Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-04-25
TO BREAK STRIKE.
Squad Of us Men Land at
New Haven.
Will Be Chartered for Present On
Sound Boat.
Detectives Will Carefully Guard the
Railroad Shops.

New Haven, April 24-It developed,
yesterday afternoon, that the officials
of the New York, New Haven & Hart
ford railroad, anticipating the strike of
the boilermakers, made arrangements
to bring men here to take their places.
A squad of ITS strike-breakers was
landed ut the car shop dock from the
steamer G. Fl. Northam, belonging to
the railroad company, and went to the
boiler shops, this afternoon.
The c. H. Northam, which has been
lying at a dock here all winter, got
up steam unexpectedly, yesterday, and
went down the harbor where she is
said to have awaited the arrival Of the
steamer Richard Peck. which had a
squad of boiiermakerS from New York
on board. The transfer of the men from
the Richard Peck to the c. H. Northam
was made during the night.
The move is said to have taken the
striking boilermakers by surprise.
With the strike-br eakers there was a
tives who will act as Il guard of the
company's property.
The c. II. Northam will be used as a
IlN IitS pILttc lOi Tic CfihClo CilC
lies at the car shop dock and was con-
nected, today. by telephone with the
general Offices Of the railroad.
None of the $50 boilermakers Of the
local shops who walked out, last night,
with their aprons and personal tool
kits. returned to the shops, today.
This afternoon the following official
statement regarding the trouble was
given out from the railroad offices here:
The demands presented by the men
We're as follows:
First, an increase of four cents an
hour (Which is equivalent to about Is
peTcent)
Second. that nine hours constitute
a days work. with eight hours work on
Saturday and nine hours pay (the
company conceded this).
Third. overtime to begin after nine
hours (the company conceded this.
"Fourtll-The boiler makers asked to be
allowed 81 per day for expenses when sent
out on the road Che company agreed.
allowing the actual expenses incurred.
'Fiftll-'rhe men asked that when d
boiler maker is sent out on the road he
should in all cases be accompanied by
helper (the company did not agree to
this. as they feel that it is a matter of
management and conditions, that is. in
some cases 4 helper might be required
and in others would not.
I'm regard to the first mentioned de-
mand. the position of the company is
that they cannot afford to pay any more
for the cost of transportation than the
roads in their immediate neighhorhood
with whom they are competing for traf-
ffc. On actual comparison was mode with
the rates paid to boiler makers and their
helpers by the New York Central, Boston
Il Albany and Boston & Maine railroads.
and the company offered to make some
changes in the pay of certain boiler max
ers, which would bring them up to the
very highest basis paid by any Of these
roads and very much higher than one.
THE men insisted that they must have
an increase of at least II per cent. which
would be equivalent to three cents per
hour; but when asked why this company
should pay its boiler makers II per cent.
or three cents per hour more than other
railroads, they had no reason to offer
except that there are a few roads in the
extreme West that paid such rates.
THE above shows that the company
conceded every point asked by the men
except the increase in pay, which was
not justified by the conditions on neigh
boring lines.
"A number Of men at the different shops
did not go out"