Barbour County index., 1898-07-20
STATISTICS CONCERNING RAILWAY
EMPLOYEES.

Labor Commissioner johnson has
completed the compilation of statistics
concerning railroad men. He had a
great deal Of difficulty in securing in
formation concerning machinists and
railroad iaborers but some interesting
information was secured in other de-
partments of railroad work.
Reports were received from forty loco
motive engineers. The average age is
3S and the average length of time they
have been employed in that business is
1912 years. OF those reporting twenty
eight are in favor CT an eight-hour day
and eight are opposed to it.
The average wages received are 3.S
cents per mile. A remarkable revela-
ton about the engineers which appears
in the report is that their earnings are
not 80 large as most people suppose.
The average wages from all sources is
given as SLIGO per annum. The total
cost Of living is $715.
There are various opinions expressed
about legislation for the benefit of the
engineers. One says: LET the Kansas
railroads alone" Another engineer
says. in speaking of the blacklist: In
regard to the 5lacklisting business do
not think any penalty or punishment
could be too severe for the offending
party. The idea that man must be
banished off the face of the earth to
suit some snob of an official is all wrong
and should be stamped out"
Reports were received from forty two
firemen whose average age is given as
32.4 years. The wage route per mile is
81 cents and the average annual earn
ings amount to $736.39. The cost of
living is $5O5.O5.
Nineteen railroad conductors report
ed. Their rate of earnings is 8 cents
per mile and the average yearly earn
lngs for 1897 were $1,O59. so, ranging
from $500 to 81, 1,4SO. The average cost
Of living is $s1O, ranging from 1919 to
$1,000.
Twenty-four brakemen, whose aver
age ages is 3l.3 years. report. The av-
erage time they have been employed is
81 years and their average wages is 2
cents per mile. The average total wag-
es for 1897 amounted to $66S.77. The
cost of living was $529.46.
On the question of needed legislation
one brakeman wants the sidetracks ev-
en- and level with the ties so that it will
not be so dangerous to do switching.
He also wants the switch stands nine
feet from the tracks. Another brake
man wants all railroads to be compell.
ed to have gravel ballast because OF the
danger of falling when walking on the
rock ballast.
Reports were received from q track
fOremen. Twenty-Five favor a univer-
sal eight-hour day and two oppose it,.
The average earnings for 1897 were
S575.76, ranging from 1884 to $40. The
cost of living averages $46739.
One foreman thinks that the railroad
companies should be compelled Ito pro.
vide suitable tool houses with stoves in
to warm the mems dinners and dry
their clothes In stormy weather." An.
other thinks that law should be pass
ed ITO compel the railway companies to
employ not less than one trackman per
mile"
Reports were received from 81 railway
trackmen. Their average daily wage
rate is $1.17, ranging from $1.1O to
$l.25. Tbs average annual wages for
1897 were $3l9.36. The cost of living is
$321.64. One man says: Under the
present state of affairs no laborlng man
can maintain his family and buy sulta-
BILE clothing for less than $1.5O per
day." Another says: Il would like to
see our wages increased, as it is all we
can do TO make both ends meet. If we
could get enough SO we could pay cash
we could do better. r."-AdvOcate.
STANLEY will re-instate the metro
nOlItan O0lfpo loW If olootod Oovornor