Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-12-02

of industry in the Twin Cities, Duluth
and Superior and all cities of the
Northwest dependent upon the move.
ment of supplies is seriously affected
by the strike of the railroad switchmen
which began at O'clock last evening
1T is estimated that upwards of l., 0Ot
men are idle oil account Of the strike
order, thousands of freight handlers
and teamsters are losing time by rea-
son Of the freight blockade in the ter
minal towns, While continuance of the
strike for several days will throw al
ditional thousands out of work.
The railroad yards are filled with
stalled freight trains and an attempt
to move a few by the aid of the Office
men drafted as switchmen, is making
no impression.
The railroad managers stated today
that they We're bringing to St. Paul
new sWitchmen to take the place of
the strikers. To this President Hawley
of the Switchmens Union of North
America said:
IAN right, let them come; we will
nOtfObject.'
Business men generally are beginning
to feel the result of the strike. The first
to be affected We're the wholesale groc-
ers and commission houses Whole sale
grocers report that nothing is moving.
Commission houses are doing nothing
and their customers in the small towns
who get their supplies from day to day
will soon he unable to serve fresh vege
tables and fruit. Some of the larger
commission houses today reduced theil
working forces and will make further
reduction if the strike continues many
days.
In Minneapolis the flour mills closed
tonight and it is estimated that $500
men employed in them are idle. con-
tinuation Of the strike will throw on;
of employment about 1900 more who
are employed N the cooDerage and al
lied trades. In South st. Paul, where
the stock yards are, only 800 head OF
cattle We're received today, wherS
usually 1900 is the daily average. Man
ager Bangs Of Swift d CO. said today
that the question of reduction in the
packing honse force depended entirely
on the duration of the strike.
IF we cannot get stock we will have
to close" he said.
He would not say how long the plan.
could ran on the present supply OF
stock.
II the iron range country the small
towns will soon be facing a famine I'M
less trains of food stuffs can be brought
in there. In Superior 300 men were laid
off in tie Great Northern Railway
machine shops. The mines will be ar
fected by the stopping of freight traf-
fic. On the ore docks at Duluth and Su-
perior within As hours 10000 men viii
be out of employment and the genera
loss on account of no employment fol
labor and inability to deliver mer-
chandise will run into thousands o.
dollars.
The most serious effect will be i!
Montana, particularly at Butte. An
aconda and Great Falls. where th'
coppe. mines and shelters are.
In Montana and western Idah.
freight traffic is tied up. About &
| freight trains are stationery IN
.,vitchnen are in control OF all ter
minal points.
| This territory is taken care of by
the Great Northern, Northern Pacific
and the Chicago, Milwaukee and Puge
Sound Railroads. Unless the railroad.
can carry coal to the smelters and ore
from the mines to the smelters, opera
lions must speedily cease. The smelt'
ers will be affected first, for their coke
supplv is limited. The mines may b'
able to mine ore and store it on th'
dumps and in the bins for while, blu
II not long The entire town of Butte
is dependent on the operation of thu
mines and smelters. When they stol
everything stops. All food stuffs are
imported Many Of the big mining
companies run stores. "A miners credi
is good there only as long as he works
The smelters in Anaconda emplo!
about $500 men. There are also large
smelters at Great Falls employing 50'
men who are idle. That all hopes o.
| a settlement of the strike at present
are at an end was indicated by the
departure for Washington tonight OF
Martin A. Knapp, of the Interstate
| Commerce Commission and United
States Labor Commissioner Charles +
| Neill
! Mr.. Knapp said he could do nothing
but offer his services and they were
not wanted at present.