Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-05-04

General Manager Wells is quoted by
the Los Angeles Herald as follows ~
answer to the signed statement q
the San B~ernardino strikers:
you may say in answer to the
signed statement Of the strikers at
San Bernardino that every man
brought from Pennsylvania and put
to work in the shops Of San Bernar.
dino signed a contract with us before
coming west, STIMULATING his willing
mes to 20 to work for the Atchison,
topeka & Santa Fe railroad company,
They all knew that a strike was then
imminent on the road and understood
that they might be called upon to
replace strikers or to work In shops
suffering labor disturbances. have
ample evidence to s~ubstantiate these
statements"
1T has been reported, Mr.. Wells,
that these men are herded together
in San B~ernardino, surrounded by
guards and kept under constant sur
veillance by the Santa Fe.
"The Santa Fe,' nswers the gen
eral manager finds it necessary TO
protect its property. The shops and
other property as well as the new men
put to work certainly are surrounded
by guards. Labor agitators have been
all along the line preaching destruc-
ton and the railroad has adopted rea-
sonable precautionary measure to
protect its property.
"The new men r working in the
shops are comfortably housed, warm
ed, provided with food and well cared
for.
Yes, we feel 1t necessary he con-
tinued, ito establish guards for the
protection not only Of our property,
but OF our workmen.
zone of the machine workers from
Pennsylvania" he was informed, who
deserted his companions tonight and
passed the guards, says that he and
his companions were brought west by
Misrepresentation. He says that he
expected to go to work for the Bald
win Locomotive works
.As | stated before" was Mr.. Wells
reply, "all those men signed contracts
that explode that statement
The strikers in a statement made a
similar charge.
The reporter then related to Mr..
Wells briefly the description Of San
Bernardino conditions furnished by
the strike-breaker who made his way
past the guards. The machine work
err from Pennsylvania declared that
he and his companions were isolated
by guards and their protests quoted
by the warning that the strikers were
watching for an opportunity to kill
them or do them serious violence.
The trike-breakers were led to be-
lieve, he declared. that the guards
stood between them and death.
Il am quite positive declared Mr..
Wells, chat no officer or agent Of the
Santa Fe has made any such repre-.
sensations TO these men"
Good for Newton.
Commencing early next month there
there will be entered upon the work
Of building and enlargement that will
be continued for several years and
will make Newton, IL carried out as
planned, one Of the first towns in
point OF importance. on the great
Santa Fe system. Some Of the work
will be finished this summer and fall,
the rest will be carried out later,
some OF 1t very likely next year.
Contracts have been let for some
Of the work. One great system Of
tracks is to beslaid out southwest Of
the city to furtk ish much needed in.
crease in the fwitching facilities in
the Newton yards. 1t Is the inten.
ton TO handle the main line freights
In these yards, the south branch trains
and all the passenger trains being han.
died In the Newton yards . The
roundhouse in the Newton yards will
be increased by the addition Of eleven
ninety.foot stalls to accommodate some
OF the decapods being received. Al
new tank house sixty by 100 feet will
also be built. The line from Newton
20 Lehman, the first block station
east. will be double-tracked. This
much has been agreed upon and has
been ordered.
But the plans drawn up contemplate
KL