Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-04-07
SUSPENSION OF WORK IN COAL
MINES CAUSES DECREASE
IN FREIGHT TRAFFIC.
Several Crews Of TraInmen on Various
Roads Laid Off Temporarily Roads
Reduce Number of Switch Engines
Railroad Notes.

experiencing the effects Of the sus.
pension Of work in the coal mines and
several crews have been laid off tenn
porarily pending a settlement of the
wage question by the miners and op-
orators. 1t is stated that as an imme-
diate results of the miners stopping
work freight business with the rail-
roads is the slackest known for many
months.
The coal fields in this vicinity are
among the richest in the state. Sew
eral hundred miners are employed and
the handling of the GOAL taken from the
mines is an important item of the
freight business Of all the railroads
running into the city. The Milwau-
kee taps extensive coal fields both
north and south of Ottumwa. The Bur-
lington besides running train daily to
the Keb mines has other large mines
on the main line in Wapello and Mon
roe counties. The Rock Island has
many large mines along its line be-
tween Ottumwa and Des Moines and
does an extensive freight business
from this source. Outside Of the coal
business, it is said the freight traffic
is very heavy.
Crews Transferred.
The Milwaukee has transferredi five
crews of trainmen from the Marion
line to the cutoff and two switch en-
gines at the junction yards have been
taken off until work in the mines is
resumed. This will throw several men
out Of work temporarily. The freight
h1JCinacc of tho nofN
Island has also been much decreased
by the stopping Of the coal business. 1t
is stated that one Of the day and one
of the night switch engines in the Bur-
lington yards have been laid off tenn
porarily which will throw six switch
men and two engine crews out of work.
The force at the coal sheds has been
reduced and a further reduction Is
looked for.
Are Well Supplied.
Officials Of the railway companies
state that they have large supply OF
coal on hand and that there is no dan
ger of a shortage at present. It ID
stated that the railways have enough
coal to operate their roads for about
thirty days and it is expected that
work in the mines will be resumed be-
fore that time. At any rate it is stat.
ed. that enough coal for operating pur-
loses can be shipped in from other
states.
Railroad Notes.
Three OF the truckers at the Milwau-
kee freight depot were laying off today
on account of Illness.
Superintendent 3. Lass of the Mil
waukee, left yesterday for visit with
his family in Elgin, III.
Switch engine No. 1923 has been
sent from the Milwaukee junction to
Coburg and will be used for switching
in the yards at that place.
c. A. Keller, chief carpenter of the
Kansas City division of the Milwau-
kee with headquarters In this city, has
returned from an enjoyable two weeks
visit in Florida.
Conductor ]. Tomlinson, whoshas
one Of the way freight runs on the
cut off is enjoying few days vacation
During his absence tho run Is being
taken by Conductor Frank Howard.
All of the freight runs on the Marion
line except the way freights have been
abandoned temporarily.
A small wreck on the main line of the
Burlington between Neponset and
Buda, ILL.,, last night delayed traffic
several hours. A draw on one of the
cars Of freight train No. 80 broke and
fell to the track, deralling one of the
cars. Before the train could be brought
| to standstill three more cars went
into the ditch. The wreczer was sent
out from Galesburg and the track clear
ed up in about four hours. No one was
was hurt.
On account of the taking off Of two
switch engines at the Milwaukee juno
ton several changes have been made
in the crews. Ed Green is the day
yard foreman at the junction with o
c. Kenney and ]. Wells helpers. G
cellars is night foreman and the help
ers are William Rutherford and Will
liam Ellenberger. The day crew at the
down town yards is as follows: w. /
Miller, foreman, and Matt McInerney
and A. w. Simmons helpers. Franz
Jennings is night foreman and William
Eaton and j. Fulton helpers.
Conductors George Gilbert ant
James James have charge of the wa.