Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-08-30
Railroads of Nation Generally
Announce Expected Inability
to Handle Shipments.
PASSENGERS ARE WARNED
OF PERPLEXING DELAYS
Big Communities Prepare to Wrestle
With Problem of Food Supplies
Over a Protracted Strike Period.

embargo on perishable freight.
Shipments of livestock and per-
ishables were refused by some
roads today; others issued warn
ings that perishable freight which
cannot reach its destination by
Saturday, September 2, will not
be accepted. ......
From Chicago, the railroad CEN
ter of the country, orders were
flashed ticket agents to inform
passengers that unless they
reached their destinations by
Sunday night they would be sub
jected to "perplexing delays"
Associated Press dispatches
from all parts of the country in
dicated that within forty-eight
hours, unless delay in the strike
is ordered, embargo orders will be
effective on practically every rail-
road in the country.
What this means to traffic and
revenues is said by the railroad
men to be shown by the statement
of an official of the Atchison,
Topeka and Santa Fe railroad,
who said the embargo would re-
duce the traffic of the road one
third.
Harris Weinstock, state market di-
rector of California, said that a strike
of any duration meant ruin to thou
sands of fruit growers. A Sacramento
dispatch stated that picking of fruit
in that rich district had virtually
ceased.
Commercial and Industrial organiza-
tions, as well as individual firms and
corporations throughout the country,
were reported Hoping for the best and
preparing for the worst"
Railroad men hoped that many mem
bers of the brotherhoods would not
obey the strike order.
The Erie road appealed directly to its
41,000 employees not to strike. The
Santa Fe made a similar appeal weeks
ago, when the strike vote was being
taken. Two ore roads in northern Mich
igan and Minnesota-the Duluth, Mis-
sabe and Northern and the Duluth and
Iron Range-will not be affected by
ha Cf1iE 70 Cfa fnd
crews, largely members of the brother
hoods, are said to have assured their
employers that they regarded their
agreements with the roads as binding
and that they would not go out. This,
it was said, would assure continued
shipments of ore to the hungry mills
of the east.
Planning to Use Motor Trucks.
Pennsylvania mills were said to be
planning to transport munitions of war
by motor trucks to Lake Erie, there to
be loaded on vessels to Europe.
The Pennsylvania road took poll of
it's employees and reported that 80 per
cent of them expressed a willingness
to take the places of strikers.
Other roads have made similar in
vestigations. Minneapolis, st. Paul and
Duluth were reported making sys-
tematic arrangements for motor truck
service. Illinois. Indiana, Ohio and
many other states where the inter-
oped will use the electric facilities to
the limit. Interurban companies all
over the country were reported put
ting every bit of available rolling
stock in shape for extra duty.
Minneapolis millers said that their
p1nca within thjrtv min
utes after a strike becomes effective,
as they have no storage room for ad
ditional product.
Situation in New York.
NEW YORK, August 3O.-Railroad
traffic, both to and from New York city,
showed feverish activity today in an
ticipation of general strike.
1t is estimated that before September
4. the threatened date of the tie-up,
this city will rid itself of a floating pop
ulation of nearly 100000 and receive
home about the same number of resi-
dents who have been on vacations.
traffic just before Labor day
is always heavy even under normal cir
UNLESS the situation changes radi-
,elly, it is expected that eastern rail-
Dads will declare a freight embargo to
AXE effect September 4.
Railroads Hope for Best.
Railroad executives here expressed
hope today that if strike We're called
they could run enough food trains to
keep the city from privation. The city's
milk supply, they promised. would be
the first to receive cosideration.
The big milk companies have been
to meet the situation ever
since the strike became imminent
Drivers of milk wagons have been in
structed to make census of babies on
their routes and they will be attended
10 first. The milk companies have ar
ranged to obtain hundreds of motor
trucks, which will be used to collect
milk from the territory surrounding
New York If the regular milk train
service fails.
New York consumes $500, 900 quarts |
IF milk day. 1t Is estimated that IS |
per cent of this goes to babies and an |
other Is per cent to children who de- |
pend largely on milk for food.
Police to Take Control.
The police department. it was announc-
ID today. is prepared. II need arises. to |