, 1892-03-09
WHEELS WHICH TURN.
Scores of Them to be Found in the
Cheyenne Shops.
Sup't. 0'Hearne Resents Some
Published Statements
And Makes Some Comparisons
Favorable to Cheyenne.

contained a long and sensational article
on the subject of the Union Pacific shops
and headquarters at Omaha. 1t was
claimed that owing to the fight now in
progress between the Omaha municipal
authorities and the management of the
Union Pacific the latter were seriously
considering the advisability of removing
the entire outfit elsewhere and Denver
had been definitely selected as the location
provided OF course that the citizens of
Denver would make up a suitable bonus.
In this connection it was.stated that plans
had been accepted and preparations made
for the construction of a boiler shop S0x
300 feet in Omaha which was to be
equipped with modern machinery to do
most of the work by steam. This. the
Republican stated, was now definitely
abandoned. As to the amount of the
bonus $500. 900 was named but the Den
yer paper adds "a much less amount
might do" This for a business which it
Acknowledges is worth SO, 900, 900 a year
to Omaha is a rather summary way of
disposing of a big thing and evinces an
economical streak quite worthy of Denver.
But the most reckless statement in an
article filled with Rlaring inaccuracies and
of the creates. local interest is contained
in the following few lines:
The company has at CHEYENNE a ma
chine shop, erected at large outlay, in
which not a wheel has turned. The
secret of this is that machinists cannot be
retained at Cheyenne at SO. so Der day.
They will work in Denver at So. 25 per
day, and are glad to get the employment
The difference is in the cost OF Lying, as
well as in the superior advantages in the
way of schools and other opportunities
afforded by Denver.
Shop Supt O'Hearne was seen taking
a hasty lunch at the depot Yesterday
afternoon preparatory to making a bust
ness trip to Denver. He was asked in
regard to the Republican article.
"ln nv judgment" be said, ut Is q
fake, pure and simple"
How about work costing any more in
the Cheyenne shops thar elsewhere?"
1T is a plain unvarnished lie so far as
it refers to the class of work which we do
here. We lave here the best equipped
and most extensive shops, without a
single exception either owned or con-
trolled by the Union Pacific. Locomo-
tives are sent through Denver to be re-
paired or built at Cheyenne. There is a
difference of 25 cents a day in the wages
paid here over those paid in Denver, but
this is more than made up to the com-
pany by our superior facilities for hand
ling the work which we do here. am
not doing any guess work now, but 1
have proved this by actual figures. In
the line of heavy locomotive work we can
do it more cheaply here than in Denver
or any other point on the road. not even
excepting Omaha or the Kansas shops.
In the line OF manufacturing we could do
it as cheaply here as it could be done in
Denver but not as cheaply as in Omaha
or Kansas City because of the difference
in the cost of common labor between here
and there. Nevertheless we make and
send from here car axles not only to
Denver but to all shop points west"
How about the expense OF living2''
"As to that l believe a mechanic can
always live more cheaply in a small town
than a large one. The large tow has
more attractions no doubt and many of
the Younger men prefer such places on
that account, hut all these added altrac-
lions cost money and if the mechanic
goes to figuring at the end of the year he
will not find himself ahead as compared
with men in the same line Of business in
smaller towns, but behind"
How many men have YOU been and
are o now employing here?'
Between 400 and 500. l can see no
reason why the company should not pre-
fer to come here, if it intends to move at
all, in preference to going to Denver
where Its interests are being continually
fought by the press and people,
Mr.. Cbas. E. Coons, private secretary
of Supt. of Motive Power Mcconnell, was
seen at the depot on his way from the
west. He said he knew nothing about
any contemplated move by the company
and had nothing to say except IN refer
ence to the remark by the Denver paper
AE-|A- HHH. 49, 900
that not a wheel had moved in the Chey-
enn shop. "You can see for yourself
that is untrue" said Mr.. Ooons. you
know between 400 and 500 men are regu-
larly employed here"
1t is calculated that about 10000 men,
women and children depend for support
upon the Union Pacific in Omaha alone.
There are about 1000 men employed in
the shops there and some 500 in the
headquarters. to say nothing about those
employed directly on The railroad and
elsewhere.
1t is certainly a plum for Omaha and
would be a tremendous thing for any
other town.
Remember that Ayers Cherry Pecto-
raj has nc equal as a specific for colds,