Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-04-13
Blanket Embargo Put
on All Freight, Co.
ing and Coming.
AUTHORITIES DECLARE
SITUATION CRITICAL.
500 Men Out Here and in
Potomac Yards-Jersey
Yards Close.

the rest of the United States in trans
portation Of all freight, including food
stuffs
A blanket embargo has been placed
upon all incoming and outgoing
rive in or depart from Washington.
curing the next forty-eight hours.
officials predicted.
Passenger traffic is squeezing through
with difficulty. The Pennsylvania lines
have cut five passenger trains to the
north. and other lines are said to be
about ready to make proportionate cuts.
Authorities declare the situation
Extremely critical"
Summary of Resources.
The following summary of re-
sources of the city was made after a
survey today:
Local milk dealers stated that thus
far they have had little difficulty in
obtaining milk but could not give as
surences that this condition would
continue. A number o. dealers whose
dairy farms are within motoring dis
tance of Washington said they woulG
employ fleets of motor 1orries to haul
milk to this city in the event that
the railroads cannot handle adequate
shipments.
Building supplies for a week are on
hand.
Coal reserve will last for two weeks.
Coal merchants are out of town
searching for means of transporting
and securing both anthracite and
bituminous coal.
The Potomac Electric Power Com
pany has coal on hand to last ten
days.
No Food Coming by Rail.
No food is coming into the city by
rail. Enough perishable foodstuffs
are here to last from seven to ten
days. Sufficient staples are on hand
for six months.
Fleets of motor trucks have been
dispatched by locaiywhp lesale and re-
tail dealers TO Richmond; Baltimore.
Philadelphia and New York to open
transportation arteries for foodstuffs.
One set of trucks left here today
for New York with loads of fish. They
The only exception to the rule was
the arrival of two carloads of beef
which had been delayed several
weeks. This is the last arrival of
foodstuffs in Washington.
Express articles are arriving with
passenger trains.
500 Men Are Out.
Approximately 500 switchmen and
brakemen, it is estimated, are out in
this city and in the Potomac yards near
Alexandria. which normally handle be-
tween 5000 and 1000 cars a day. At
the latter point nothing is moving. At
the Jersey yards. the Washington con-
Meeting link with the Potomac yards
and the north. the same situation exists
Officials Of the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad declared that Washington men
were continuing at work, but that the
Cumberland section was tied up as a re-
other source of Washington's food sup
ply.
Southern Connection Severed.
What is considered the stunning
blow to Washington freight traffic
came last night with the walkout of
the 220 employees of the Potomac rail-
road yards, the connecting link be-
tween arteries of transportation be-
tween the north and south. Many
cars Of perishable freight are stand
ing in the yards. 1t is understood
that an effort will be made to trans
fer the contents to Washington by
motor truck.
The men who walked out include
switchmen. yardmen and conductors.
At the present time estimates by Yard
master R. NJ. Colvin are that approx
n,ately 5000 cars are in the yards which
will not be moved on account Of the
walkout.
Passengers on incoming trains from
the south today are being carried
through to Washington. detraining at
the 7th street and Virginia avenue
station. Passengers from the south all
day yesterday detrained at Alexandria
and boarded trolleys for Washington.
Ticket Sale stopped.
hTe Richmond. Fredericksburg and
Potomac Railroad Company today dis
r. coli {oEo for
service to the north. Later in the day
it was announced that the line would
be unable to handle any freight until
further notice.
The query. What is the cause Of
the striker" comes from every angle.
hood of Railway Trainmen. under
whose jurisdiction the strikers come.
declared that they could find no reason
for the OUTLAW" strike. other than a
protest against the action of the gov
ernment. which promised alleviation
and which has taken no action.
Here's the trouble" declared a
labor leader here today. Promises
for increased wages and better con-
ditions were made. They have not
been kept. Spontaneously. with no
authority from the unions. the men
have walked out In an apparent pro-
see ii"
The men are simply taking hol-
iday. according to some Of them" de-
clared one official at Union station.
strikers Not In Evidence.
The situation at the Union station
remained virtually the same today.
No sign Of strikcrs-no word from
them officials In Offices awaiting de-
vclopments
One hundred and ffts mon are out
at Union ntatiOn. Approx imatcly 90
per cent of the men Of the Jersey
va rds Of the Pcnnsylvnnin. Southern
and other lines are ''oui" Figures
were not Forthcoming. Added to this
number are the men at the Potomac
yards which bring ths total approx
irnsteiy 10 50b,
While anticipating no Disturbances
M y result Of tho strike ~ railway
workman, inspector Harry l.. Gcns-
fDrd acting superintendent or police.
ssjd today that arrangements are
being made Tor ID" protection or Ife
and property should such nm cmcr-
ghDcy arise
Jnspseinr Hnsefotd said he could nm ;
tlripstn M condition that would call
fDt the service ~ soidicrs. and be-
ilsvas the strikers we're dlsposed TO
refrain f"m pr,s ~ disorder ~ ~
U3ruiiuueo Db psse !, t"lHnn -