One Driver Has an Exciting Time.
ceeded in delivering two small pack
ages to the santa Fe had a stirring
time of it. When it became apparent
ito the striking pickets that he was
headed for the warehouse they made
rush for him. A squad of policemen
came to the rescue and the driver
reached the warehouse in safety.
Better come inside where you'll be
safe," one of the nonunion freight
handlers advised. Several hours later
the wagon still stood empty where the
driver had left it. The latter remained
in the warehouse, while pickets guard
ed every avenue of escape. So far as
could be learned this drivers two
packages were the only ones delivered
during the forenoon to any depot.
Much fruit and vegetables which
came in Sunday were reshipped, al
though, it is said, without adequate re-
frigeration. Vegetable and fruit ped
dlers succeeded in getting partial sup
plies from the depots during the day,
but it was only after much trouble
with the pickets and assistance from
the police. Tons of half spoiled stuff
was given to poor people who waited
at nearly all the depotS in crowds,
each one carrying a basket or bag.
Despite the assertion of President
Field of the Knickerbocker Ice COM
pany that ice was going to the freight
houses pickets asserted that not one
cake of ice had passed through their
lines during the forenoon.
The conferences between commit
tees of the men and the railroad man
ayers generally came to nanght. Even
when President Curran told the COM
mitteemen tt, accept TN cents, a
modification of his earlier instructions,
no progress was made. A man familiar
with the employers side of the fight
said:
"The situation among the railroads
is about this: The Western roads are
swearing mad for the most part and
won't bulge an inch; the Eastern peo-
pie generally want more time to con-
slider. suppose this is because they
have to do considerable comforting
with New York, where most of them
have their headquarters. The railroads
claim to have enough men in their
warehouses to handle all business
brought to them. They stand to lose
considerable but it is nothing to what
Chicago wholesalers are losing"
GUARDED BY SPECIAL POLICE.
Henry Clay Washery Near shamokin,i