Norwich bulletin., 1916-08-31
WEEKS SUPPLY OF
 BEEF IN NORWICH
After That Local People Will Suffer
 if Railroad Men Strike.

if Railroad Men Strike.
 We have at least a weeks supply of beef on hand, said John L. Dono- van, local manager for Armour and Company, when asked Wednesday night what the local situation would be if the railroad men walk out next Monday morning as they threaten to do unless their demands are granted In case of walkout on the part of the railroad men, assuming that other local beef wholesalers are as well fixed as Armour and Company, there last until the following Monday. What will happen after that is a mere. con- lecture. There are three ways in which beef and other necessities of auto truck would be one solution, the trolley express another, and boat lines direct from New York and from beef centers themselves the third, What ever way the shippers choose local people are bound to be inconvienced to some extent if the waIkout lasts.
 The matter of Q wal1out is looking serious to the railroad heads that enabargoes are being rapidly put into effect. The local frsight agent, C. J. Lsbister, has received notice not to ac- cept any more freight for roads other than the New Haven. This order went into effect Wednesday nighs. Y1e has also been ordered not to accept freight 4oI OlAtI t1du 4OCal pOlutS aICer D o'clock Thursday night and not to accept any freight at all after 5 O. clock Friday night.
 That the situation would indeed be of the most serious character is the unan- imoUs opinion of wholesale and retail dealers alike.
 Railroads are the real arteries of transportation running from the food producing centers of the nation, and should these main sources of supply be suddenly cut off, such marine com municatiOn as there might be with commercial centers only would prob ably have insignificant value for any community
 How long will you be able to con- tinue in business if the railroad strike occurs?" was asked the proprietor of one of the biggest crea1neries in this section.
 ''Not 24 hours" was the immediate and energetic reply, followed by a vol ley of language of a character which the postal laws prohibit using in the public press.
 The creamery man quoted Is most familiar with the milk situation in this vicinity and he expressed his be- lief that for q time at least there will be no milk famine fYf the family trade. Most of the milk taken by families is produced in this vicinity, he said, and there will probably be no reason why it cannot be delivered as usual But ice cream and such will be on the missing list" he added.
 According to wholesale dealers in New York, the provision supply in that city is sufficient to last for at least two weeks, and possibly three The most serious problem in that city in the event Of a general strike will be that of milk. Should an emergency arise, New York will probably arrange for transportation of milk to the hCks- nit91S in Y1onhi1hC TnTdovcaI would have to serve for the house. holder in the metropolis.
 A copy Of the embargo issued by J. 4. Halliday, superintendent of trans portation, has been received by Charles w. Pearson, secretary of the Norwich Chamber of Commerce. The embargo reads as follows:
 Tn spite of ear%est efforts of the rail- roads of the United States to have en- plOyeS in the engine, train and yard service continue at work pending a peaceful adjustment of their demands the Order of Railway Conductors Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Brotherhood of Locomotive Bremen and Enginemen and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Trainmen have ordered a strike, to become effective at a. m. Sept. 4.
 In view of this strike order to stop the commerce of the. United States, it becomes necessary for this company to refuse to receive any more freight loaded after this notice. from connect ing rail or steamship lines or at local stations with the following exceptions: CD Freight will be received al points of interchange fro mconnectine rail or steamshi plines or at local sta tions when with the approval of the superintendent the time for transpor- tation is such it can be delivered al destination not later than such an hour 1 of Sept. 3 as will permit placing before Sept. f.
 (2) Shipments of fuel material an6 1 supplies for the operation of the rail road.
 | All freight received after this notice 1 will be subjetc to delay, loss and dam | age, because of strike so ordered l Every effort will be made to move 1 all freight now on the line or at june 1 tiOn points, to destinations and the 1 place for unloading prior to Sept. 4 l preference being given to livestock l perishables and to foodstuffs for human l consumption.
 In substance the order means tha- i only such freight will be handled as | can be gotten tQ it's ultimate destina- 1 tion before next Monday morning 1 Canned groceries are said to be plen. ! tiful here. Fresh fruits and vegeta. 1 bles will probably be obtainable ir ] some degree from the surrounding ter.
 ritory. Regarded from the most opti. 1 mistic point of view, the prospect is 1 not alIuring, to say the least, and i ! IS the earnest desire of merchants as
 well as the general public that the l crisis be averted.
 l It is estimated that approximateIy | 600 railroad men, members Of the foul 1 brotherhoods who are calling the l strike. will be affected in Norwich anC 1 New London and vicinity, including ! the yard at Midway.
 1 There are between 400 and 500 mer on the road. consisting of engineers l firemen, conductors and trainmen, whC i would be affected and about 100 yard. 1 men, including yard conductors, brake men and switchmen. Of the men or 1 the road, about three-f -ffths are engi-
 neers, frenen and conductors, and the 1 other tWo-ffths are trainmen.