The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-12-26

ut is great deal OF work to pay off
all the men employed on this road, y
said the paymaster OF one of the
Northern railroads to Il Globe reporter
vest arday.
Il should think so, indeed, =" said the
reporter. MAY l ask how it is done?"
well, l suppose the part of it which
would most Interest the public is that
relating to the monthly trip of the pay
car. We haye q car fitted up for the
purpose Just like bank Office, with q
burglar-proof safe, and all the convent
cnces for transacting business. We 90
ont from Boston and pick up the men
Just where we find them, at the stations
or along the track. On payday the
men 90 about their ordinary business
Just as on any other day, and we find
them just where they happen to be at
work At the stations we make q stop
long enough to pay the station agent
and all the men, half hour to an hour
being required a tie larger stations. :"
90 YOU send out word and have the
men come to some point of the line on
payday
I'VE don't have to do that; the men
knew abou what time the pay car is
due and they come around without need
Of any extra summons. Our train is q
wild train. Of course, and has to be
tagged all the way. The train ahead
OF lis carries ? flag and the men see it
and know thcpay train is coming. We
have enc engine II who ALWAYS runs the
engine whje.' draws the Tay car, and he
understands tn bus hess. If we meet
a gang OF ira E-repa;rars a work the
train stops right among them, and the
men file on beard and get their pay.
No matter if but one man is at work in
place, we stop for him. The road
masto goes with us and Identifies the
men.
Il have heard wonderful things about
your celebrity in paying men," said the
reporter. Il have heard that you have
been known to pay at the rate of 100 a
minute.
That's ridiculous. pay on the av-
erage three o. four . minute in the car.
The men ,havc to he identified, their
names MIST be found on the register.
the money is given them, and. of course,
they must count it before they finally
sign their names or make their marks
in acknowledgment of the receipt.
Sometimes we can 90 quicker than that
when there is pressing need. Occasion
ally where there is large gang of men
at work the foreman arranges them in
line in the order OF their names on the
payroll. as soon as the train comes in
sight. We have the money all counted
for them, and they are rushed aboard
the car, paid OF. and we are gone before
they know it. In the ease OF a grave
gang, where nine out of ten men would
have to make their mark, this can be
done very quickly. A shop gang, where
all would write their names, would re-
quire more time.
If any man happens not to be OF
hand when the pay-car comes around
how does he get bis money!
1--WE return over the same track fOl
the most part, and the men would BE-
pretty sure to be on hand then. II !
man is sick when car comes along hi
goes to the nearest station as soon as ht
is able and gets his pay from the agent
Our trip takes about three days; W.
have 2,G00 men to pay
at must be g great deal of work?'
Certainly il IS, but there are pleas
ant features about it. We make th'
trip almost an excursion. The part,
| that 90 in the pay-car have known eacl
other for n long while; they take it cas-,
and manage 10 have pretty good TIM
out Of the trip. The Improvements tina
are made from month TO month interes
US, and Of course there are stirring o
amusing incidents connected with ever,
trip. We have to be careful and lool
out for the other trains, and take car
not to get stuck on sidings where Their
is no telegraph within reach. There j
one thing in our favor, and that is W
may be sure that everyone is anxiousl,
looking for our arrival and genuineI,
glad to sec us when we come. - ost0l
Globe