Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-08-18
THE LABOR COMMITTEES.
Further Inquiry Into tho Relations oi
Money aud Muscle.


Money aud Muscle.
New York, August l7.-Dave Rob.
lnson telegraph engineer aud cOnlrac.
tor WINS the first witness examined to-
dny bv the United States senatorial
subcommittee on education aud labor.
He said hn had seen McClellnn's csti-
mate of the cost of construction OF II
telegraph line OF eight wires from New
York 20 Chicago, wherein the latter
said ii could be completed for opera
ton for the suui of S72b, $50. Thir,
witness thought was about half OF the
real cost of construction. such liuc
would cost at least 81 900 per mile.
He was not prepared to give my de-
tailed eatnnte of the cost 81 constfuc-
ton and equipment for this reason.
Senntnr George said he thought the
opinion of not much value ns cvi-
dpnee,
A warm controversy onsuod between
the senator from Mississippi and Sena-
tor Blair, who accused his coll fiiguc of
diAcourtesy To Witness In inlcrrupting
the hitter by any such expression oi
opinion.
senator George replied he prop sed
To take up as much iiine ns nc liked IN
questioning witnesses, and insisted
nllbi NtNitlhttltN VI WV iNSl vi taNl
item OF expense IN construction. Wit
ness refused to answer the ques-
ton any more definitely than he
had done, as he said he Thought that 1t
would be contrary TO his interest 10 do
so. In regu Il TO right of way, witness
said he had known OF caseS where over
one thousand dollars had been paid
for the privilege of erecting six poles,
This item was probably the most im-
pOrlant In the cost of construction.
ON some routes the cost of right OF
way was much larger than on others,
The most expensive route In this re-
spsct would be, he thought, that of the
lIue between Washington aud Boston,
and rights OF way between Washing
ton aud Chicago could not he acquired
except for II large consideration. Pro-
viding he had the right OF way pos
srsAea by the Western Union compa-
NY, Il lblnson asserted he wtNld will
linglv undertake. 10 sreproduca the en-
tarprisc of the telegraph system of this
country Tor 500, ,oOO, aud would not
hesitate nj $50, 100000. The most val.
liable rights of way possessed by tn,
Western, Union were those obtained
from the railroad systems OF the cuun.
try, and no estimate could he formed
of the cost to the Western Union ct nc
quiring these rights. The ordinary
expense connected with this item IL
incurred Ia obtaining rights of way
through cities. This WAS usually
placed under the head OF legal expen
seq, for lawyers were usually employed
TO obtain the privilege In these cases
Witness has been engaged In the con
struction for the Mutual Union, Amer
lean Rapid and several railroad lines
So
\ touching incident occurred on |
Georgia railroad the other day. a
lady noticed on the seat before her ,
woman, whose refined appearance 10,
her to engage IN conversation will
the stranger. Noticing the latter''
beautiful babe, she expressed admira
tion. "Ies, said she with n sigh
"benutlful, but blind Then point
ing 10 two other children by her side
she added: "rhat Is not ail--ihese, too
are blnd.n The sad announcement
brought tears TO the eyes of the listen
ers. The mothers sorrowtul lot ant
the chlldren's SAD future awakened
the deepest sympathy,