The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-11-18
RAISE IN WAGES GOES INTO
EFFECT ALL ALONG THE LINE
pennsy Announces Today That West
ern Employees are Included in
the General Advance.
AFFECTS -FOUR HUNDRED IN CANTON.

(NewS-Democrat Leased wire Service.)
(Bullet!n.)
Pittsburg, Nov. 1.-THE Pennsyl-
vania railway announced at Q o'clock
this afternoon that 1t had raised wages
on its lines west Of Pittsburg ten
per cent, the same as It did on the
lines east, to all getting less than 5000
per month. These advances will cost
the road $11,OOO,OOO.
With the advance in the wages OF
the Pennsylvania employees east OF
Pittsburg comes the information that
the lines west of that city are to be
treated in similar manner. This in-
formation was given out Thursday by
Robert Pitcairn. assistant to the pres
ident of the Pennsylvania road, who
has his headquarters at Pittsburg. He
gave out the following statement:
There is nothing behind the move
other than that the directors felt that
the men deserved a raise and that the
company could. owing to the increased
revenues and the continued prosperity
of the country stand It. The officials
of no other roads were consulted. We
do not know what they will do. They
were not considered. think that the
lines west of Pittsburg will make
similar increase to the men, The ad-
vance on the lines east of Pittsburg
and Erie will cost the company about
SO. 900, 900 year."
Since the raise given the employees
on the eastern division. the local en-
ployes have been anticipating sim
lar increase. A well-known local Of
fetal said, II think that we will get
substantial raise in a short time.
There are about 400 employees of tha
Pennsylvania company in Canton and
none of them are receiving 5000 or
more a month. Most of the men feel
that with the increase in business. and
likewise in the cost Of living they
deserve a raise in wages. The wages
of the employees average about $50
month and an increase of 10 per cent
would mean an increase of about 800
or 500 year to each employe and
an increased cost to the road la this
city of about $4,000 year."
This move is considered as one OF
shrewdest ever made by the Cassatt
regime. It will result in series Of
complications for other trunk lines
and compel them to give similar in
crease or lose greater part of their
best men. This advance is said to
have averted second strike Of the
/, switchmen who were ready to present
new scale calling for an advance. 1t
! Is understood that the men in the
Pittsburg district of the Ft, Wayne
road and also on the Cleveland &
| Pittsburg road were formulating de-
mand for higher wages.
Suffering now from a scarcity Of
men this advance will give the rood
enough men to man all their trains
and cause the other roads much troy
BILE. This condition will prove con-
siderable factor in relieving this
: freight congestion. The raise when
given to the employees on the west
ern division will doubtless be the
same as was given to the eastern en-
ployes. 1t affects every employe Il
the road. from the trainmen and Of
fee employees to the messengers and
walters in the restaurants and dining
cars. and the women holding the most
menial positions.
w G. Gushing, supe intendent of the
Pennsylvania division between Pitts
burg and Crestline. was in Canton re-
Gently. He said that the trackage In
the city would soon be increased as
Canton was one of the best stations Of
, its size along tho Pennsylvania line.
F, He also said that other improvements
would be made.