Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1894-09-07

build in close proximity to the shops
homes for the wOrkingmen of such
character and surroundings as would
prove SO attractive that the best class
of mechanics would seek that place
for employment in preference to 9TH
ers.
Accordingly (Mr. Pullman c%ontinued).
the present location of Pullman vas se-
lected. That region of the country was
then very sparsely populated. a very few
hundred people. mostly farmers, living
within q radius of perhaps u mile and a
half OF the site selected. where there are
now living some 5000 people. 1t was not
In Pullman, but to so limit the are of the
DIVE that they could buy homes at con-
venient distances from the works IL they
chose to do so II any lots had been sold
in Pullman. 1t would have permitted the
Introduction of the baletul elements which
it was tho chief purpose to exclude from
the immediate netghbOrhOod OF the shops
and from the homes to be erected about
them. The plan was to provide homes in
the first place for all people who should
desire to work in the shops. at reasonable
rentals. with the expectation that, as they
became able and should desire to do so,
they could purchase lots n erect homes
for themselves within convenient dis
tances. or avail themselves of the oppor.
tunity to rent homes from other people
WIZ SuUulu UuAAU III IndC SlClAlUys
rs a matter OF fact, at the tine of the
strike 563 of the shop employees owned their
homes, and 461 of that number are now
employed in tho shops; $50 others ut the
time Of the strike lived outside, and in a@-
ditioh an estimated number Of from 200 to
800 Others employed at Pullman were own
ers OF their homes. The relations OF those
employed in the shops are. as to the shops.
the relations Of employees to employer, and
as to those and others living in the homes,
the relations are simply and only those of
tenant to landlord. The company has not
nov, and never has had. any interest what
ever in the business of any of the stores or
shops in the town They are rented through
and managed by outside parties, free from
any control by tho company. Tho people
living In the town are entirely free to buy
where they choose. and. Us a matter Of
fact. the large disbursement in wages at
Pullman. amounting to an average of
g. $3.50. 900 a year. from September. 1880. to
July. 1894, has created n great competition
for the trade of Pullman In the surround-
ing towns, as we'll as in Chicago. the nat
ural result of which would be to bring the
prices Of all merchandise down to u mini
mum.
The basis upon which rents were fxcd
originally in 1881. said Mr.. Pullman, was 6
per cent. but the actual operations had
never shown a net return OF 6 per cent.
Fol several years the investment returned
a net revenue of ~ per cent. but during
the last two years had netted a revenue OF
only 3 So per cent.
In answer to questions by the Commits.
sioners the witness told of the contracts
for work undertaken by the company at a
loss in order that the men might be kept
at work. He said that up to the time
Of the strike the company had lost over
$4,000 in pursuit of that policy. MIR.
Pullman's further testimony reviewed his
utterances in pamphlet form and newspa.
per interviews which nave been made pub
lie heretofore.
Wickes Tcstifies.
Second Vice President Thomas q. Wickes.
of the Pullman Company, on being called