Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-24
The Chesapeake and Ohio and Its
Employees.
(staunton Spectator.l

a few days ago the Spectator had some
thing complimentary to say Of the Ches-
apeake and Ohio railway relating TO the
Consideration that corporation had for is
employees. and cited the fact that at New
port News. Richmond, and other points
along it's line the company had drugstores
TO furnish its employees medicines free
Of cost. and at Clifton Forge a hospital.
where the sick and injured were nursed
without money and without price. our
article was copied extensively throughout
the country traversed by the Chesapeake
and Ohio. and one OF the papers 10 make
use of the aforesaid article was the
Huntington (W. Na.) Advertiser. AT
Huntington the Chesapeake and Ohio has
a large number Of men employed. and one
Of the employees, who read the Spectator
article sent us the following explanation:
Huntington W. Va. March 18th.
IAN article appeared In the Huntington
Advertiser some days ago copied from
your paper cOmplimentng the Chesapeake
and Ohio Railway Company for its mag
nanimity towards its employees in fur
nishlng them with medicine. hospital
nurses. etc. in case Of accident or SICK
ness. all free Of charge, and that the
Chesapeake and Ohio foots the bill. This
is positively not so. They furnish no.
ployee here and on other divisions Is
assessed from - 10 so cents. and this
amount is taken out of his earnings on
payday. II IS the laboring-man that sup
ports these institutions, and the company
gives nothing If you will consider for a
moment the number OF men employed al
an average Of 50 cents each il VIII be
very plain TO see how a surplus OF S'OoV
has accumulated TO be invested in Chesa-
peaise and Ohio bonds without the voice
Of the contributor
This. Of course. puts the matter In 4
different light. and If what out Hunting
ton correspondent says is true, the Ches-
apeake and Ohio receives per year IN
round numbers $4,000 with which 10 spend
I'm having drug bills and sustaining us
hospital. But Notwithstanding TINS as
sessment plan. we think the road IS dong
a good service. \ few cents per month
or even II the average were 30 cents, thal
would only be IS per year per man, and
there are few men who do not spend
every year for medicine more than -
Ii may appear that the company collects
n big sum 10 conduct its hospital and pay
the drug bills OF its employees, but there
is no telling how much they pay out. The
plan Is beneficial in many ways, even u
the railway company receives proht
There are a number Of humble employee
who have no credit. and in case they are
sick or wounded they do not have 10 pay
big drug bills or Doctors fees-only
small monthly assessment.
We could enumerate several other IN
stances. but what has been stated above
is sufficient. The employees should be
more than glad to submit 20 this plan
because no man knows what day may
bring forth The next day, or the mex
week. or the next month. may fnd th'
kicker the sick man. and his sickness
might last long enough to consume
years salary If he paid the bills indi
vidually but under the present plan i
cannot be over s, We still commend th'
Chesapeake and Ohio, the statement o.
our Huntington correspondent to the con
trary, Notwithstanding.