The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-06 00:00:00

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BAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN.
The threatened strike of the engine-drivers on the
southern division of this company's undertaking has ex-
cited some interest. It appears, however, that deputa-
tions from the men have been fully and fairly met by,
Mr. M'Connell, the able and indefatigable superinten-
tendent of the locomotive department, and that every
facility has been given thenl to make any representations
they may deem necessary to the directors' locomotive
committee, in addition to those already submitted, in
respect to a demand for arise in the wages of the 'engine
drivers of passenger trains to 7s. per day, and of drivers
of goods trains to 6s. per,,flay. This matter is to come
under the consideration of the locomotive committee on
Friday next. It is believed that the threatened strike
had arisen from some misapprehension on the part of
the drivers that it was intended to force them to work
the trains by contract and thereby reduce their wages ;
but, so far from that being the case, it appears that ap-
plications for working by contract emanated in the first
instance from some of the steadiest and most experienced
drivers on the line, and that the system was discounte-
nanced and opposed by those of Ornerier position. The
first contract let was to the most skilful engine driver
in the company's service, for working the train from
London to Rugby, and the result was not only satisfac-
tory to him, but also to the company. The contract
included wages, coal, coke, oil, tallow, waste, and small
repairs, at 34d. per mile ; the average cost to the com-
pany under the former system being about sid. The
result of one month's working, ending 14th of April last,
under the contract was, that the mileage (4,057 miles
run) amounted, at 34d.permile to 631.75. 9id. The small
repairs amounted to 13s. 7id. ; oil,- tallow, and waste, to
17s. 114 d. ; 18 tons of coke, at 1/. per ton, and 22 tons of
coal at 12s. 6d. per ton, to 321. 16s. 4d. The usual wages,
41. Bs. were paid weekly to the driver and his men, and
amounted for the month of four weeks tol7/. 12s. leaving
a balance in his favour of 11/. 7s. 101 d., or at the rate
of 21. 17s. per week in addition to the ordinary wages.
The great advantage of the contract system to the men
on this line is, that they are secured their wages for the
time they are at work under any circumstances, whether
their expenses exceed the contract- price or not, and, if
they should be less the driver receives the difference.
On a fair comparison of the coke and coal used by con-
tract men with those working in the usual way, there
appeared a saving of 41b. of coke per mile out of 211 b. in
favour of working the trains by contract, in other cases
of 51b. out of 251 b. for passenger trains. On a compari-
son of some goods trains of 33 waggons each, worked by
contract, it appeared the consumption was at the rate of
341 b, of coke per mile, while similar trains for equal dis-
tances worked in the ordinary way, consumed 52Alb.
of coke per mile. It is stated that the cost of coke
and coal for the southern, division of this line exceeds
200,0001. per annum, and that the saving of 20 per cent,
on that item would be something like 40,000/. a•year.
On the 18th of February last the first contract was let
for working the train to Rugby and
,back. In March
two experienced engine-drivers made application to work
under the contract system, in April two more, and in
May 26 drivers made application, and agreed to work
trains by contract, making 31 drivers up to the end of
last month working engines and trains by contract.
Applications from 11 other drivers to work engines by
contract were pending last week when the threatened
strike was announced, but it was intimated to them that
they might withdraw their applications if they thought
proper to do so ; and also, with a view to show that
there was no compulsion in the matter, it was further
intimated by Mr. M'Connell that those drivers who
were at piesent working under contracts might give
them up if they wished, but they respectfully declined
the offer.