The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-08-08
CLASH WITH CITY
Missouri Pacific Yard Master
Arrested Yesterday
FOR BLOCKADiNG STREETS
Switchmen VIII Stop Work If
City's Order Is Enforced.

Missouri Pacific switchmen have clash
ed with the city a second time for block
aiding the streets and Day Yardmaster
Ramsey was arrested for this offense.
One of the switching crew quit work
yesterday morning and the other men,
bers gave notice that they would do
likewise unless the city withdrew its
order or the Missouri Pacific Railway
company built more tracks
Some weeks ago the council passed a
resolution ordering the railroads not to
place cars within fifty feet of the street
lines. The railroads refused to obey this
order and gave as their reason that it
would take 100 feet from each block Of
track, one third the usual city block.
This was an unreasonable demand. said
the railroads, so the rule was modified.
making the distance twenty-five feet from
the street lines.
But this did not stop the trouble in
many instances cars were found blocking
the sidewalks entirely and some out
into the street five 10 eight feet, leaving
passage way twenty feet wide between
two almost solid banks of box cars, and
il was impossible 10 see ten feet UP the
open tracks to watch for an approaching
train. Mr.. c. w. Southwark came near
being run over Monday night, train
just missing his horses noses. as he
could not see either way on Tenth street
for the long lines of cars. and the city
It'd f-fr amt
to enforce the order A B. Thacher was
arrested and fined $40 Thursday and Mr..
Ramsey was arrested but was given a
continuance until Superintendent Webb
should reach Wichita and appear be-
fore the court and explain matters
In the meantime the switchmen an
naunce that If the city's order was en-
forced they would not work until the
company built more sidetracks. One
switchman stated yesterday that the rail-
roads in this city had whole lot more
business than they could handle. They
have more business now than ever be-
fore; in fact their yards were damned
before the wheat crop began moving and
when the grain cars began coming in it
has blocked the yards until it is almost
trains in and out. The Missouri Pacific
has been running cars into the jungle"
south of Douglas avenue in order TO
make room for trains constantly coming
in, but even this has not relieved the
situation. The swtchmen say that IL is
impossible for them to work in the yards
unless they are allowed to use every
foot of space possible for the cars and
the company would have a blockade In
the yards If the order is enforced that
would tie up business here 10 such an
extent that thousands of dollars would
be lost member of the switching crew
yesterday stated TO the Eagle that I'M
less they We're allowed TO use every foot
of tracks they would not work. He stat
ed further that they would not shove
the cars over the street lines but they did
not want to be knocked out of the use OF
fifty feet of tracks in each block.
Mr. Ramsey will not be brought up for
trial until Superintendent Webb is able
to appear in police court when an effort
will be made To adjudicate the trouble so
that the men viii not be arrested and
remedy will he provided to prevent acct
dents owing to the crowded condition Of
the yards.