Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-12-06
MANY CHANGES MADE.
designations Numerous Among
Rock Islands Illinois DiVi.
sion Employees.
j. s. SMITH NEW FOREMAN HERE
Office Forces Talking of Organizing
to Protest Against Wage
Reductions.

The appointment of f. o. Melcher,
superintendent of the Illinois division
of the Rock Island, as successor to
c. l.. Nichols.is being followed by the
inevitable changes among the en-
ployeS on the division. These are
nearly all among the foremen, who
resign in some cases because they do
not like changes that are being made
in the enforcement of the rules and
in others because they are asked to.
Supt. Melcher says that no employe
who does his duty and obeys the rules
will be asked to give up his position.
Incident to the changes occasion is
being taken to tighten up in the reg
ulations under which men are admit
ted to the service. The new men are
being subjected to rigid physical and
mental scrutiny and in many cases
the old employees are being reeNamin-
eel and where wanting are being dis
placed.
Stories come from Chicago of cuts
being made in the salaries of clerks
and reductions made in the forces in
order to effect Il lowering of expenses.
This appears to be common on all
lines and is leading to talk of form
ing an organization among the Office
men for the protection of their in
terests.
Nearing Completion.
The new office building at the Fifth
avenue station is getting far enough
along so that plans are being made to
take possession of the upper floors in
a week or such a matter. The train
masters. dispatchers' and operators
forces will be removed into it and the
yardmaster's office Will be changed
across the tracks to near the round
house. \ frame building that was
formerly used as the master mechan-
les office is being fitted up for this
purpose. 1t is being placed on foun-
dation just west of the roundhouse.
where it was formerly located. Re
Gently it has been used as headquar-
tiers for the car repairers and was To-
Gated east of the roundhouse.
Since the completion of the paving
and laying out of the walks at the
Fifth avenue depot the people have
showed decided preference for
walking on the grass rather than up
on the gracefully curved walks. Ev-
eryone is used to walking where he
pleases in that neighborhood and lit
tie regard has been paid to the sod
freshly laid with much care after
being brought from some fifty miles
up the line. The result is that it has
been thought advisable to put in eX-
ira walks cutting the corners and
gang OF men is al work at this now.
j. ). Smith is the new roundhouse
foreman. who has been appointed to
succeed Claude Arnold. resigned. Mr..
Smith is Il railroad man of consider
able experience. He was lately EN-
pIoyed at Kansas City.
The complication of records recent
ly introduced On the system. together
with the growth of activity locally,
have rendered ii necessary to provide
additional callers at the roundhouse.
David Fitzgerald, who has been on
duty nights, will be given n day job
and Rollin Schill and Harry Rogers
go on nights.
Heard Along Line.
George F. Wilson. superintendent of
motive power on the Rock Island,
passed through the city yesterday.
making u short stop here.
Engineer c. O'Brien, who was in
iured in a fall from his engine in Dav-
export early in the week, is recover
ing and will be back on duty i'm a few
days.
Engineer j. Shehan is sick.
Engineers III. Seeley and b. Hogan
have been sent here from Chicago to
do extra duty on switch engines.
Engineer Hague has been transfer
red here from Peoria to run on the
half and half
Engineer Strayer has been given the
night turn on the engine that helps
the traiAs over the hill north of Dav-
export. Fireman ROsenllranz is here
from Blue Island to run on this en-
CINE days.
Engineer y. Hotchkiss is sick and
Tom Dunn is running the 2003 in his
place. Fireman Kofer is on the same
engine.
Engineer w. Johnston has gone to
Chicago to attend to private affairs.
Engineer Joe McQuaid has been in
Peoria looking after Brotherhood
matters.
Engineer Sprague is sick and Tom
SIattery is running the 1872
Fireman j. johnson has been as
signed to the 461 and Fireman J. Knox
has been transferred to Peoria.
Firemen Leighton and Kelly have
been promoted to extra passenger
duty.