The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-12-15
CONDITIONS FAR
FROM NORMAL
sHiPPERs AND swlTcHMEN
CLAIM THAT SITUATION LOCAL
w IS STILL FAR FROM BEING
WHAT IT sHoULp-WARM CARS
ARE BEING FURNISHED.

II Is evident from the statements re-
ceived and from what can be learned
from other sources that there is stiu
room for much Improvement as far as
local strike conditions are concerned.
The action OF the perishable shippers
seems to have met with considerable
success as shipments OF this class OF
freight are being made. The railroad
are furnishing warm car service now
practically for the first time since the
strike began. The failure OF the roads
70 furnish refrigerator cars for peish-
able shipments is accounted 70 by the
ociais or the roads from the fact that
they could not secure the required
cars-which they claim were in SER
vice elsewhere-and to the cold wealth
er which prevailed for few days since
the strike commenced. Such ship
ments would not be- taken at any time
when the mercury Is below Zero" said
an official OF the Northern Pacific to-
day.
switchmen Say Strike Caused Shortage
The local switchmen say that this
failure to secure cars was due to the
fact that the cars were elsewhere and
that 1t was about Impossible for them
to bring the required cars to Fargo
for loading. What shipments the
reads made consisted in moving the
perishahle shipments in transit at the
time the strike was declared and to
bringing in those necessary things,
such as coal and food" said e member
Of the Fargo union of switchmen.
The real condition Of the roads was
best brought out by the meeting OF the
local shippers and the railroad agents
when 1t was shown that practically no
perishable shipments had been made
since Nov. 30, the date of the strike"
says Business IL Bad.
A number OF local jobbers and other
shippers state that conditions are still
In q pretty bad shape C. r. Meredith,
president Of the Meredith Drug Co, Of
this city, said to a representative of
The Forum today that business was
practically at standstill as far as out
side shipments were concerned.
Shipments that were made to De-
troit and nearby towns In North Da-
kota which were billed out on Nov.
so, have as vet not reached their des-
tination. They have been loaded and
are now probably standing on some
sidetrack."
Some of the other shippers make
similar statements although on whole
there seems to be the belief that con-
ditions are better this week than they
have been any time since the strike
started.
Look for Compromise,
The local strikers are confident that
the roads cannot hold out much longer.
especially with the pressure that In
being brought 20 bear upon them by
the shippers in all parts OF the coun-
try affected by the strike.
They believe that the roads will have
at least to come to some agreement
with the striking switchmen and bring
tkeEl back into the service. They be-
lieve that q compromise is only short |
distances away and soon expect TO be |
bach at work with some medication |
OF the old schedule and conditions.
On TIE other hand, at least as far
as is indicated in the local railroad |
circles, the companies and their of
GERS are as RIM as ever not to sumit |
to the demands of the strikers. They |
state that the new men are improving
in their work with each day, a fact
which is indicated by the increasing /
number OF trains. With continued good |
weather and an absence Of snow it will |
not be long until things viii be at nor
NAL, according to statements or the of /
ficials.
From disintererted standpoint Ii 10 i
the pravailoing belief that the strike
and poor transportation conditions will /
last indefinitely.