The Dickinson press., 1909-12-04
affects Freight TRAFFIC
FROM GREAT LAKES TO COAST
Russell Commission Company Ship
Largely by Express at this Season
of the Year Strikers Will Not
Arbitrate and Long Interruption
to Traffic Likely.

Al 6 O'Clock Tuesday evening every
union swilchman in the state Joined
the great strike of the switchmen, which
is tying up freight traffic on all the
roads of the northwest from the great
lakes to the Pacific coast.
As result freight business is practi-
cally at standstill at Mandan, Fargo
and the Twin Cities and nothing is
being done. Cars of merchandise are
standing in the yards waiting to be
spotted where they can be unloaded
and retail merchants and jobbers are
in quandry as to how they can un-
load their shipments.
PASSENGER traffic is little affected, al
though these trains are little late on
account of making up the trains in the
terminal yards and in setting out cars
at the various points where transfer is
made to other lines. Trainmasters. yard
superintendents and the regular train
crews are doing this work and delay is
caused.
At Dickinson the switchmen are home-
made men. They do not belong to the
union and work is being taken care of
in fine shape. At Glendive and poi nts
west and at most of the larger places
east it is different. The switcl.men
are Out and it is very difficult to aet
freight started. New men are being
pressed into the service and it seems
likely that the railroads can take some
freiaht within few days.
Just what sympathy the switchmen
have from the members of the other
railroad unions and their organizations
is not definitely known. but from what
can be learned there is not strongly
sympathetic feeling among the other
depart ments of the railroad service.
However. there is no indication that
other men will do the switching and it
is probable that the other unions will
take a strictly neutral position. Some
are rather resentful over the matter,
because of the strike, coming as it does
just at the holiday season when they
needed the money for that occasion.
According to statement issued Fri
day by George T. Slade, general mana
ger of the Northern Pacific railroad,
who is acting in behalf of the mana
gers committee. the railroads were re-
ceivins limited amount of freight.
This they had refused to do since the
strike order went into effect Tuesday
evening. Strike breakers were imported
from the east, it was announced, but
just how many the officials do not say.
1t is stated that more men will be i'm
ported to take the places of the strikers
and these with former employees of the
companies together with former switch
men who are now employed in other
capacities. will be pressed into service.
With this working force the railroads
hope to be able to relieve the present
congestion of the freight business.
1t was feared at first that the strike
would adversely affect the price of
wheat but that does not seem probable
now. The price on Friday was 91c, or
within one cent of the highes price
paid since the new crop came into
market.
The farmers have heard of the strike.
and grain receipts at Dickinson have
already fallen off great deal, possibly
IS per cent. Walton & Davis had their
elevator full the middle of the week but
with few cars that they were able to
get they took care of their customers all
the week. The Lyon elevator will be
able to take grain for aay or two yet.
while the big 100, 600 bushel elevator at
the Russell-Miller Mill Co. works may
be able to receive wheat for the greater
part of the coming week. The mill is
using 3. 600 bushels every "a hours and
if the company can ship or find places
to store its products there will be no
CLOSING dOSvn hut IL dnoa nnt 1nok nou,