Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-08-30

and the brotherhoods, which shall ODD
serve the administrative and financial
effects OF the institution of the eight
hour day. Another amends the New
lands act to make arbitration more
effective along the line of the Cana
dian principles. The third provides
for government operation of railroads
for military necessity.
Business of Nation Halls.
Chicago, Aug. 30-Railroads Of the
nation rushed preparations today to
enforce the embargo on perishable
freight. Shipments of live stock and
perishables were refused by some
roads today; others issued warnings
that perishable freight, which cannot
reach it's destination by Saturday,
Sept. 2, will not be accepted.
From Chicago, the railroad center
OF the country, orders were dispatched
to ticket agents to inform passengers
that unless they reach their destina-
tons by Sunday night, they would be
subjected to 'perplexing delays"
Big manufacturers and business
houses swamped telegraph companies
with messages urging that their ship
ments be rushed at once. Many of
them authorized sending their orders
by express. Several large CONNER
tihL hOASCS dlACddy nave ACNaAiNh NAACiA
travelling representatives.
Roads Gather Forces.
Operating officials of many of the
big. railway systems speeded up care
full plans to meet any emergency, and
private detective agencies, engaged to
employ additional help, were urged
to more activity. Physical examina-
ton of thousands of former railroad
men, who, officials said. are willing to
return to the coach and cab, was has
tened.
Shopmen and engine hostlers who
know something about running loco
motives we're being coached. Guaran-
tees of bonuses and protection at
tracted many men who have had ex-
perience in firing boilers and operat-
ing stationary engines.
Chicago Would Face Famine.
Chicago, Aug. 30.-That Chicago may
suffer from famine within a few days
in the event of a railroad strike. de-
spite the fact that food enough to
supply the city for two years is stored
here. is claimed by railroad chiefs.
Coal dealers say that the city's coal
supply would be exhausted within five
days If shipments are stopped. The
cold storage plants, where immense
quantities Of perishable foodstuffs are
kept, depend on coal to generate pow
er for their refrigerating plants. Lack
ing the power, the food stored in these
warehouses would quickly spoil
Unless coal shipments continue the
city pumping plants would be forced
to shut down and the citys water sup
ply would be shut off.
The embargo on the shipment of
live stock and perishable goods may
result in shutting down the packing
plants at the Chicago stock yards
This would affect 10000 employees of
the packing companies.
Live stock shipments from Illinois,
Iowa and other middle western points
to the Chicago yards would be ma
terially affected
Railroad men hoped that many mem
bers of the brotherhoods would not
obey the strike order. In fact it was
rumored that little If any pressure
would be brought to bear on the older
generation of engineers and conduct
ors whose seniority has placed them
in well-paid positions, many of them
with pensioned leisure not far away
Pennsylvania mills were said to be
planning to transport munitions of war
by motor trucks to Lake Erie, there to
Pennsylvania road took a poll of its
employees and reported that 80 per cent
of them are willing to take place OF
strikers.
Officials VIII Hold Throttle.
Two other roads have made similar
polls in other cases and it is said that
more than one high official, risen from
the ranks, is prepared to enter the cal
OF an engine to move necessary freight
and passengers.
Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and many 9TH
er states where the interubran ser
vice has been highly developed, will
use the facilities to the limit. Inter
urban companies all over the country
were reported putting every bit OF
available rolling stock in shape for ex-
ira duty.
Appalling Effects of Strike.
Chicago, Aug. 30.-Slason Thomp-
son, director of the bureau of railway
news and statistics, said today that
figures only could attempt to present
such as that threatened by the rail
road brotherhoods.
"a strike would affect railway op-
Grafton on 100000 miles of main track
and over 390,000 miles of all track
which includes auxiliary tracks, yard
tracks and sidings," he said. 1.-THE
companies operating this mileage own
over $4,000 locomotives, 5000 passen-
ger coaches and 100000 freight cars
representing alone an investment OF
over $3.50 100000
THE net railway capitalization in
volved is about $16,500 900 900, OIL
about one-eleventh of the entire
wealth of the United States"
Mr.. Thompson said that the human
elements involved include more oil
less directly the peace, happiness and
daily subsistence of a people number
ing, according to the latest official es-
Inmates, 102, 574 900; the investments
of over 100000 owners of railway
stocks, and probably as many holders
of railway bonds, and the wages OF
some 100000 employees whose yearly
compensation amounts to something
like 100000, 0O0."
The freight movement in Septem-
Der and October, Mr.. Thompson said
is always the heaviest OF any period
~ ba haf