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ms last woras Drougnt a tnunueroi applause from the crowded Boone County Courtroom, where the proceedings were held. His words put the stamp of approval on the action of the citizens of this section, who gathered en masse at Harrison on January 16, and by drastic but effective methods saved their only line of transportation for the future.The Missouri North Arkansas Railway is 400 miles long, funning from Joplin, Mo., to Helena, Ark., through the Ozark Mountains, connecting the prairies of the Middle West with the Delta Company. Since the construction of the road, a quarter of a century ago, it has never been a profitable piece of property, and several times has been in ' dire financial straits. The governmenttool: it over at the beginning of the war, and returned it burdened with a much higher wage scale and overhead expenses.It was evident at that time that the road could not survive under those conditions, and ‘after a prolonged fight the Labor Board allow-1 elt;l a reduction in wages, which were below the standard scale. This action precipitated a general strike on the road in 1921.The management then tried to operate with non-union labor, but was hampered on every side. Bridges were mysteriously burned, emery dust got into the engines, and blue vitrol in the tanks. In the summer their financial condition got in such shape that they' had to suspend operations on July 30.The suspension of operation threwthe entire section traversed by the road into a state of depression. Sawmills, cooperage plants, tie making, mining, and all other industries came to a standstill. The fruit growers that year also lost a bumper crop. Towns along the road usually bust- j ling with industry became- deserted villages. The winter of 1921-22 will go down in the history of the territory as a winter of privation and suffering. Markets • were cut off,which cut off revenues. At Leslie,
Newspaper Details
Harrison Daily Times
Harrison, Arkansas, US
Mon, Jul 02, 1923
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
Arkansas S.
AR, USA 21 Sep 2018
Other Publications Near Harrison, Arkansas
Harrison Times
Harrison Daily Times
