The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-08-17
PAY DAY.
How IT Is CONDUCTED ON THE Rock ISL
AND & MERCER COUNTY ROAD, AND BY
THE Coal VALLEY MINING COMPANY.
K. | q NJ. G. Z. Il.

R.I&M C. R.R
Probably no day in the workingman's
life is looked forward to with more pleas
ure than the day on which he receives his
hard earned wages-when he is able to
pay off all debts contracted, and take
some spare change home for his wife to
buy new gown. To the frugal and
thrifty it brings joy and comfort, but it
is not such blessing to all classes, al
though everyone awaits its coming with
more or less pleasure.
On invitation of Superintendent Sud
low, an ARGUS representative accompa>
MED the pay car of the Rock Island Il
Mercer county road to Gable and back
on Saturday last Auditor Harrison was
in charge of two strong boxes. and
he guarded them with watchful eye.
Vice President Ben T. Cable WAS one
of the party, desiring to inspect the
general condition of the road.
Besides stopping at the several sta
tons on the way out, halts We're made
whenever a gang of section men were
met The track and road bed were
| found in better condition than more pre-
tentious roads The ties average 5000 to
"a mile, and are nicely covered with gray
ell. The best of rails are used. and the
section men keep things in perfect
order. At the present time a large
force is engaged in ditching, and
the excavated earth is dumped at Mill
Creek bridge. which will strengthen that
structure considerably. This year seven
new bridges have been put in and several
strengthened. The management make it
an object to see that everything is kept
in first class repair. The depots are neat
and clean Competent telegraph opera
tors are located at each station, the pres
ent system of co mmunlcation succeeding
the telephone, which was found unserv>
iceable.
COAL VALLEY MINING co.
Arriving at Cabe-which is named af>
ter Hon. p. L. Cable. the president and
owner of the Rock Island Il Mercer
County railroad, and who holds like re.
lation to the Coal Valley Mining Cos.
property-we repaired to the company
general store, presided over by Mr.. John
O'Ncil, and corps of assistants. This
cOmmodious place of business was filed
with miners waiting to receive their pay.
They were as orderly crowd of people
as one would wish to see, attred in plain
but clean clothing, with frankness anG
honesty stamped on their countenances
As each name was called the person ad
dressed would step forward and receive
his money enclosed in an envelope, with
the amount written on the outside. Ovel
an hours time was consumed in thi:
manner, between two and three hundred
men receiving their wages. Although Jul.
is one of the dullest months in the year
the pay roll of the Coal Valley Mimi!
company reached the nighborhood o
l AIn 4kx ILL e.
County road several thousand more Tn,
miners at Cable are better than the aver
age, as regards sobriety and conduct
They are mostly men of family, and tn
many coy homes that dot the surround
, ing hills attests that their domestic life i
, happy one. Instead of II shanty with
rough exterior, bare floors and dirt
walls, is noticed freshly painted houses
/ nicely carpeted, whitewashed and a gen
eral air of comfort. No turbulent or dis
sipated characters are employed at til
= mines, and Superintendent Lee-who, b.
the way, is an excellent man for til
place has the respect and confidence Q
all his men. The return trip was quickl
- made, and as the train went whrin
through some of the finest country o
r Gods green foOtstool, our thoughts in
voluntarily turned to the protector {
+ these two great enterprises, and we coul
but admire him for his energy and vas
business capability. They are monu
q ments to his industrious and useful lif'
which can only be overshadowed by hi
. magnanimlty.