Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-08-18
RAILROAD CENTERS OF STATE
SPECIALLY AFFECTED BY
RAILROAD STRIKE.
ARMY OF WAGE FARMERS
WOULD BE MADE IDLE
More Than $4,000 Employees Would
Quit and Many More Connected
With Railroads Probably Would be
Forced to Cease Labor-Loss in
Wages Would Soar to Millions.


finally go on strike more than 100, 900
Iowa wage earners would be directly af-
fected and all lines OF business, thou
sands o. homes and all trades would
feel the effects indirectly, according TO
estimates made today by state officials
here.
The records of the railroad commits
sion show that at the present time
there are more than $4,000 men earning
their daily bread on Iowa railroads. In
addition there are approximately $4,000
workmen whose calling dovetails so
closely with the railroads that their &C
tlvities must OF necessity cease when
the railroads cease operating, it was
said.
In addition to the 1000 men credited
to Iowa roads there are several thou
asand more who constitute sort OF float
ing population who would be thrown
out OF work by strike. These men are
engaged in interstate commerce, and
while they do not have their homes in
Iowa the majority spend a great por-
ton of their time within it's borders.
The records of the railroad commits
sion show that Iowa railroad employees
receive in wages 37,l10,O95 annually.
Every day that a railroad strike tied up
traffic it would cost the employees in loss
OF wages approximately sl24,0O0, it was
stated. The loss to other lines of bust
ness cannot be estimated and no none
tary value can be put on the suffering
and discomfort that would be caused in
many sections it was asserted.
Comparatively few men in the state
capital would be affected by a strike
Des Moines is not a railroad center and
what discomfort would be experienced
would be among other classes of work
men. At Valley Junction. however,
west of here few miles, in the neigh
borhood of 200 engineers would be
thrown out of work by strike. These
men are employed on the so-called
Iowa and Omaha divisions of the Chi
cago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway,
running respectively between Rock Is
land, Ill, and Des Moines, and Des
Moines and Omaha.
Railroad officials and the men them
selves estimate that an equal number
of conductors would be affected. a
slightly greater number of firemen than
either, and two and one half times as
many brakemen.
In addition to these men engineers
and other trainmen employed on the
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, Chicago
Great Western. Chicago, Milwaukee &
st. Paul, Chicago & Northwestern and
the Minneapolis and ST. Louis railroa Dis
will be involved. The majority of these
men, however, do not have their head
quarters in or near Des Mones.
In the Tri- Cities.
At Davenport general railroad
strike would result in the closing down
of many factories in the tri- cities of
Davenport, Rock Island and Moline.
and would throw thousands of men out
OF employment. These would include
the enormous plow factories and rail-
road shops at Rock Island and Moline,
car shops and similar industries in
Davenport, and might seriously affect
operation of the government small arms
arsenal on the government island in the
Mississippi river al that point.
Three roads feed the tri-cities-the
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific, the
Chicago. Burlington and Quincy, and
the Chicago Milwaukee and ST. Paul.
Hc NUN ISldllu Gill phys
iy 800 men and 1900 to 1000 cars, in
GLIDING freight and passenger cars, pass
thru it's terminal. The Milwaukee road
has approximately l15 employees and
averages 525 cars a day. The Rurlng-
ton. with 100 employees, averages IT'S
cars a day.
In the opinion Of local business men a
strike would result in an industrial
crisis at Cedar Rapids. Hundreds OF
men employed on the Rock Island
Northwestern, Milwaukee and Illinois
Central railroads might be thrown. out
of work and this city would be Deepen
dent for its food supply on incoming
interurbans.
Marion, Iowa six miles from there
with a population of 5,00'. depends al
most wholly on the Chicago, Milwaukee
and st. Paul division headquarters and
shops for it's industrial existence
General Superintendent Ustick. of the
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy said
that approximately 1000 men are en-
ployed by the Burlington here and that
the monthly pay roll vii. average $50,
000 About fifty men are employed by
the Rock Island and score by the
Muscatine, Burlington and Southern
No particular preparations have beer
made for strike, according to Mr.. U.s.
tick.
Would Hit ottunwa Hard.
According to railroad officials, one OF
the most serious situations in the state
will be encountered at Ottumwa in case
Of strike. Four railroads enter Of
tumwa, two of them large trunk lines
xu-t oil tar u,
large forces of men, The other two are
the branch lines with only A few resi-
dent employees outside of those in sta
ton service. However. at Eden, twelve
miles south of here, division point OF
the Rock Island employs about 300 mer
who will be affected by a strike, and
the majority of these buy thousands OF
dollars worth of supplies in Ottumwa
The Chicago. Milwaukee and St Pau
division at Ottumwa employs about 25C
Z men who will be affected by the strike
4 The Wabash has but few resident EN-
ployes here. Merchants estimate, how
ever, that employees of the Burlingt OF
and the Milwaukee roads spend approx
imately $4,000 here each month which
revenue would be greatly curtailed by a
vtrike.
Some of the smaller towns. it is be.
lieved, would feel the results of a gen.
eral strike even more seriously than the
large cities. 1t was pointed out. for in
stance, that at Boone, Iowa, about 300
engineers, $50 firemen, 400 conductors
and trainmen and 100 switchmen would
De involved in a waikout. About LOOT
men In all would be affected.
Opinion among both officials and men