The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-02
BIG FLOUR MILLS IN
M|NNEAPO Oils CLOSED
Wholesale Houses and Every Big Busi-
ness In Large and Small Towns
Feel Effect of Strike and
Losses Will Be Heavy.

st. Paul, December Livery line of
industry in Duluth and Superior anc ali
cities of the northwest dependent on the
movement of supplies are seriously af-
fected by the strike of the railroad
switchmen which began at o'clock last
evening.
1t Is estimated that upward of $4,000
men are idle tonight on account of the
strike order, thousands of freight nanG-
lers and teamsters are losing time by
reason of the freight blockade in the
terminal towns. while a continuance of
the strike for several days will throw
additional thousands out of work.
The railroad yards are filed with stalled
freight trains and attempt to move
few cars is making no impression. The
railroad managers committee announced
today that they were 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:
"All right. Let them come; we will
not object"
The first business interests to be af-
fected were the wholesale and commits
sion houses. Wholesale grocers report
that nothing is moving. Commission
houses are doing nothing and their Gus
toners in the small towns who get their
supplies from day to day will soon be
unable to serve fresh vegetables and
fruit.
Working Forces Reduced.
Some of the larger commission houses
today reduced their working forces and
will make further reductions 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. A continua-
tian OF the seike will throw ont of esn-
ployment about 1900 men who are EN-
ployed in the cooperage and allied trades.
In South st. Paul, where are located the
stock yards, only 800 head of cattle were
received today. Usually 1900 is the daily
average. Manager Bangs of Swift &
Co.. said today that the question of re-
duction In the packing house force de-
pended entirely upon the duration of the
strike.
IF we cannot get the Stock he said,
Eve will have to close"
He would not say how long the plant
could run on the present supply OF
stock.
In the iron range country the small
towns will soon be facing famine unless
trains of foodstuffs can be moved. In
Great Northern machine shops. The mines
will be affected by the stopping Of freight
traffic On the ore docks at Duluth and
Euperior, within 4S hours 10000 men will
be out of employment, and the general
loss on account of no employment for
labor and inability to deliver merchan-
alse will run into thousands of dollars.
st. Paul and Minneapolis sare the dis
tributing points for the entire northwest,
covering Minnesota, Wisconsin. Northern
Iowa, North and South Dakota, Montana,
Idaho and large part of Washington
and Oregon.
In all of the cities in these states the
efect of the stopping of the carrying Of
freight will be felt.
Most Serious Effect.
The most serious effect will be in Mon
lana, particularly at Butte. Anaconda
and Great Falls, where the copper mines
and smelters are located. In Montana
and Eastern Idaho freight traffic is tied
M. About 60 freight trains are station
ary. The switchmen are in control OF
Ill terminal points
This territory is taken care. Of by the
Great Northern, Northern Pacific and the
Chicago, Milwaukee and Puget Sound
railroads Unless the railroads can carry
eoaI 70 the smelters and ore from the
mines to the smelters, operations must
sneedily cease The smeters will be hit
FIRST for their coke supply Is limited
The smelters In Anaconda employ about
800 men. There are also large smeiters
at Great Falls. employing about 500o
men, who are idle
That there Is no hope of a settlement OF
the strike at present was indicated by
the departure for Washington today or
Martin A. Knapp of the Interstate COM
merce commission and United States La
Dor Commissioner Charles p Neiii.
Mr.. Knapp said he could do nothing
but offer HIS services and at this time
they were not wanted