The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-08-15
THE LONG STRIKE.
THE WORK OF THE SENATORIAL
sUB-COMMITTEE.
The Growth or the Western Union In the
Past Seventeen Years.
[By telegraph 10 the Dispatch.l

lBy telegraph to the Dispatch.J
| NEW YORK, August 14.-The United
State Senatorial Subcommittee on Labor
and Education resumed its session here
to-day. Several operators testified as to
their grievances, their hours OF work, &c.
The Wheatstone system was explained, as
was also the manner Of pensionIng opera
tors in England.
Eugene j. OConnor, OF Boston, chair
man OF the Executive Board OF the Brother
hood OF Telegraphers. gave the following
statistics OF the growth OF the Western
Union Company since 1866: In that year
the company had $1,000 miles OF poles and
1857 miles OF wire, while now It has
131, 900 miles OF poles and 374.36S miles OF
wire. The number of offices in 1866 was
$3.50; in 1888, 12,0Gs. The number of
messages handled in 1866 was $3.50, 2S2; In
1882 and 1888. 3S,s42,1i The receipts for
1866 were sG,56S, 925 1882 and 1888, s17.-
ia, 165. Expenses in 1866, S3,944.00j;
1882 and 1883, s9,996,02j. Profits in
1866, s2,624,9l9; 1882 and 1888, s7,11S,070.
This didn't include the Mutual Union
plant. The Western Union was now pay
ing per cent. dividends on watered stock,
and the surplus this year was $4,000, 900
Notwithstanding. The statistics were COM
piled from the published statements o. the
company. Since the beginning OF the strike
the membership OF the Brotherhood had
nearly doubled, and now numbered about
10000. one fifth OF the operators in the
country were women, and about 800 OF
these had Joined the strikers. There were
very few first-class operators among them,
as their strength was not equal to the
amount Of work required to attain such
efficiency.
The hearing will be continued to.mor-
row.
THE WESTERN UNION ABOUT TO ENTER SUIT
AGAINST THE CITY OF NEW YORK FOR WIRE
CUTTING DAMAGES.
NEW YORK, August 1.-THE Western
Union Company to-day sent a letter to
Mayor Edison setting forth the losses sus-
tanned by them by the cutting of their
wires, and notifying him that they will
bring suit against the city for the recovery
OF damages. The Mayor sent for Superin-
tendent Of Police Walling and consulted
with him as to measures to be adopted to
prevent the further cutting OF the wires.
The superintendent informed him that he
had already given special instructions to
the captains OF the several precincts
through the city, and that no effort would
be spared to detect and arrest all persons
guilty Of tampering with the wires.
A wIRE-CUTTER ARRESTED.
George Baldwin, 4 striking Western
Union lineman, was arrested this afternoon
and taken to the Tombs Police Court.
charged with cutting telegraph wires.
Lineman Ferris, Of the Western Union
Company, testified that Baldwin was cut
ting wires on the roof Of building at the
corner OF Liberty and Williams streets.
The wires there are attached TO an upright
fastened to chimney. Accused stated
that this fixture is his property, and that
he was merely removing it. lie claimed
that he bought that and number OF SINH
lar fixtures in 1882 from Charles Erwin,
who was then superintendent OF the West
ern Union Company. His examination
was adjourned to tomorrow.