Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1901-01-16

resigned on account of ill health. E.
H. Williams who has been chief dis
patcher. has been promoted to the posi-
ton of trainmaster to succeed Mr..
Olmstead.
II. a. Cherrier general agent of the
Great Northern at Chicago, accompa-
MED by his wife, was visitor in Butte
today. He has been to the coast, and
is on his way home.
+. ]. O'Rourke in communication
published in the Chicago Inter Ocean
gives some interesting data in regard to
the age limit of a railroad men. He says:
;fCarefully prepared estimates based
upon investigation covering twenty nine
states, showing the number of unemploy-
ed men in this country. brings to light
some startling information and dscloses
condition bearing upon railway in
dustry well worthy of criticism, and of |
much interest to men now in service and |
those who contemplate taking up this |
line of work.
''The writer has devoted the greater
part Of three years in an earnest effort
to secure substantial data wherefrom a
positive statement could be prepared
showing the exact number of idle men
who could rightfully be classed as rail-
road men, and to determine If their mac
ton was voluntary or the result of some
spe citic act on their part or gems ral move
ment of employers.
I'm doing this numerous difficulties We're
encountered and various obstacles were
present which prevents issuing a state
ment absolutely correct as to exact num-
| bers However, sufficient information is
| at hand to convince fair-minded persons
| that the number of unemployed railroad
! men has reached alarming proportions,
| Notwithstanding the fact that greater
! number are required to operate the lines
| at present than at any time during the
| life of American railroads. Statistics
| gathered from 131 railway and industrial
| centers. not including New England,
| North and South Carolina and Georgia,
| show that men now idle and formerly
| employed on railroads. of ages ranging
| from 80 to 90. constitute 20 per cent. or
| One-fifth, Of the total number of unem-
| ptoyed. The average term of service rem
| derd to the various departments by the
number mentioned shows sixteen years.
"That portion of the report which
shows 50 per cent of this class as physi-
| cally and mentally sound, but refused
| employment on account Of age. seems al
most Incredible. in view Of the prosperous
| condition Of traffic and the fact that in
formation gathered refers only to those
| over IS years. Thirty per cent are ex-
empt under the age limit. but rejected
on account of physical defects Five per
cent frankly declare their inability to
provide suitable record. The remaining
| S per cent has no desire to re-enter the
service 1t should be borne in mind that
many thousands of former railroad en-
ployes of the rejected class have engaged
in other lines of labor. and are not mem
toned in the figures quoted.
| "Nany fail to see the justice of this
enforced ideness, which may in time lead
| to serious industrial disturbances.
Whether or not there is an element of
danger in this seemingly bad condition.
the policy inaugurated and responsibility
! for its existence is due to the attitude OF
| the railway companies. who for many
wears have given special attention to the
age and physical qualifications of their
employees in all departments of the SER
vice, Some lines have placed the age linn
it at 80 years, while others have decided
not to employ men over %. Wide expert
|
sioritvi and moral uprightness are not
considered in passing upon the fitness OF
candidates for employment, the essential
| qualifications being youth and physical
perfection Brain and muscle is an UNI
| equal struggle for existence with muscle
in the ascendency..
| I'm the interest of peace it is well to
reason together. Ii any army of ener-
| co+;o ;n,luStrOuS men are reduced to
condition of helplessness while yet ply
sically and mentally vigorous. and re-
moved from q field of usefulness into
| which they are prohibited to again enter.
and forced to take up. though unwilling
! ly. the brutal burden of poverty and be-
come "A part of the hungry horde of dis
contents can any doubt that bitterness
will be created and harmony destroyed?
.Contentment is condition precedent
to tranquility and should be established
whenever and wherever possible. The
hest employe in any and all industries is
the contented one. A hundred thousand
men. strong in mind and muscle. idle be-
caus. of the loss of finger. o.. perhaps
a wear or two beyond the age limit. in
constant association with their !oungei
! and more fortunate brothers. Will Ger
tainly SOW broadcast the spirit of dis
content and the doctrine OF nate.
at is true that many hazardous fea'
turas of train service of former years are
happilv removed by the adoption o'
: safety appliances and power brakes. This
}. has added 10 the general comfort am
: Ii.htened the burden of those employed
,. liability of accident has been lessened
/. and each year fewer incn are crushed
;. beneath the wheels. 1t also removed tn
:, necessity Of having well-trained men t
couple cars and handle trains with han'
brakes.
!. .We have passed from the age OF link
" and pins to one of levers ard nose iron
scrnr of frightful slaughter to one O
N comparative safety. During the forme
D with fn1erS and llullh