The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-08
UNDER The DOME
Statistics Concerning Railroad
Men Completed
At the Office of the Commissions
err of Labor.
MUCH INFORM TION
Is Brought Out of Interest to
LabOring Men.
Children Illegally Barred From
City Schools.
MUCH INFORMATION


completed the compilation of statistics
concerning railroad men. He had
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 40 loco
motive engineers. The average age is
So and the average length of time they
have been employed in that business is
1912 years. OF those reporting % favor
an eight hour day and eight are oppos-
ed to it,
The average wages received are SO
cents per mile. A remarkable revela-
ton about the engineers which appears
in the report is that their earnings are
not so large as most people suppose
The average wages from all sources is
given as S1,120 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 black list: I'm
not think any penalty or punishment
could be too severe for the offending
party. The idea that a 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 A fire
"a
years. The wage rate per mile is FL
cents and the average annual earnings
amount to $736.39. The cost of living
is S503 05.
Nineteen railroad conductors report
ed. Their rate of earning is three cents
per mile and the average yearly earn
ingS for 1897 were 81, 059. so, ranging from
$500 to 81, $50. The average cost of liv-
ing is SS10 ranging from 1919 to $1,000.
TWenty-fOur brakemen, whose aver
age ages is BIB years, report. The av-
erage time they have been employed is
81 years and their average wages is
wages for 1897 amounted to $668.77. The
cost of living was $529-46.
On the question of needed legislation
one brakeman wants the sidetracks
even and level with the ties so that it
will not be so dangerous to do switch
ing. He also wants the switch stands
nine feet from the tracks. Another
brakeman wants all roads to be COM
PEELED to have gravel ballast because
of the danger of falling when walking
on the rock ballast.
Reports were received from q rail-
way track foremen. Twenty-Five favor
a universal eight hour day and u OPP
pose it. The average earnings for 1897
were $075.76, ranging from 1884 to $40.
The cost of living averages 1857. 49,
One foreman thinks that the railroad
companies should be compelled Ito pro-
vide suitable tool houses with stoves
in them to warm the mems dinners and
dry their clothes in stormy weather"
Another thinks that a law should be
passed ''tO compel the railway compa-
MES to employ not less than one track
man per mile
Reports were received from 81 rail-
way trackmen. Their average daily
wage rate is Sly, ranging from $1.10 to
S1.25. The average annual wages for
1897 were $319.36. The cost of living is
1921. 81. One man says: Under the
present state of affairs no 1aboring man
can maintain his family and buy suita-
saI,T -To n Fn1 l1nT
day" Another says: 7 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"
Ten railroad blacksmiths replied to
the inquiries of the labor commissioner /
Their average wages We're 2s9 cents
per hour. Their average annual wages
for last year amounted to S716 and the
cost of living is 1852.
In discussing needed legislation one
blacksmith says that there should be
"A compulsory education law that
would keep children out of the work
shop and keep them in school" An
other says that there should be "A law
that viii prevent a company from dis
charging a man without assigning a
reason" Still another one of the black
smiths says: Railroad officials used
their offices to intimidate their en-
ployes at the last national election. If
individuals would do what these men
do the penitentiaries would not hold
them all. The company still hangs to
the old plea. and lays us off when the
rush is over We have been driven to
the extreme limit to get our work out
for them and get thanked by being laid
off. This was not done so much few
years ago for there were then neither
the men nor the machines. Now Eur
ope has come to live with US and Yam
kee genius has filed the shops with ma
chimes and the devil and the railroad
officials run the country
Nine railroad machinists reported
from five different counties. The aver
age time worked was 8.3 hours per day.
The wage rate ranges from 22.5 cents
per hour to 80 cents per hour, the aver
age being 27.5 cents. The average wages
for the year were $3.50.
All the reports indicate that the rail-
road men are making permanent in
vestments and q. large proportion own
their own homes. Nearly all think that
convict labor should be utilized in
making good roads.
Legal School Age.
keep children between the ages of five
and seven from attending the public
schools2
Assistant Attorney General Smelling
says that they have not. 1t is done in
Topeka and every city of the first class
and in several cities of the second class. |
The inquiry came from the office of the
ton and originated in a city of the sec
Ond class where children are barred
from attending school unless they are
over seven years old.
In discussing the matter Mr.. Smelling
said: THE constitution of Kansas pro-