Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-10-25
WORK AT B. & 0. SHOPS
vii be Commenced About the
First of Next Month.
500 MEN MAY BE EMPLOYED
Shops viii Probably Be in Operation Here
Within the Next 60 Days Reduction
Of force al Mount Clare.

uthority that work on the transform.
in1 of the oil shops in this city viii
begin shortly. All the preliminary
work toward the fitting up of the
buildings has been completed Within
the next two or three weeks the work
of cleaning up and repairing the build
ing here viii commence. Men have
been here working on the foundation
for the new engine AID boiler which
| is about ready at the Mt. Glare shops
for shipment These men arc doing
the work here when they can be spar
ed from other work which is press
ing Measurements have been taken
by the painting department OF the road
for the glass which will be put in the
windows Of the old building to repleace
those which have been broheu out.
1000 panes Of glass will be required to
fit out the windows
After the work is once begun it
will be pushed to rapid completion.
Tt is the desire of the company to
make this the most complete plant of
the kind in this county and it was
also learned from high authority that
the force of 100 or 200 men who will
be given work here, will be gradually
Increased until the force numbers in
the neighborhood of 500
This impro cement here means that
the b. q O. will work force Of men
in these shops which was not equalled
in the palmiest days of Martinsburg
when the clank, clank, of the ham
mers on the old boilers could be heard
all over the city. The old time hus-
tie and hustle about the shops will be
like new blood flowing in the vains
of this good old town. Men who were
compelled TO move out of Martinsburg
in order 70 secure employment, will
be given an opportunity to come back
and enjoy the fruits of their early la
bors.
With this increase, which means
anywhere from S8, 600 to $685. addi-
tional to the pay roll of the B. & 0.
ia this city. Martinsburg will be as
fourshing as any place and the good
old times will be out done. At the
Mont Glare shops the company has
decided to curtail it's force of work
men and already several men have
been taken off the paw rolls. and
Thursday large BODY of mechanics
and labores were told that their servi-
ces are no longer required The un-
eeI taintv as to how many persons or
who will be dropped has created a
feeling of unesainess among the / 900
or 2, 200 workmen regularly employed
at the Mount Glare shops 1t was
stated authenticity that at least 10
would receive notice to quit Thurs
day There are rumors TO the effect
that hundred or more will shortly
follow these, but these were neither
confirmed nor denied by officials of the
company.
Tuesday morning six employees in
the bridge working department. and
two from the storehouse platform were
laiu off. The shops from which men
will be taken are the erecting shop,
boiler shop, pipe fitting department
and bridge building plant. Most of
the men let out Thursday are from
the erecting shops, which Will in the
near future be removed to this CITY.
The men are at loss to know why
the reduction in the force is being
made. They say that the company now
has more repair work on hand than
usual. and that the taking on of men
would not surprise them nearly as
much as reduction OF the number of
employees.
During the summer the shops were
worked dav and night. Two weeks
ago the night force was taken off, al
though it is said work was pilling up
at the shops.
In speaking of the proposed curtail-
ment Mr. J. H Maddy. chief clerk
to General Manager Potter said: 1T
is not at all unusual for the company
to Iay off men. Work comes and goes,
ana sometimes we need greater
force than others.
Most of the men TO go are not aifili-
ated with any union, and even if they
were. the unions would not interfere
If the company gave good evidence
that the men were not needed.
| Mr.. AIaddy stated that the erecting
shops would probably be moved here
within the next 60 days. This charge,
/ 1t is said. was decided on to give more
room at Mount Glare for other work.
/ MARRIAGE LICENSES