Democratic Sentinel, Volume 5, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 June 1881 — GHICAGO NOTES. [ARTICLE]

GHICAGO NOTES.

STRIKES. There has been an epidemic of strikes in Chicago this spring. First, the strike of the car drivers and conductors of the West Side Street Railway Company, which was peaceable, orderly and successful, because their claim was just and was sustained by the moral sentiment of the whole community. Then there have been numerous strikes by the various trades, which have generally resulted in an increase of from 10 to 15 per cent, of wages. There have been strikes, too, of landlords, merchants and manufacturers'to raise the price of rents and goods, and an excessive increase in the cost of building which has discouraged builders and been injurious to both employers and employes. But the most embarrassing and far-reaching strike has been the strike of the switchmen who make up the trains and transfer freight-cars on the different railroads which center in Chicago, on account of which hundreds of thousands of tons of freight have been embargoed, delayed in transit, and delayed in shipping and delivery, resulting in great inconvenience and loss to merchants and busines s men here and elsewhere. Newspaper offices had car-loads of paper in the suburbs which they could not get, and were obliged to buy and use inferior paper till the blockade was raised. There ought to be mutual agreement between employers and employed, but the greed of corporations is so strong that they seldom raise the wages of their workmen till’they are compelled to by their united protest and'their refusal to work at their old wages. We do not moralize on the situation. We only state the facts. But, notwithstanding these serious drawbacks, the tide of Chicago business rolls on, with ever-increasing volume, and was never so great and imposing as now. We note a few samples of leading houses. jones and laughlin (American Iron Works'), Tlie largest manufacturers of bar iron in America, make most of the goods they sell—iron, nails, spikes, cold rolled shafting, T rails, bolts, chains, etc. The Chicago branch, of which Mr. J. M. Larimer is manager, is a vigorous plant, 25 years old, which has outgrown the original stock, and last year built a mammoth warehouse on its premises, 150 feet on Lake by 230 feet on Canal street, connected by railway with the Pittsburgh factory, giving unequaled facilities for handling their goods by car loads with the greatest economy and dispatch. For financial strength, extent'of business and ability to meet the wants of the trade, it is confessedly the leading iron house of the West. hibbard, spencer and co., Lake and Wabash, Hardware, cutlery, tinplate, fence-wire, etc., stand at the head of the line, like Saul among the prophets. Have been a land-mark in Chicago twenty-five years, and sell more goods than any similar house in the West. GAGE BROS. AND CO., The leading Chicago millinery house, the famous hat and bonnet-frame 'makers, the only Western manufacturers of corsets, keep white goods, notions, and all ladies' apparel except shoes. Their force imitates the speed of lightning calculators in doing their immense business, working with a hearty good will, because this was the pioneer house in giving their employes a half holiday during the summer season. J. A. FAY AND CO., 207-9 LAKE ST. Wood-working machinery and machine tools. Mr. J. A. Roche, manager of the Chicago house, a practical machinist, has a peculiar aptitude for the business. He has made this the leading house of its kind in the West, increasing its trade, so that its Cincinnati factory, employing from 300 to 400 hands, can not supply its customers. Chinese Version of the Prodigal Son. “Aman, he two sons. Son speakee to father; father got money ; give some he; father he take it all rightee. I just now give you half. He gives him half ; he go long way—likee me come China to New York. No be careful of money, use too much; money all gone ;he velly hungly. He went to man. He wantee work, he say; all right; he tell him feedee pigs. He givee pigs beans ; he eatee with pigs himself. He just now talkee ‘My father he lich man—muchee money. What for me stay here I want to go back and see my father. * I say to him, I velly bad. He knows I bad. Emperor (God) see I bad. No be son, me be coolie.’ He go back; hugee way, father see him. He takee him on the neck. Son say, ‘ I velly bad. I just now no be your son. His father talkee to boy and say, * Gettee handsome coat; gives he ring, gives he shoes; bring fat cow—kille cow, give him to eat. ’ They velly glad. He allee samee dead, just now come back alive; he lost; he get back. Number one son come. He hear music; he tellee coolie, ‘ What for makee music ?’ He say, ‘ Your brother come back; your father velly glad he no sick; he killee fat cow.’ Number one son velly angly. Father he comes out; he say, ‘No, no be angly.’ Number one son say, ‘ I stay all time by father; never makee him angly. My father never killee one fat cow for me. My brother he velly bad ; he use money too muchee; he have fat coW and music.’ Father say, ‘ You no sabee; he just dead; he now comes to life; 'he lost; now comee back.’ Theymakee music.” Drowning Men May Catch at Straws, but sensible .people when sick take Wimer's ‘ Safe Kidney ahd Liver Oure. ■ - A Whitehall chap, dressed in his best clothes and lavender pants, was on his way to see his sweetheart, when an old bellwether went for him, and blitted him head over heels into a mud puddle. His visit was postponed on account of the wether.— WAileAall Times.