Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-25

different committees having the bill in charge
dozen or SO lesser lights were expounding to
individual members the advantage and disad-
vantage Of rushing the bill through without
several important amendments. Perhaps one
group was there to look after certain make Of
coupler and wanted it adopted generally, while
another group watched the interests of their
roads and while desiring the coupler adopted
desired time in which to make the innovation.
Among a party of this nature it would be an
impossibility for them not to talk of the rail-
road and its happenings, and of course the ap-
preaching worlds fair and their connection
Herewith were often under discussion.
1t seemed to be the general verdict that with
the exception of one road the western man
ayers did not know the full extent Of the rail-
road problem before them.
A QUESTION OF WAGES.
In the first place the railroad systems of the
entire country will have to settle With their en-
ployes before the fair is inaugurated. None Of
the roads can afford to enter into a prolonged
fight over wages, and it is a where labor Is
going to squeeze capital and to accep: the best
terms possible will be the easiest way out Of the
difficulty. With the labor trouble out of the
way and all the systems working together like
well-olled machinery the practical railroader
will have 20 demonstrate his ability in his par
ticular line or make room for the man that can.
This applies to the humblest employe well as
the highest.
reporter Of THE EVENING STAR inquired
Of one Of the railroad representatives what
grounds he had for believing that demand for
an increase in wages would be made this spring
He said
Il have been making very careful observa-
tions for the last three months and the men.
one and all, are saving money. That is sign
that never fails. Thew are preparing for strug-
gle which. if il takes place. will find them well
fixed financially and il a compromise is arrived at
they will be Just so much ahead. Very few rail-
readers outside of the engineers save money rs
rule. and when they do there is something in
the wind
You were speaking of the western managers
not knowing how large a job they had their
hands. referring to the worlds fair, said the
reporter. 'Were you connected with any of
the eastern roads during the ceutennial?''
II was connected with only one" he replied
sand that one was sufficient for me. II you
happen to come across a railroader in any ca
pacity that worked on the eastern roads in 1876
ask him how many hours he generally put in on
the road. If | secured five hours sleep out of
the twenty-Tour on an average / considered my
self lucky. My position was one created for
the occasion and consisted OF overseeing the
general workings of the railroad men. the car
rying out of which took me over the road Mt all
hours of the day and night and upon all train
schedules.
PATRONAGE WILL FALL FLAT AT FIRST.
"My prediction is, in regard to the coming
fair at Chicago, that the patronage will fall fat
the first two or three months. Then national
pride will assert itself and when it does we rail-
readers will have to hump ourselves TO move
the masses. That was the situation during the
centennial and. in fact, the history Of all big
events of this sort l have this from statistics,
and if the Chicago fair proves an exception to
the rule l will be very much surprised and
heartily glad at the prosperity.
The entire country goes on the rule that
they will wait few mon his and avoid the early
rush. and As a consequence dearth Of people at
the fair grounds will be the result. All the
railroads are trying to overcome this I'M
preston and are advising their agents to get
the people to Chicago as early as possible
About the LIST of August the state DAYS will be-
gin. and then can look for tremendous
crowds from that time to the close. Each state
will try TO outdo the other in the matter Of at
tendance and the old-time rivalry between
New York and Pennsylvania will no doubt crop
out.
what a time those state days were in 1876
between the empire and keystone citizens.
The latter state topped the former by some
10000, think. but great Jerusalem, what
time We had getting those people to and from
the fair grounds. Up in Pennsylvania every
one wanted to come by the first train, and no
matter how much or how emphatically we as
sured them we were going to put on extra sec
tlons only ten minutes apart they crowded onto
the first sections until the cars were packed to
sutfocation. and then the roofs were taken
possession of. 1t has always been a wonder to
me that many people we're not hurt on that
day. As We passed through the small towns
along the road the great crowds on the trains
seemed to make the travelling fever infectious
on that day, and we we're taking them into
Philadelphia up until late hour in the afternoon.
When think Of those crowds and the great
facilities we had for handling them begin to
L
occasions. Oar road was double tracked it's
entire length and for miles out Of Philadelphia
eight and four tracks were used.
WORK DURING THE CENTENNIAL.
GAS for the railroad men themselves, it was a
case Of work as long as they could keep awake,
and, in fact, many wen: over the road at night
doing and sleeping rs the opportunity pre-
sonted itself. and the many hairbreadth escapes
from accidents and wrecks were remarkable.
81 remember going out one night on
freight train to keep watchful eye over the
movements Of the trainmen, every one at
headquarters knew Of the terrible chances
almost all of them were taking, owing to the
long hours OF work. We left Lancaster that
night, running the first section, with the
second train close behind US. The entire crews
Of both trains were worn out and had only
come out on the run to prevent n blockade,
and my eyelids appeared to be weighed down
with pound weights. The conductor and
walked up and down the floor OF the caboOse to
keep awake, but before we had gone ten miles
/ found that couldn't stand it any longer and
resolved to stretch myself out in one of the
hunks and take my chances. l knew as soon
as had turned in the conductor would follow.
but it was case Of physical collapse. / said
to the conductor:
".rm played ont. Guess I'll take little nap
till we get TO the foot Of the gap meaning big
hill midway between Lancaster and Philadel-
phia. so keep8 good lookout and then II let
you get little sleep yourself
The conductor promised to keep q sharp
lookout and turned i'll for a half hour g sleep.
i woke up presently with a start to find the
train standing still. and springing to the rear
door Of the caboose was paralyzed to see the
headlight of the engine of the second section,
which standing still not more than seventy
five feet away. looked for the conductor and
hagman and found them fast asleep. Then
started toward the headlight Of our train and
found the engine gone.
Presently l saw it backing up to and
then went back to see what was the matter
with the engine OF the second section. There
sat the engineer fas, asleep, with the fireman
was fast asleep, too.
The throttle was wide open and the engine
had run out Of steam. Going back over the
train l found two brakemen stretched out on
coal cars fast asleep and back in the caboose
the conductor and hagman were also snoozing
away for dear life.
81 turned and went to the engine Of the first
section, where the engineer told me that he and