The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-20

not yet received an indication that their in
terests or salaries, which they deem wholly
inadequate, are to be improved"
The Brotherhood of Teiegraphers has a
general statistician, also a local statistician
in nearly every city and town i'll the United
States and Canada. Complete statistics have
been gathered, and show the following gem
eral averages of wages paid at the present
time. The average pay for commercial opera
tors in the United States is S54. - per month;
average for commercial operators of Canada
is $37.49 per month; average of railroad
operators in the United States is $50 50; av-
erage for railroad operators in Canada is
S29.12. 1t should be borne in mind that
operators are not allowed extra compensa-
ton for Sunday work, and that railroad OPP
orators at stations where but one is employed
are required to work from fourteen to six
teen hours per day, and on many roads are
required to sleep in or convenient to their
offices, so that they may be called to receive
orders for delayed, and obtain help for
wrecked trains. These calls on many roads
are OF frequent occurrence.
SURVEYING THE FIELD.
A survey of the field at 1 o'clock revealed
some striking changes in the state of affairs.
An unusual number of people blocked the
entrances to the Western Union building.
This crowd was composed of curiosity
boys in about equal numbers There was no
use for the policemen who had been sum
moned, the men that left being perfectly
good tempered, and evincihg no disposition
to interfere with those who remained or to
make trouble of any sort. Many of the OPP
orators sought their headquarters ON Cort-
landt street, and it, being fine dav many
went off to the seacoast. 1t was a common
expression that they would take their sum-
mer vacation in the Catsl1ills.
In the general Office on the third floor no.
body was to be seen save messengers and one
or two clerks. The reason of this was learned
during visit to the operating room, where
were found Jay Gould, General Eckert and
General Superintendent Tinker, Assistant
General Manager Bates and others of the
general officers, who were making a tour of
the room aud of the gold and stock depart
ment. They gave valuable aid and advice,
and expressed themselves much pleased that
the situation was no worse As one of the
officials remarked: ''It looked, an hour ago,
as If sleet storm had struck the wires, but
now it seems 20 have been merely rain
storm"
An actual count of operators showed 1856
at work. OF these quite a num-
Der were girls, and some were
employees who had not for some time served
at the wires. A few inquiries addressed to
tnt iheu WHO TelndilleU ellclteQ the TACT
many of them had been in the last strike,
and did not care to hazard their chances in
another. They were, for the most part the
Older grade of operators The messenger
boys and girls remained, and were fitting
about as usual, none having left. A large
majority of the Wheatstone operators re-
manned. Out of 10 ladies employed, Man
ager pealy estimated that about twenty had
left their places The night force consists of
from eighty to one hundred operators, and it
is expected by the manager that not less than
forty will appear for duty tonight. One of
the officers of the company, who has most
feared the results of strike, said: eve
shall have a hard time, but we shall get
through. So far, it is much better than ! an
ticipated"
A general order has been issued from the
Western Union Office stating that all bust
ness will be accepted, subject to delay