The Washington times., 1922-08-01
NORFOLK RAIL
MEN DUBIOUS
! Of ARM|ST|CE
Union Leaders Caution Strik-
ers Not to Be Too optimis-
tic for Truce.
By A. CL0YD GILL,
Staff Correspondent.

Dy n. ILo - WILL,
Staff Correspondent.
NORFOLK Va, Aug. dis
aster faces this section Of the
country unless there is a speedy
termination of both the rail and
coal strikes.
Enjoying an unprecedented era
Of prosperity one month ago, Nor.
folk, Newport News, and several
smaller ports in this territory are
now suffering from a period OF
stagnation.
Newport News Hit.
II there was ever any doubt that
the striking employees Of the Norfolk
and Western and the Chesapeake
; and Ohio railways had tied up those
lines It is dispelled by a tour OF in
spection here.
Newport News is worse hit than
, Norfolk since the latter has several
lines that do not need the former.
In union circles here there per.
sists n feeling that the end Of the
present week will not see the end
Of the rail strike. Strike leaders are
urging the men and women on strike
to prepare for twelve months siege
II necessary to win.
Here is the situation at Newport
News: Coal piers No. 8 and No. IL.
the pride of the Chesapeake and
Ohio, and rated among the largest in
the world, are doing per cent OF
normal business. During the month
of June they handled approximately
1000, 900 tons Of coal, much OF this
was for export.
Merchandise piers Nos. to s.
inclusive, are closed. This means
that millions of dollars worth Of
merchandise Of all kinds. mostly for
export, Is piling up in industrial
plants in various inland cities. 1t
not only means loss in revenue for
the railroads but loss in profit for
the manufacturers.
Pier A Is doing a normal business.
The people OF Newport News depend
on this municipal pier for their food
and supplies.
One Train Per Day.
Only one freight train per day is
operating out Of Newport News. 1t
carries about forty cars. The normal
business Is eight TO ten trains daily
The ordinary train carries eighty
cars into and out of this port.
The railroad yards ordinarily have
$500 cars on the various tracks.
This writer made a tour of inspec.
ton yesterday and found less than
500. Many miles of sidings are rust
ing from non-use both in Newport
News and Norfolk.
A number Of locomotives, on the
disabled list and waiting until the
end Of the strike to be repaired, are
to be found here.
Forty.three shipping board boats
are being fitted out hereto bring
coal from England. This coal will
not be brought to this point, but will
be used to relieve the coal famine in
the New England States. Shipping
and railroad men do not believe the
plan feasible. Unless it is possible
10 send over a cargo Of at east 5000
tons per ship, they say, the expert.
ment Is going to prove expensive,
either for the Government or the in
dustrial plants that seek relief from
this source.
Local business men are hopeful
that the embargo placed by the Nor.
folk and Western and the Chesa
peake and Ohio on all articles ex.
cept fuel. foodstuffs and live stock
will result in an increase in business
here.
Some Work at Piers.
There is still some loading at
the local piers and warehouses Of
export goods, but it is for the most
part goods that had accumulated
Just before the strike put stop
page to the moving OF freight.
Frantic appeals have been sent
hu yuirn n tho roilrnnda nd ha
new administrator by local industrial
plants and dealers. begging them
not to confiscate the coal they have
en- route to this point.
Striking employees Of the railroads
In this district have a sense of
humor in spite of their troubles.
They are deriving no little salts.
faction in making IL known that
the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad
has employed as strikebreaker a
man who has been twice an inmate
Of an insane asylum.
, Newport news has established q
record during the strike. Not one
Of the 800 men and women who
walked out on strike have returned
TO work.
The officials have used every
means possible to get some of our
people to desert, but have failed"
A. c. Terry, vice general chairman
Of the clerks declared.
I'VE have them tied up 80 tight
that no matter what they embargo,
they will not be able to operate
more than one or two trains Of
freight a day.
1T Is regretted that our mer.
chants here have suffered, but they
can rest assured that those who
have remained fair to US during the
strike will be remembered after.
wards"
Play Bold Game.
A bold move was made in the
general offices Of the Chesapeake
and Ohio at Newport News on the
day before the clerks walked out.
Company automobiles brought to the
office the Clerks who were scattered
over the city, and resolutions were
read which would abolish the union,
return the charter, prorate the
funds in the treasury and give the
balance 10 the salvation Army.
The suggestion came as a bolt out
Of the blue for those who were loyal
To the union. They made vigorous
protest ana the resolutions were