Evening journal., 1917-03-17
PEhNSY Prepared
IF STRIKE CONES
Believe Operators Will Quit
Brotherhood Rather Than
Leave Posts
EMBARGO PLACED
ON CERTAIN FREIGHT
"Preparedness!"

preparedness.
For the past forty-eight hours this !
has been the one word in the vocabu-
larry of the officials OF the Pennsyl-
vania railroad with offices in the
French street station Intense ac-
tivity has prevailed in all depart
ments. As a result everything is in
readiness for any exigency which may
arise III the contemplated country
wide strike Of railroad employees be-
comes effective
Though cOgnizant of the gravity OF
the situation the local officials were
in an Optomlstic mood this morning.
They feel fully able TO cope with
whatever difficulties that may arise.
No publicity, however, would be
given to the plans and preparations
Of the company. officials stated that
to publish an account Of their activi-
| ties would simply be putting import
4 ant information in the hands OF the
opposing forces.
! AL preparations have been made
to meet the situation" was the state
ment made this morning by Roscoe F.
Baylis, chief clerk Of the Philadelphia,
Baltimore and Washington division Of
the Pennsylvania Railroad. Further
than this Mr. Baylis would not com
nit himself. Assertions equally brief,
as well as optimistic, were made by
other railroad officials II is under
stood that all railroad buildings and
property can be given ample protec-
ton almost at a moments notice.
IL is the consensus Of opinion that
passenger transportation will not be
seriously effected. no restrictions
have been placed on the selling OF
tickets TO any part Of the country. The
transportation Of freight, however, il
bound to be disorganized during the
early part Of strike, officers say. In
: consequence a sweeping embargo on
freight went into effect at oclocl
last evening. The embargo covers
, all freight shipped over the Pennsyl.
vania railroad, the p, b. & w. railroad
and the West Jersey and Seashore rail
q road. The shipment Of livestock. th'
= domestic shipments of foodstuffs fol
f human and animal consumption. gov
eminent freight, and newsprint pape
u are the only articles that escape th,
n embargo ban. The action is precau
tionary as a means to avoid the posi-
d bility of heavy congestion at the com
D. mencement Of the contemplated strike
l. The embargo notice reads as 70
= lows:
n Effective close of business Frida,
March 16, on account of threatene
strike. Pennsylvania railroad, Philade
phia. Baltimore & Washington raj
road and the West Jersey & SeashoI
railroad embargo all freight of a
- kinds from all points for all destin
tions, except livestock and foodstuf
] for human and animal consumptiC
(domestic), shipments consigned
.. officers of the United States cover
al ment. fuel and supplies for compal
:, use Of Pennsylvania railroad and {
y fliated lines, and newsprint paper
,ol "All freight as above describe
which may be in transit will not
81, accepted from the New York, Phil
~ delphia & Norfolk railroad, Cumbe
,e land Valley railroad, Cornwall q Let
e. non railroad. Susquehanna, Bloom
~ burg & Berwick railroad. Penns.
- vania lines west of Pittsburgh,
10 other connecting lines at any jul
- ton point after date and hour abO
= named. regardless of date on viii
a. shipment was accepted as indicat
-, by date on billing.
tie "All bills of ladihg issued on a
M after Saturday March II, 1917, a
he until further notice must bear the Il
90 lowing notation:
" "'This shipment accepted subj,
es to delay, loss and damage account
~. threatened strike.
es. ut is the belief of the managenn
no of this railroad that the placing
he this precautionary embargo will p
an init the clearing up Of the lines, a
i'm afford the best opportunity TO re
ganize the service with the great
an practicable speed. in case it should
iss interrupted by a strike. The {
~ barge. ia that event. VIII be mOdii
ne to permit the acceptance Of additio
icb freight as rapidly as il is possible
the reconstruct the operating force.
RS the even that the strike is avert
The embargo viii be cancelled by y
Immediately upon receipt OF defir
information "a that effect
,sl. So tar travel has been affected o
.eD, slightly. Undoub ely persons en-
ne alarmed are fearful about leay
ain their homes with q strike pendi
Tor. but other persons are hurTying
fiss their homes. and in conseque
olo travel suffers but slightly. Shoul
sno strike become effective there will
live a sweeping change in the passen
Vet train schedule.
hur II was impossible to ascertain
in day just what percentage OF pass
por- ger and freight trains will
will through this city in case Of tie
lsti- some Of the railroads feel comic
by that they can operate ninety per C
ram of their passenger trains and
freight strike schedule up 10 seve
FIVE per cent of the normal capac
The Pennsylvania lines east
lent Pittsburgh have a total Of $4,000 {
city employees subject TO strike call.
re- railroad expects a large majorit,
CON this number TO withdraw from
told Brotherboods.
! 10 Many of the railroads have pli
we're double guards on their bridges
who increased their police protec
ln.s virtually four-fold. Il is unders
the that a like condition exists a
made lines of the Pennsylvania Railroad
cate