Shutdown

New Yorkers often suspect that their complex metropolis floats on quicksand. This week their suspicions were at least partially confirmed. In a move unprecedented in peacetime and more drastic than any ever taken in war, Mayor William D. O'Dwyer suddenly called a halt to all the city's activities except those absolutely essential.

Reason for the order was the failure to stop a week-old strike of New York's tugboat men, who haul in a major share of New York's daily supply of food, coal and fuel oil. The workers had agreed to arbitrate their demand for higher pay and shorter hours; when the operators refused, Mayor O'Dwyer pulled the switch.

The Mayor's order was issued at 9:40 P.M. Within two hours all bars and night clubs began ushering their patrons out. Next day the city was a monument to confusion. Policemen stationed at all subway entrances told people to go back home. All bars, movies, theaters, museums and libraries were shut. Window shopping was the order of the day. Until the strike was settled, the city was dead.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.