Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-10-04
TUESDAY. OCTOBER Q.

there was paid during tnat year Sl0,-
157, 51949. Last year there were en-
ployed 32,3S5 men and they received
SIS, 40G, 3S3.76 as wages, a gain In their
wages over 1897 of S3,24S, S6427.
"As an indication Of the increase in
the number of railroad employees In
the state l may add that 20 years ago
there were but 1884. 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 31,127. Then came the
decline until in the year ending June
80, 1895, the Iowa railroad employees
numbered but "a, 1O7, or over 5000 less
than last year, while the trackage In
the state in 1895 was only % miles less
than in 1899. In 1893 the gain over
1897 was nearly 1900, 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
years the average amount paid the
Iowa railroad men during the four
Democratic years was $15,747. 1880
per year. and during the four Repub-
lican years the average was $17,17S,-
1854.
1.-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. II, 1899. but at the re-
quest Of the complainant continuance
was granted and finally, at the request
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 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. 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 In 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 in the last named year was ST.
459, 1000 more than that paid in 1895.
The number Of persons employed by
the railroads Of the United States In
1859 was 92S.924 and in 1895 1t was
7S5.034. OF 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 $66,1SO,743. I think you
will admit. father" continued John,
"that 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.
JULIAN W. RICHARDS.