The San Francisco call., 1896-09-13
CAR MEN LOST CONTROL
New Motormen Create Havoc
on the Haywards EIec-
trio. Cars.
Result of Crowding inexperienced
Men Who Work for Low
Wages.

The Oakland, San Leandro and Hay
wards electric railway is having an expert
ence in practical raiiroading that is the
occasion of considerable strain to the
nerves of the patrons OF the line.
1t appears that the company has under
taken, in a very methodical manner, cal
culated or intended 10 head off the possi-
bility of strike on the part of its en-
pIoves, to reduce the wages account and
the expense for labor by little less than
10 per cent.
The motormen, for instance, are paid 81
cents an hour at present. The company
has undertaken to educate a sufficient
number of men willing to work for 10
cents an hour as will be able to supply
the places of the 21-cent force. The course
of the education is now being prosecuted
with vigor. The most notable part of the
transaction is that the experienced motor
men are required to teach the men who,
their education being completed, relieve
the form er of their jobs.
1t appears, however, that the process
has been forced beyond the limits of
safety, and several accidents have hap
pened within the past few days, resulting
from the discharge of the experienced
men and the placing of new and inexperi-
enced men in their places.
Thursday, for instance something like
a panic took place on car IL, and a serious
casualty was narrowly averted, and that
by the presence of mind of condu uctor
whose place is probably booked for some
other man.
The car was making the run from Hay-
wards TO Oakland in charge of Conductor
Lamroux. The motorman was one Cart
land, new man, VINO had been given the
place at 10 cents an hour, supplanting a
man who had received 81 cents. When at
a point near Seventeenth avenue and Fif-
teenth street the car got beyond the mo-
torman's control. He was WORKING the
speed regulator back and forth, as motor.
men do, when he caught it at a s'half-
notch" and the controller was burnt out
in an instant.
The electric fluid sped the wheels faster
and faster, and Galtlan found himself nm
able to check them, try as he would. He
became thorou ly frightened. lost his
head. and turning ran through the "a r
crying to the passengers who crowded II !:
Save yourselves; Jump for your lives (:
save yourselvesP'
Women screamed, and in an instant
things would have happened on that car
which would have resulted in MANY suits
for large damages had not Conductor
Lamroux, divining the trouble, sprung to
the front of the car, told the passengers
not to be alarmed and at the same time
turned the screw that cut off the current
from the trolley, thus bringing the car to
standstiil.
New men on the Oakland, San Leandro
! and Haywards hne are required TO work
the first month without pay, while UNDER
going their education. This man Cart.
land had been under the instruction OF
Motorman Zimmerman, who had turned
him in" as they say. at the risk of the
company, he claiming his needed expe-
rience must be gained subject thereto
On Thursday another car got away
| from new man named Swanson
while speeding on the county road. He
was unable to stop and the car overlook
and colllded with another car, causing
| considerable damage.