Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-09-27

i was assistant engineer of the Phila-
delphia division of the Pennsylvania:
from 1891 to 1898 he was principal as
slstant engineer of the Milwaukee,
1 Lake Shore & Western, and since the
last date has been connected with
the Chicago & Northwestern as engi-
tneer of second tracks and division
engineer of the Ashland & Iowa di-
visions of that system. i
wIii Increase stock.
/ Favorable consideration to prop
psition to issue an additional $780,
100000 of capital stock will be given
at the annual meeting of the stock.
holders of the Chicago, Milwaukee &
ST. Paul Railroad company today in
Milwaukee. The details of the pro-
posed issue are said TO include the
reservation of the rights of the hold
ers of the present stock to take the
proposed shares with n deduction
from the present value of 20 per cent.
Theories are numerous as to what
the st. Paul company intends to do
with this additional stock. The re-
vival of the suspended plan for build
ing from the Missouri river at Evarts.
IS. d.. to the Pacific coast was one of
The supposed reasons. The amount
| of the new issue. $2O.O0O,0 900. calcIi-
lated with the available surplus
which the last financial statement of
the company showed it to have woull
furnish the $4O.OOO.OO0 necessary toI
cross the mountains and establish Il
Pacific terminal.
Greeks as Laborers.
The party of about dozen Greeks
who are employed about the local
Rock Island yards live in box cars. as
is their custom wherever they are
employed along the line. Two old
cars have been backed i'm north of
the water tank and they are used
for sleeping and living quarters. The
| crew has used some of the brick
that was taken from the old round
house TO make shanties in which to
cook. They are built up without NOR
tar and are rooted with old ties and
other rubbish. There are four or
five of them and inside of each is a
we'll arranged fireplace where the
frugal Hellenes conduct the culinary
department of their households.
These same Greeks make very fair
sectionmen and are employed pretty
much all over the Rock Island sys-
tenn. They are rather short of stat
ure, very even in size and are tireless
workers. The regularity of their
habits and their sobriety are among
the strongest points in their favor,
for they can always be depended up
on to. be on hand and discharge the
duties of which they are capable.
The fact that they are not, as a rule,
taIkative and will work together
without losing much time in conversa-
ton, also increases their working
value.
| Very few of them can speak Eng
lish, and they learn very slowly on
account of living apart from Ameri-
cans. There must always be in each
section crew. however, one who can
act as an interpreter, and transmit
the orders of the foreman. 1t is only
during the past couple of years that
lGreeks have been employed in this
part of the country on railroad work.
but it seems that they are growing in
demand in the absence of reliable
llaborers of other more intelligent
nationalities.
Rock Island Notes.
s. y. Conover is dispatching at tho
local office filing the vacancy that
has been created through the resig-
nation of Chief Dispatcher Scott.
Work on the new express and bag
gage building is going forward rapid
IIy and the prospect is th2t within the
next week the brick work will have
been completed. The preparation of
the grounds about the building is go
ing on and they will be graded and
the walks laid before the station is
completed.
Increasing business in the Daven
port yards has necessitated the put
ting on of an additional seeon
switch engine within the past two
weeks. The one put on last is the 1873
and it is in charge of c. Odin, who has
been promoted from fireman to extra
duty as engineer.
Fireman G. Weyrouch is also run
ming a switch engine.
Machinist NJ. Manyon has been
transferred from the local to the
Davenport shops.
Engineer j. Smith is laying off and
has gone on a visit to Chicago. Engi-
neer Schofield is on the 1907 in his
place.
Engineer Silas Sprague is laying off
and c. Nelson is on the 462 in his
place.
Engine asp, formerly the No. II, is
back on the Cable branch after an
overhauIing in the Davenport shops.
Engineer Noble and Fireman ID. NJ.
Smith have been assigned TO the 80
nights and Engineer G. j. Smith and
Fireman J. Needham have been as
signed tn the AZ days.
Engineer A. HotchlSiss has returned
from his visit in Chicago.
Fireman Ward is off duty.
Fortune Fayors a Texan
Having distressing pains in head,
Il