The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1904-08-26
WILL ROCK ISLAND HOLD OUT
Continued from Page Il

This accounts for the bulk of the IN
crease. We are told that the increase
in June net, over $500, 900, represents
practically the first fruits Of the labor
Of the new management.
There was an increase of over 20 per
cent. IN maintenance of equipment
and IN general expenses, due partly to
the winter, but more largely to the fact
that the equipment needed the exPen-
diture- This also IS apparently at an
end, as shop forces are today reduced
and the mechanical as well as the &C
counting departments Of the road are
being put IN good shape 20 do their
work as economically as they can.
To get at the probable decrease in
net earnings by the Rock Island during
one Of the most prosperous periods IN
the history Of the world It is necessary
to go back to the date about three years
ago when the stock of the Rock Island
fell into the hands Of spectators
For years prior to this date the Rock
Island had PrOspered under the cOnser-
vative Cable management and the sys-
TEN was in the hands of men loyal to
the Rock Island. A more loyal set of
employees never worked for any railroad
and under the efficiency guidance of R.
R. Cable, the road was successfully
Piloted by the shoals during the panic
of 1903.
With but comparatively few of the
old time employees who were with the
road for years and years under the old
Gable regime, men who knew the Rock
Island system from end to end, and
with the ranks filed with men recruited
from the Great Northern and the Penn
sylvania railway systems, with factions
jealous Of other factions, with the ever
changing personnel of officials and with
most of the employees from heads of de-
partments down to the lowest emPlOye
afraid of losing his job, the work of the
system has been in a disorganized state
from which it will take a long time to
recover.
Since the road passed into the con-
troll of the Moore brothers and Leeds
about three years ago, its history may
| be divided into two ePOchs.
With the negotiation of the first loans
and the issuance of the bonds therefor
in New York city, it is said the bank
/ loaning the money demanded the right
/ to name the man who managed the
road, and the demand was accepted.
c. H. Warren was brought in from
| the Great Northern railroad to take the
active management and R. R. Cable
was retired.
| Then began a wholesale reOrganiza-
ton of the Rock Island management
in practically every department. twas
said that a former management was old
fogey, that it lacked life, ETC., etc.
Heads were Topped off on every side
aud friends of Mr.. Warren were put
in the various departments and the
working force was almost completely
reOrganized.
With the institution of these changes
a policy of retrenchment and economy
was begun. Great Northern methods
were introduced on the Rock Island,
and all manner of moves were made
in the name of economy.
The working force in all departments
was cut down to the minimum. Switch
ing crews were released and track men
were let out The watch-wOrd was
to make the road show a net earn
ing OF s., ZOO for each mile EOPerated
during the year. That showing would
be equal to almost half of the capital
ization Of the company.
When LOree came onto the Rock IS
land he sounded the feelings Of the en-
PlOyes and they were given to under
stand that It would be all right with
them, that they would be taken care of
few exceptions this has not been the
case
During the Warren regime there was
| another hobby practised. The heaviest
| engines made were bought and put II
use all over the road. The idea was tC
be able to haul the most tonnage with
the least number of engines. The ROcI
Island is one of the few western rail
roads which IS called a "dirt" road
That means the roadbed is only dir
and is not ba7lasted with rock or gum
DO. The result has been that during
the past three years with heavy engines
pounding over the track and with prac-
ticaIly no trackmen at work, the road
has been allowed to degenerate until i
has reached a point where II is hard tC
make time with trains, and it viii Re
quire millions of dollars for repairs and
a long time in which to make then
before the road can be put IN as good Z
condition as II was before all thes'
things began to take place
The recent orders IN the line Of ex
IRENE economy are but evidences of TIT
strenuous condition in which the Rocl
Island finds itself Shops all over the
/ system have been closed and 1t IS ~
mOred that when work viii be resumed
again It VIII be at but three of TIT
shops. Also extreme measures hav'
been taken IN the matter of reducing
operating expenses Of passenger trains
Recently an order was issued releasing
one brakeman on each crew and as