Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1900-09-12

she expenses $31 ,471.771.6S. the net
earnings $16,9S6.3S6.76. In the year
ending June 80, 1897, the earnings of
these roads were $3S ,269, 503.04, the ex-
penses $25,336. TABS and the net earn
ings $12.932, 1886. This shows gain
in the gross earnings of $40, 1876, 655.40
an increase of expenses of over $6,OOO,
900 and an increase of 81, 000,O 900 in net
earnings.
$50 much for what the railroads
have received, now as to the number of
employees and their yearly compensa-
ton. In the year ending June 30, 1897,
there were employed by the various
railroads in Iowa 26,69O men, to whom
there was paid during that year $15,-
157.519.49. Last year there were en-
ployed 32,3S5 men and they received
SIS, 4O6.3S376 as wages, gain in their
wages over 1897 of So 24S, S64.27.
"As an indication of the increase in
the number of railroad employees in
the state may add that 20 years ago
there We're but 1891. Ten years ago
this number had increased to 24,642.
In the prosperous years that followed
the number increased until in 1892 ii
had reached 81 ,127 Then came the
decline until in the year ending June
30, 1895. the Iowa railroad employees
numbered but "a, 107 or over 5000 less
than last year. while the trackage in
the state in 1895 was only % miles less
than in 1899. In 1898 the gain over
1897 was nearly 1000, while the gain
in 1899 over 1898 was 2,376''
While the secretary was talking John
had been making some figures from the
reports of the various companies and
announced that during the past eight
years the average amount paid the
Iowa railroad men during the four
Democratic years was $751; ,429.90
per year, and during the four Repub-
lican years the average was $17,17S,-
1854.
'"The forthcoming commissioners re-
port will show" continued the secre-
tary. "that during the past year there
has been very little complaint as re-
CARDS the treatment of the people by
the railroads. During the year only
one complaint was made to the board
concerning the failure to establish joint
rates. This complaint was set for
hearing Jan. H. 1899, but mt the re-
quest of the complainant continuance
was granted and finally, at the request
of the same complainant. the matter
was indefinitely postponed. showing
that the railroads had complied with
the demand without being ordered to
do so by the commission"
Farmer Brown thanked the secretary
for the information given him, and as
they left the Office John remarked to
his father: II have been making a lit
tie collection of items that have seen
in the newspapers on this subject of
prosperity. concerning which we have
been taking a few lessons. l find in
my pocket scrap book an item which
gives some interesting figures in re-
gard to the improved condition of the
| railway employees of the United States
The comparison made i'm these figures
is of the year ending Jan. 80, 1895, with
that ending Jan. 80, 1899. These fig
ures are taken from the report of the
interstate commerce commission and
show that the aggregate earnings paid
to the railroad employees of the United
States i'm the last named year was ST.
459, 900 more than that paid in 1896
The number of persons employed by
the railroads Of the United States in
1889 was 92S,924 and in 1895 it was
7S5,034. or this increase in wages it
should be said that the men who work
with their hands get the largest share.
Taking out the officers of the compa-
| MES, office clerks and station men, the
increase paid to the other class of en-
ployes was 500, 1S0,743. I think you
will admit, father" continued John,
shat this showing indicates a much
better condition of the railroad men of
Iowa and the nation in this year than
in the years Of Democratic ascendency,
when hard times was the rule and
there were more lay-off days than
work days for the boys"
! Farmer Brown said nothing but it
was evident that he had found con-
siderable to think of during the lesson.
lillian w RICHARDS