The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-14
Every Day Is Sunday in Chicago
Freight Business.
Not a Pound of Merchandise En-
ters or Leaves the Sheds.
10000 MEN ARE IDLE.
Wholesale Houses Abandon All
Attempts to Do Business.
Losses of Various Interests
Placed at 81 100000 a Day.

Chicago, July l-The second week of
the freight handlers strike began to-
day with 10000 idle and shipping at
standstilI. The railroad warehouses, Or
dinarily a hive of industry, were al
most as quiet as they were yesterday
as far as regular business was con-
cerned. AT a distance from each ware
house was a company of pickets posted
to keep the freight from entering or
leaving the sheds. Nearer the depot
were guards of police on duty to pro-
tect the en- in the warehouses and to
queH any disturbance which might
arise.
Gangs of non-union men, brought into
the city to take the places of the Str1k-
ers. lounged about the warehouses or
in their carts with scarcely anything to
do
President Curran of the Freight
Handlers union appointed committees
to visit the various railroads. But his
proposition had reverted further than
ever from the ideas of the railroad
managers and no hope was expressed
that settlement would be made today
or even this week. The line between the
opposing parties was plainly drawn to-
day, and no move on either side was
made to cross it,
Wholesale houses made practically no
attempt to send out freight or to re-
ceive it, These big adjustments were
all closed down. The strike has cost
them hundreds of thousands of dollars
already, and they stand to lose mil
lions should the conditions which OBJ
tanned this morning continue. The loss
in wages to the striking freight handl-
ers and their sympathizers, the team
sters, to the railroads and other lines
of business is roughly estimated at con-
siderably over $1.000,000 a day. The sit
uation is admittedly very grave.
MARKET IS DEAD.
Commission merchants in South Wa
ter street declared that the usually ami
mated market is dead In time of COM
mercial peace this street is one of the
most congested in the world. Today in
front of many of the stores there was
not wagon and scarcely a crate box or
barrel of produce. Some had a few
berries brought by boat from Michigan
and Wisconsin, but these were about
the only fresh arrivals. Thirty cars of
highly perishable stuff were reported on
the tracks while many more cars con-
tanning commodities which will last a
few days longer lay abandoned.
OF today's arrival by rail only two
carloads were cared for promptly. These
contained live poultry. 1t was said that
the humane society would not allow
them to perish and a permit was Sc
cured to take them to South Water
street.
One wholesaler had carload of
Georgia peaches on sale. They came
in Saturday by rail but the teamsters
refused to haul anything from the rail-
roads. The dealer thereupon shipped
the car around the lake to ST. Joseph,
Mich, where the consignment was
transferred 10 a boat and reached here
this morning.
President Field of the Knickerbocker
Ice company stated today that the ice
men were hauling ice everywhere, in
cludfng the railway depots and to cars.
This was denied by some of the strikers
A driver in a light wagon who sue
ceeded in delivering two small packages
to the Santa Fe had a stirring time of
it. When it became apparent to the
striking pickets that he was headed for
the warehouse they made a rush for
him. squad of policemen came to the
rescue and the driver reached the ware
house in safety.
Better come inside where You'll be
safe" one of the non-union freight ham
dlers advised Several hours later the
wagon still stood empty where the
driver had left it. The latter remained
in the warehouse while pickets guarded
every avenue of escape. So far as could
be learned this drivers two packages
We're the only ones delivered during the
forenoon to any depot.
Much fruit and vegetables which
came IN yesterday was reshipped last
night although it is said, without ade-
quate refrigeration. Vegetable and
fruit peddlers succeeded in getting par
tial supplies from the depots during the
day. but it was only after much fight
ing 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
carrying a basket or bag.
Despite the assertions of President
Field of the Kickerbocker Ice company
that ice was going to the freight houses.
pickets asserted that not one cake of
Ice had passed through their lines this
forenoon.
At 1870 p. m. President Curran of the
handlers gave out a statement in which
he said: 'All of the conferences today
nave failed. although we sent commit
tees of their own to managers a. they ha d
requested Hereafter the managers will
nave to confer with officials of the
union. If they want to waste 100000 Il
DAY over question of a cent increase