Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-24
LABOR RECRUITING STATION
Thousands Of Men for Railroad Work to B,
Sent Out Of Omaha.
MANY WILL COME FROM NORTH AND EAST
Plans for Busiest Construction and
Repair Season in Many Years
and Omaha is TO BE Gem
traILabor arket.

Omaha IL TO become the recruiting station
this summer Of vast armies OF laborers for
western railroad work, IL present plans are
carried out. Coincident with the remend-
GUS amount OF railroad construction now In
progress and pending is a movement to mo-
bolize men from the east and north in
Omaha and ship them to various western
points. Railroads are taking an active hand
in this scheme which in all probability will
amount to a big thing. the biggest Of its
kind, the promoters say, ever known in the
history Of the great growing west. No es-
innate is made OF the probable number Of
men that will be recruited, but 1t is stated
that there is no danger at all but that
everyone brought In will be given ready
employment, for 'laborers are few" in COM
parison to the immense volume OF work
that Is on hand.
At present great numbers Of men are
employed throughout the southwest and
west where the new Kansas City, Mexico
a orient. and the Southern Pacific are do
ing a great deal Of building, the former
new and the latter repair and extension
work. Already these companies are said
to have encountered serious difficulty in
getting enough men to keep their work
going. Then there Is the construction Of
the new Clark lines from Salt Lake to Los
~hakNANo obph " btbAht an 9Ooh III AoNN ~
contracts can be let and equipment for
construction placed upon the ground.
Senator Clark, like General Manager Dick
inson and other officials Of the Orient road,
IL determined and has so expressed him
self, to proceed with all possible facility
to the work OF building a railroad 1t Is
necessary, therefore, to get In the labor
market in due time in order to get the
workmen. Both the Orient and the Clark
line will supply long Jobs. so that there
will be that advantage in employing men.
General Manager Dickson stated once that
two years at least would be required to
complete the Orient road.
Repair and Improvement Work.
However, this is not the only work de-
handing this class OF laborers in the west.
Considerable is being done or mapped out
in the northwest and even nearer the mid
die west is there need for a considerable
number of men for repair and improvement
work. 1t is said, indeed. that the volume
Of railroad construction in the west has not
been greater for many years.
Naturally this outlook is not discouraging
to the man who has to work. with the in
creased demand is anticipated and doubt
less will come a corresponding increase in
wages, which have been on a gradual rise
for several years.
The effect of this movement doubtless will
be materially felt in Omaha, not only be-
cause this city has been decided on as the
recruiting station. but because Just at pres
emit there is a spell of idleness due to va
rious strikes. This means that a vast mum.
Der OF men are not at work. While the
majority of these may be skilled workmen,
yet no Uncomfortable proportion are un-
skilled laborers. and among them doubtless
are many who will follow the. vast caravan
that is to move westward from the Gate
City this summer. II this is done 1t may
have a very material effect upon the pres
ent labor disturbances in Omaha.
Back Of this movement is said TO be con-
siderable local influence. A number oi
Omaha min Of means are understood tc
have invested in the stock OF the Orient
road to such an extent, some Of them, as Il
become very much interested in seeing tho
construction work rapidly advanced. These
factors are said TO be welding a potent in.
nuence in this mobilization scheme. TIL
Clark people have made available for theii
road building $25, 900, 900 in cash and are
planning to issue $50, OOO. 900 in gold bonds
the balance not taken by projectors to b.
placed upon the market. So that they are
as anxious to promote their work as the
other people.