The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-03-22
RAILROAD MATTHIAS.
The Grand Trunk.

The eastern division Of the Grand Trunk
extends from Island Pond to Portland, and
most men employed as conductors, drivers and
brakemen are old men who have been tried
for many years in various stations They are
much excited over the notice that cut down
of ten per cent. in their pay is contemplated by
the company, and unless the notice is with
drawn 6 general strike on the eastern division
will follow. Promotion is very slow on the
Grand Trunk, and the wages paid are low.
The conductors of passenger trains are receiv-
ing S240 per day. Freight conductors are
paid as follows: Oldest in point OF service
$2.2b: next class, 50; third class, Sl.S0 per day.
Brakemen are paid $1.60, S1.50 and 81 40 per
day. There are men at work 10 the baggage
cars who have been eleven or twelve years In
the employ of the road aud who now receive
but SLIGO per day. Drivers are best paid OF
all, receiving So per day. When the cnt-down
was announced, General Manager Hckson
requested that delegates should be chosen to
meet MIN at Montreal Meetings OF train
men were held, aud Conductors HOdskin Of
Portland and Coy of Gorham, N. H., were Sc
lected to represent them. Tho drivers chose
as their representatives Cobb of Portland aud
Mason of Gorham, N. III. These delegates
were instructed to say that the men would not
consent to reduction in any case, aud general
opinion seems to be that no cut down will be
attempted on the eastern divisios, since all
classes are standing out so firmly against II.
There has never been strike on the eastern
division and but few accidents, bat a strike
will come now If the notice is persisted in and
the objection OF the men Is not needed. The
committee sent by the train smen has returned.
Representative drivers are still at Montreal.
No official report has yet been made by the
tralnmen'5 committee. Globe.
The Union Car Coupler.
A .
car coupler was given at Somervilie on Thurs
day in the presence of several railroad men,
among whom we're Superintendeuts Furber Of
the Boston and Maine, Adams OF the Fitch
burg, Superintendent of Transportation
Crockett of the Boston and Lowell, and Mas
ter of Transportation SAn5orn OF the Asteru.
The Eastern Railroad has used this coupler on
its cars for several months and the exhibition
Thursday was given by them. This coupler ia
designed to be used only on freight cars, and
it's principal advantage is that it can be oper-
Grated without going between the cars, thus
preventing accidents and loss OF life. Ia gem
ersl appearance it is like the old style, both in
size AID shape But s,ead Of the DIN there
is latch about eighteen inches loug and
wei. hing about twenty-five pounds. ] his latch
Is in general form not nHlike a huge fsh-hook,
having the barb on the outside at tho begin
ping Of the curve instead OF at the point. rhis
latch is enclosed within the coupler and Is at
tached BY stont pin, thus serving as full
crum. The cavity at the opening OF he coup
Ter Is just large enough to admit the link, and,
while deep enough to keep the link horizontal
and a. right angle 10 the end OF the Car, it
will still admit of sufficient play to 60 round
the sharpest curves. The weight Of the latch
Is sufficient to keep IL down, aud when forced
upward By the link it falls back and holds 1t
6'mly. A chain attached to the curved end
OF the latch extends to the top of the car, and
enables the brakeman to uncOuple the cars
from the top. The danger of breakage Is
much less than with the ordinary pin. On
Thursday the coupler wss sabiscted 10 the
severest tests aud only failed to connect once,
and then only when the link was pulled
round to one side, position it could never bo
left in with ordinary use.
50. Johnsbury and Lake ChampIaim.
The stockholders of the Sc. Johnsbury and
Lake Chsmpain Railroad Company held .
meeting at st. Johnsbury, Vt, Thursday, aud
unanimously voted to issue consolidated
mortgage bonds to the amount OF S11,0OO,OO0
for the purpose of laying the foad with steel
rails and for purchase OF rolling stock. This
action is taken In anticipation OF increased
traffic expected in consequences of the compile
tion of the road between Rouse's Point, the
terminus of the Og6ensburg and Lake Cham
plain rad, and SWaDton, the end OF the st.
Johnsonry and Lake Ohamplain road, Ter
which Vanderbilt and others have furnished
their money. OF these bonds $4,000 will
bear six per cent. interest aud the bal ance
five per cent. Four hundred thousand dol
lars worth OF the bonds will be issued imme-
distely. The Boston Safe Deposit and Trust
Company will act as trustees Of the mortgage.
Minor Notes.
1t is stated that the officers of the Grand
Trunk Railway will accsde to the desires Of
the citi zsns Of Berlin. N H., by erecting o
new Station and afording other additional IA
cilitss for tho transportation OF business ut
that point.
The annual meeting OF the Monson Railroad
Company was held at Lake Hebron Hotel, In
Monsop, Wednesday. The following directors
were elected; II. A. Whiting, Wilton, N. H.;
G. S. Cushing, G. A. Matthew'S, Lowell; j. r.
SDragle, g. f. Jackson, W. III. Pullen, A. w.
Chapln, MonsOn. III. A. Whiting was elected
president, s. g. Gushing general manager,
and j. F. Sprague solicitor Of the road.
The directors of the Rome, Watertown and
Ogdensburg Railroad Company, at their quar-
terly meeting Wednesday, decided to build at
once the Norwood and Montreal Railroad. .
short line between Norwood and Massena
Springs, which will give the company direct
connections TO Montreal over the United States
and Canada Railroad. Traffic contracts with
the Portland and Ogdensburg and the Ogdens-
burg and Lake Champlain railroad companies
were approved, providing for through passen-
ger and freight rates between Portland and
Buffalo. The purchase Of 5000 tons OF steel
rails was ordered, which, whom laid, will make
a total of 13 600 tons placed upc: the main
line during the present fiscal year.