New-York tribune., 1920-04-12
Erie Grew
Deserts u. S.
Mail Train
$4,000 Commuters on
Staten Island Are Cut
OFF as B. & o. Men
Join the Walk Out
Shipping Embargo
Worst in History
Ban on All Freight
West of Altoona and
Points South of Norfolk


Points South of Norfolk
The situation in and around New
York growing out of the outlaw"
railroad strike was less encouraging
yesterday than at any time since the
s'rike began. Despite this, it was
the opinion of railroad officials that
the walk-out fever had reached its
height and that from now on it
gradually would subside.
This optimism was contradicted
by the following developments of the
day:
The eastbound Chicago Express
of the Erie Railroad was abandoned
by it's crew at Port Jervis, N. Y,
at SAB p. m. yesterday, with $50
passengers, milk and United States
mail aboard. The crew left the
train to attend meeting of rail-
road workers at Port Jervis. After
conference of several hours, the
men decided to abandon the train
entirely, after first agreeing to haul
the milk and mail. 1t was said
the train would ,os reach here be-
fore morning. Port Jervis is ninety
miles from New York City.
Employees Of the Baltimore g.
Ohio lines on Staten Island voted
to go out, tying up the freight and
passenger service on the island.
This will isolate $4,000 commuters
who have no other way to get to
New York City except by motor
cars.
Street Car Men to Quit
Fifty crews Of the Pennsylvania
Railroad electric system, who op
Grated trains between the Penn Ter
minal and Manhattan Transfer in
New Jersey, quit work after mid
night this morning. This repre-
sents 100 men, an electrical engI-
neer and his helper in each crew,
who joined the strike.
Some of them had entered the
dispatcher's office and signed up for
work, but later quit as they were
boarding their locomotives when.
appealed to by men who had al
ready gone on strike.
In reply to questions by Louis
Marr, assistant superintendent,
they said they quit because they
refused to work with "scabs" en-
ployed in the yards.
An embargo was declared on all
shipments, including coal, steel
and foodstuffs, originating west OF
Altoona, for points east, and south
of Norfolk for points north. This
is declared to be the most drastic
measure in railroad history. The
movement Of milk and other food
stuffs locally will be continued at
all costs, railroad men said.
Per Cent of Normal
Freight is leaving and arriving
at New Jersey and Manhattan ter
minals on only two railroads. the
Baltimore & Ohio and the New
York Central, the latter hauling
only shipments of perishable
goods. New York is receiving
only 5 per cent of its normal
freight.
Adequate but perhaps irregular
through train service is assured
on all railroads in the port. Com
mutation service will be fairly
regular on all but two of the lines,
the Erie and the Delaware, Lack
awanna G. Western, which have
announced that the local service
on these lines will be entirely sus-
pended to-day and until further
notice. All residents on these
lines within radius of thirty
miles are affected.
Tubes Still Tied In
The Hudson tubes are tied up
and there is no indication when
they will resume.
Every ferry boat available will
be pressed into service on all the
lines crossing the Hudson, and no
vehicles will be carried during the
rush hours, from 6 to 8 a. m. and
5 to z p. m.
The whole situation here was gon.
over by the railroad heads at a meet.
ing in the Offices of the Jersey Central
on Pier 10 yesterday At the close .f
the conference, j. ]. Mantell, New
York manager of the Er.e Hailroad and
chairman of the DAD Manarersa
Association. said r,as. wn.lc copditiond