Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1920-04-14
STRIKE CAUSES
CURTAILMENT OF
FREIGHT TRAINS
Seventy-FiVe Per Cent OF
Them Taken Off.

Hagerstown, Md, April Ii
Even should local railroad shopmen
and trackmen decide upon a SYM
pathetic strike here which 1t was
generally predicted in well inform.
ed circles would occur sometime
during today, tie-up of freight
facilities could hardly be more pro
nounced than that which existed
yesterday
Hagcrstown yesteday afternoon
vas beginning to feel the full force
of the unauthorized strike of rail-
read employees. which has been
spreading rapidly throughout the
east for the past few days.
The city now has but one outlet
freight. that is its gateway to the
south. As very little freight destin-
ed for Hagerstown comes from the
South. this opening in the ever
tightening circle OF embargocs prov.
ed OF little use.
"Our employees are standing pat
and are loyal almost to man."
stated a Western Maryland official
yesterday evening in discussing the
strike which has Already practical
~ crippled his line because all
lines connecting with the Western
Maryland have been forced to place
an embargo on all freight.
IS Per Cent Idle
This official pointed out that full
y IS per cent of all freight train
crews OF his line are Idle as the re.
suit of the inability 10 move the
freight The movement Yesterday
over his Inc averaged between 20
and . per cent OF normal which
VII drop even lower today. Most Of
The freight moved yesterday We're
ears consigned to other lines, which
have ordered embargo since the
Western Maryland accepted them.
These cars are being placed on sid
lings. Fully 500 loaded freight cars
arc now on sidiinEs over the line.
Orders were received from the
TennsylYania Railroad to accept ne
freight for their tine except rail
road fuel and shipments covered by
permits and foodstuffs for human
consumption.
Word was received last night OF
the complete tie-up OF tho entire
eastern system Of the Baltimore
and Ohio which takes in all OF their
lines east Of Pittsburgh and Park
ersburg. W. Va. Baltimore and Ohio
employees at the big coal piers al
Curtis Bay near Baltimore went
out on ellike yesterday. This huri
the W. ern Maryland consider
ably as auch Of the coal for the
yard was being shipped over their
line. The embargo ordered by the
Baltimore and Ohio stated that
that line would receive no freight
except food for human consump
ton and this must be by permit.
Rumored Wslkout
There was report current on
the streets Of the city yesterday
evening that a number Of employees
at the Western Maryland shops
would walkout some time today
This move appeared to Western
Maryland officials to be a foolish
one. for this probably would not be
necessary within Il short time OF
the strike continues, as there would
be very little work for t9m TO do
with freight engines lying Idle. A
number Of the large freight en-
gines We're placed in white lead
yesterday due TO the Gripping OF
the freight movement. At present
the shopmen and trackmen are the
orsy railroad organizations which
have not so far felt the effect OF
the strike would be broken and the
men on the roads returned to
work.
Industries Hard Hit
Local industries began to feel the
effects Of the tie-up Of freight yes
to-day. Several large manufacture.
ers here said that their finished pro
ducts were beginning "a accumu-
iate owning 10 their inability to
make shipments. Should the strike
continue much longer. several Of
the plants here, It is understood,
would be forced 10 close down thru
lack Of raw material. shipments OF
which have been held UP for over a
week.
Today both local railroad officials
and brotherhood chiefs believe that
the crisis will be reached. Both ad-
nit that never before IN the his
tory has the freight tie-up been
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