The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1884-11-27
TAKING I'M SAIL.


The Erie Railway ugurates = Radical Re-
trenehEnsnt Regime-All Surplus Attaches
to be Decapitated, Salaries of Those Re-
tanned Reduced, Train Service Decreased
and a General Effort Made to Reach Hard
Pan.
NEW YORK, November n.
Rumors are rife that the Erie Railroad is
about to lower salaries. A week ago one
of the highest officials of the company,
whose salary ranged away up among the
thousands, was given notice that his res
ignation would be gratefully accepted.
He was told that the road was in strait
ened circumstances, and that on and after
the 1st of December his duties would be
performed by a clerk. When President
Hugh J. Jewett stepped down and out no
was receiving an annual salary of S40, 700.
When President John King took his place
he was notified that he must be satisfied
with $25, 900 per year. Scarcely had the
head of the New York official fallen when
the new managers began pruning. The
Erie employs hundreds of trackmen who
have heretofore received a daily stipend
of 81 20. A number of these men were
discharged and the balance were informed
that they must be satisfied with SI.I0.
Twenty-Five clerks were notified that they
must seek new occupations, and all hands,
from top to bottom, were informed that
they must submit to a wholesale rcduc-
tion or look elsewhere for employment.
1t is said, also, that conductors, engi-
neers, fremen, station agents, switchmen,
baggage smashers and every other class
of employees will have their wages re-
duced, and that many of them have been
MARKED FOR DISMISSAL.
The retrenchment in expenses will not
only be felt by the employees, but by the
public at large. The number of trains is
to be reduced, and the information is next
to positive that the "fast freight" system
is to be abolished entirely. Preparations
have been made to consolidate several of
the lines which use partially the same
tracks. This is but an initial move to the
final abandonment of some of the lines,
which have been run at loss to the COM
panY. This determination is due to
the fact that in the opin-
ion of the new management u
number of lines running through the
same section of country cater to the
same business, and this is looked upon as
an unnecessary expense. Changes, too,
are to be made in the emigrant depart.
ment and in the several railroad cen
ters'' where scores of men have hereto.
fore obtained a living. Where three men
have done the work one is to perform the
same labor, and instead of an additional
compensation he will he compelled t0
submit to the general reduction, which
will be no respecter of persons.
high official who asked that his name
be withheld, said: ''NO matter what the
managers say, tell you that a general
reduction, not only in the working
force, but 81 the salaries and wages,
is to be made as sOoOn as the annual
report is made. The Erie Road has
been playing to poor-paying houses
for several years past, and bankruptcy
stares it in the face unless it retrenches
Several old-time officials have been quiet
Iy notified that they must look elsewhere
for places after the first of January, and
an army of clerks are even now looking
out for something clSe.''