The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-09-13
GENERAL NEWS
OF INDUSTRIES

lance OF sixteen miles. All or this
work is extraordinarily heavy and con-
sequently expensive. Another new de-
parture has also been made in the
length of the rails which are used for
this new track Heretofore the prac-
tice has been that rails should be not
more than thirty feet long. In this
case, however. the length has been in-
creased to forty-tive feet, and it is
claimed by those VINO are in position to
know, that track laid with the long
rails is better and can be kept in good
condition at considerably less expense
than track laid with the shorter rails.
The company has also gone to another
expense for the protection OF Its
patrons and its business in the
Introduction Of the Hall auto
matte electrical signals which have been
placed on its line between Penn Haven
junction and Mauch Chunk. 1t is.
claimed that these signals are the best
tor the purpose that can be found
They have also protected Roekport tun.
mel in the same manner. In addition
to the Improvements noted above,
which are all on Wyoming division,
they intend to equip all of their tele-
graph stations from Jersey City to
Buffalo with the best sem aphors signal,
which are made by the Union Switch
& Signal Co., which will be placed in
position in a few days. Arrange
ments are also in progress for increased
track facilities at Buffalo and Jersey
City. Their equipment of cars is also
to be increased by the addition Of 1900
of the latest improved gondolas There
are also o number of other. improve
ments contemplated which have not
yet been decided upon. Taking it all
in all the time is not far distant when
the road bed and equipment of this
road will be the best in the country.
Some interesting facts as to the
Pullman Palace car business was
brought out during the recent sit
tings of the National Labor com
mission at Chicago George NJ
Pullman said he saw no reason why
the company, although it had this year
declared dividend of s. 800. 900,
should raise the wages of men in Is de-
partment which was losing money.
Ths capital stock OF the Pullman COM
pany at present was $36 900, 900. diyi-
dends were paid on this basis. and the
eompanv's surplus was more than
the $4,000, 900 generally reported
The company had paid dividends
from the beginning-for three years
8 per cent. each quarter, and for
awhile 81 and s per cent. annually.
Speaking OF reductions Of wages at
Pullman, Mr.. Pullman said: For en-.
tire months we did not have an order
for car. / realized that unless some
thing was done there would be suffer-
ing at Pullman, and after consulta-
tion with vice President WicKes de-
tsrmined to make bid under the ac-
tual cost OF construction. We did
this, and l remember the first order
was for fifty-five cars. | put in bid
for these cars at from $500 to $400
below the cost of car making
up my mind to make this contribution
rather than see my men idle. be-
- lieve many other car builders in the
country felt the same way As evil
dence Of this, the next lowest bid to
mine was only $24 higher than mine.
On another occasion ! bid for lot OF
$50 cars at loss OF $15 on each car,
preferring to do this rather than see
the freight shops closed l underbid
the next competitor only 81 car. 1t
cost us about $50, 600 to keep the men
ut work as long as did.
Mr. Pullman continued: 'The average
increase of the capital stock Of the car
company has been $1,000,000 year.
One year it increased So, 600, 900. There
are about 1900 actual stockholders.
When the company was established the
capital stock was $1,000, 600. and the
other $35, 900. 600 represents cash actu-
ally paid in. The individual profits
have bee $25, 100000. There has never
been any stock watsred nor any extra
dividend paid" "Can you tell the
amount of wages paid the men since
the formation of the companY?"
asked Judge Worthington. "Yes,
$32. .S47,924. For materials we have
paid out in that time $73, 000 900.
cannot now tell the total paid out in
wages, but / will do 80 later. The
profits fell off nearly $500, 900 in the
month Of August alone last year ne
compared with the same month in
1892" "Do you not think it would
have been right, Mr.. Pullman. for
company making as much money as
the Pullman company has, which last
year declared a dividend of So 800, 900
to have in some measure shared its
profits with the employees at PullmanP'
THE manufacturing department of
the Pullman is entirely separated from
any other department Of the company.
The manufacturing department was
losing money and l see no reason why
we should, simply because the company
was prosperous, raise the wages in o
particular department which was los &.
ing money"
Even the rolling skate has caught t
the prevailing fever for pneumatic
tires There has accordingly been
concocted and duly protected by
letters patent what is called the
pneumatic skate. This new means
OF loeomotion is cross be
tween the roller skate and the
bicycle, On fair road, it Is stated, a
speed OF from ten to twelve miles may
be obtained comfortably, and hills ma y
be mounted and descended with as little
exertion as attends the rieing Of q
cycle. The weight OF pair of these
skates is only two and three quarters
pounds, so that they are readily port
able when not in use, and the wheels
are three and one-half inches in diane
ter. furnished with two-insh tines, civ.
ing total diameter OF about seven nd
one.half inches.
MINOR INDUSTRIAL NOTES:
On Oct. 1 the boycott inaugurated by
the trans-continental lines against the
Union Pacific will be called off.
The executive commission Of the West
ern Union. Telegra ph company has recon-
mended the decl aration Of the usual quar-.
terly dividend of ~ per cent, payable
Oct. Is.
The passenger men will meet In Chicago
"A 4. 4