The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-03-14
RAIL AND CROSsTIE

The French railway companies seem to
prefer married employees to bachelors Mar
ried men and the fathers of families are
usually sUeadier. They become householders
and are less ready to seek change of en-
ployment So the railways have cast about
for means Of encouraging matrimony, and
they show especial favors to married men.
The latest invention for this purpose is
regular system Of distributing clothing and
shoes to the children of married employees.
1t is done Systematically, the children being
divided into two classes: those under years
of age, and those from 6 to 10. Children of
the first class are all clothed in the same
manner. They receive a pair of shoes, a
short gown of tricot, wooden stockings, a
dress, blouse aud an apron. For those
from 6 TO 16 years Of age, each boy receives
pair of shoes, wooden stockings, wooden
shirt, velvet pantaloons and blouse. Each
girl receives pair Of shoes, wooden stock
ings, dress and an apron. So far the
scheme has worked we'll The EMPLOYEES
seem to be grateful and-a thing in regard
to which there was some foreboding-the
bachelors do not complain of the discrim-
nation. The expense to the railway COM
panies is found to average about 81 a mile
OF line operated.
A recent German invention for the purS
pose OF preventing smoke when coal is US ed
powder and feeding this to the furnace with
an air blast. The coal dust being highly in
fammable iguites at once upon entering the
furnace and gives an intense fame. AS
would be supposed the dust does NOS fall,
but floats in the furnace chamber and Is en-
tirely consumed. There are no ashes and it
Is said there is no smoke from using coal in
this shape. The fires can be regulated the
same as when oil is used, and, as with the
use of oil, the fires can be started or extin-
gulshed at pleasure. The system, 1t is said
Is being adopted by many large concerns Ia
Germany, among which are several lines Of
steamers.
The switchmen Of the railways In Chicago
have made formal demand upon the COM
panies, through their association, for an
increase of pay to the following figures:
Day foremen 80 cents an hour, night fore
men "a cents, day helpers 80 cents, night
helpers 81 cents; the hours per day 60 be
the same as at present; the number Of DAYS
TO constitute the month not to be changed,
and a full days pay to be guaranteed any
crew, day or night, which may be called to
do yard service; which means that If in any
emergency they we're called to do work for
an hour or two they would receive full
days pay. This increase over the present
wages would amount so cents per hour, so
cents per day or nearly an Is per cent. adj
vance.
The Connecticut legislature has author
lied the New York, New Haven and Hart
ford Railroad Company to increase its
stock to 500, 900. For many years the
capital stock was SIS, 100000, and at pres
ent il is $40 SIC, 500.
The first electric locomotive has been
built at Lynn aud is now in practical oper-
alton there. While all the railroads have
recognized that it is but question of time
when steam as a motive power would give
way to electricity, it has remained for the
Boston and Maine railroad to take the first
steps toward having part of it's line
electrically equipped. The Crescent Beach
branch of this road has been selected for
the trial of the new electric locomotive, and
work will soon be begun looking toward
equipping the road for electric locomotives
which will haul the freight and passenger
trains over that branch Of the Boston and
Maine system. The overhead trolley con-
struction will be used. 1t is expected that
the electrical equipment of the road will be
finished by May l.
Tomorrow is the day set for the hearing
of the petition for the removal OF MIR. w.
B. Sparks as receiver OF the Georgia South
ern and Florida railroad at Macon. 1t Is
very probable that the matter viii not be
taken up Wednesday, but will again be