Year: 1870




be no fear 0f any trouble. Thus contradictory
reports chase each other, casting doubt over the
De reached.


ZEE FEELING ALONG THE ROAD


The Trouble and Its Causes-Abscnce Of sym.


pathy Hnd Expressions Of Censurc-An About


the Road and Its management.


SUsQuEHANNA, Pa, Jan. l8, 1870.


There is no strike here and no likelihood OF any
occurring Those reports to the enect that the men
here and at Port Jervs sympatnized with their fel
low craftsmen In Jersey City in the present difficulty
and expressed their determination TO join Them l
find are altogether unfounded. From this standpoint
the strike s looked upon rash inconslderate and
altogether unwlsc movement, productive OF no good
injurious the interests OF the men themselves and
decidedly incapable OF securing any greater har-
m0ny IN the future between the company and ITS
w0rkmen


As was stated in the letter from Port Jervis the
men there discountenanced the action Of their
brethren In Jersey Clty, because OF its ltimed
character, but here find they not only view 1t In
the same light, but they consider there has been
most unwarranted trIning with the legitimate pur-
pose of the association. They say an agreement
was entered into tiat when positive grievance to
their interests was inflicted by the company a strike
should be simultaneously entered upon but diff
Guilty OF the kind that happened At Jersey City, and
which might have been quietly and quickly adjusted,
afforded sufficient grounds for q number OF men
quitting their customary work and involving them.
selves and their families in embarrassment. When
such sentiments are held by those who Of all others
should be most III sympathy with the strikers
there must be something radically wrong
In the whole affair." and attention
naturally directed TO the nature OF the
nln M 10 Wn tha mau thar fhair
prospects and the capacity Of the road to which
they belong. The outside public ere apt to suppose,
when hearing OF a railroad strike, tnat everybody
attached 10 the concern has put his hat and left.
The brakeman has given last disgusted turn to the
wheel, the conductor made nnal ana fretful punch
in passen gers ticket. the engineer Jumped from
his sad and silent locomotive, the Switchman made
pocket handkerchief OF his signal Dag, and all the
rest OF the railroad army have shaken the dust rom
their feet and struck out for change OF arr The
idea Is, OF course, a oeluSOn.


This road, with much exaggerated strike at one
end Of 1t, ~ working just the same as II no
commotion whatever had occurred; and even
II ali the shops here and elsewhere were
empty OF their industrious inmates the road,
IL to me- could get along for
a considerable time without them. II is an old and
extensive road, with an enormous supply on hand
OF all that material which forms the product OF the
mechanics labor. Il has more locomotives than 1t
Gun conveniently use, ana as for cars they are
reckoned by thousands. To building and repairing
locomotives the labor OF the machinlss is directed
and they are the men who almost entirely mono
police the glorious privilege of striking. The car
builders DO share IN the luxury, as they hold
themselves aloof from the organization. the brake
men once struck, but it broke them down from
sheer macalcuaLion Of their mechanical value.
They were swept out on the instant and twice as
many other brakemen offered their services mex
morning. The strike OF the machlnists lnterferes
with nothing IN the line OF travel whether Of freight
passenger trains. All these just usual. and
the general wOrk OF the road Ia In nOwse disturbed.


EFFECr or THE STRIKE ON THE COMPANY.
1t Is doubtful II q body of mechanics could select
am0re MISUNDERSTANDING corporation to operate upon
at TINS particular tae than the Erie Their supply OF
rolling stock Is so large tnat tley nave been forced
TO reduce the working capacity OF tue shops, and
mechanical labor Is consequently at q discount.
Again, Judging from the character Of public opinion
here, the new management, embracing the blonde
and bold Priuce OF Erie-the immortal Jim Fisk
Jr.-and Prime Minister Jay Gould are credited
with share OF determination that promises TO put
an end 10 strikes forever They wlll stamp out dis
affection or perish IN the attempt while at the same
time tney snow every disposition to agree any thing
reasonable. Fisk mas curious reputation up TINS
way. People think he stumbled on the lamp or Alad-
dln and some tine day will come up to Susquehanna
aud turn It's barren hills into virgin gold, Gould is
very popular with the railroad men, They say he
knows a locomotive from the nose OF the cOwcatcner
TO the coupling at her tai end, can with the ma
ene eJas. pau oahsr oIdge LAY ran switch freight
The truth Is, one has TO leave home to learn the
news We gave Gould credit enough for raising
"old Harry" In Wall street, but 1t Is hardly
within the popular estimate OF his ability tnat he
could drive locomotive and keep out OF q smashup
Canddy speaking and alter impartial invesrgation,
the present management, whoever they are, have
done vastly ior this road winch anybody who knew
II some years ago wlll readily admit. In tine work
tend with established preudices with Old, venera-
bic employees, OF comparatively stage coacn notions
0nAS los and furAu Ishr


10 get proper appreciation or what is disturbed
In the workings or the Erie Railroad by strike OF
class OF men employed, the intel ests involved the
kind OF work done and the scale upon which it Is
performed sketch OF the shops at this point VIII,
therefore be appropriate, while al the same time the
views here ana there OF some OF the men Will tend
to shed better light upon the subject.


VIEWS OF ONE OF THE MEN.


Mr.. I. j. Mayo, engine Dispatcher IN answer TO
the question to the OF the strike In Jersey
City, replied :l believe II the ASSOCIATION makes
demand OF the men all along the road to strike Tor
the purpose OF supporting those In Jersey City there
WI! be split In the camp here anu very lew Will
OF the mechanics with US who have been
here any time possess properly in real es-
lives In Susquenanna. The whoe population, of
course, depends upon the road and take ali interest
this place for leading point the line. they bought
800 acres OF land and after putting up their shops
upon IT they concluded TO dispose OF what remained med
to the employees at low price. The men say ed their
earnings bought lots and put up houses, and natu-
rally feel concern for the welfare OF the town.
That large number OF houses you may observe scat
tered over face OF the hill above are owned by
men who work in the shops. They are more com-
fortably situated than any class OF mechanics In
America, and perhaps more independent. Now
these men know the folly Of sucn strike as the
present one and they wont 60 into It, nor VIII the
men at Port Jervis; but those at Jersey City and
Buffalo are dinerent class. Tney arc unsettled and
floating without much to lose from strike and
ready for one at any time'


"la there any Cause OF complaint here ~ in
qulred.


.None that know Of - replied Mr.. Mayo 1--WE
were promptly paid and can't see any reason for
trouble. | have been connected with the road
good many years and don't know that 1t was ever
better managed tnan II Is now. Within the last two
wears there mas big change for the better.
and II the same management continues little while
longer there wont be any fault to find with Erle
We nave fresh, new locomotives freight and paSsen
| ger cars added to the rolling stock every day; new
road bed for miles, steel rails, culverts new
hrldpea built OF iron going nn In nlaca OF the old