The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-10-23
FULL MEANING OF
THE RAIL STRIKE
How the Public viii Feel the
National Railroad Tie-up
Should 1t Occur.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 23.-Because
OF Americas dependency on railroad
transportation facilities, with the
great distances between the sources OF
food supply and the markets. pro-
tracted railroad strike would bring
extraordinary hardships.
This shows the four way losses that
q strike Of railroad men, such as is
called for Oct 80. win entail to the
public. to shippers. to railroad en-
ployes and to railroad owners:
General Public.
The 100000. 900 persons who travel
on our railroads annually viii find
their travelling congested and cur
tailed, If not cut off altogether. Thou
sands of these are statesmen. and the
inability Of these men to continue viii
bring an added slump in many bust
nesses. and possibly additional unem-
paoyment for some factory forces.
The freight = amounting to more
than $500. 100000 tons yearly. win pile
UP on sidetracks or In warehouses.
Much of this will be foodstuffs and
coal.
Failure to keep foodstuffs moving
will bring hardship and hunger in
many places. for the average stock
kept on hand in most cities is snffi-
cient to supply the demand only a
week Or two.
Inability to move coal may lead to
closing of public utilities such as Hight
and power plants and street car sys-
TENS, and of schools. and bring hard
ship into hospitals and other public
Institutions.
Mails would be delayed. still further
paralyzing business.
Shippers.
According to the latest figures OBJ
tainable, $40. 70o freight cars are being
loaded weekly on American railroads
This enormous output, with the excep-
ton of the small amount that could be
distributed by motor units. would be
cut off.
The part that vital living necessities,
such as food and coal play in the dis
tribution, Is shown by the figures for
the first three months OF 1920, when
total OF 11.731.247 cars, or 401, SIS, 363
tons were shipped.
aOf this amount, agricultural pro-
ducts made up 1.045.79S cars. or &c.
023.0S7 tons. animal products sol, 734
cars or e.S35.151 tons, mineral pro-
ducts, 4.31S.449 cars or zoe, 296, 1928 tons,
forest products 1850, 465 cars or 49,
45s.375 tons, and manufactured and
miscellaneous products 5000, 400 cars
or rs PSI, 400 tons.
Millions Of dollars worth Of perish
able freight. made or in the making
for shipment, would become a total
loss II cars were uncbtainable.
Railroad Employees.
The number of railroad employees
today, following the radical reductions
in personnel made by the railroads
during 1921. is approximately I, 100000.
This is a reduction OF about. 500, 900
or, roughly. is per cent.
In 1890 the total payroll of the rail-
roads, exclusive Of officers. is esti-
mated at $3,599, 600, 900 for the 1.9s3,-
524 persons who then were employed.
or an average wage of $1,s06.
Wages will be total loss, despite
strike benefits.
Thousands OF persons are engaged
indirectly with work that has to do
with the railroads. When the men walk
out. these thousands viii also be out
of Jobs, and they viii have no strike
benefits to fall back on.
Railroad Owners.
The strike. as planned. will tie up
completely railroad systems whose net
earnings IN 1920 were s461.s22776. 1t.
would paralyze an industry that in one
year-191S-paid to its stock and
bondholders more than $3.50. 600 600 IN
interest and dividends.
The latest official figures available
for ali roads show the total outstand-
ing capital or an companies to be 500.
Ts4.s32,s41 in addition to outstanding
stock Of switching and terminal COM
panies amounting to S4S6.602. 296. Rail-
ways themselves hold 81. $50. 49S. sos OF
the former and $11257s.55s OF the lat
ter. leaving s1e,s2s.s62.77S in the hands
OF nearly 100000 scattered stock and
bond holders Many OF these have only
small holdfnrs