The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-31
UNION PACIFIC RETRENcHMENr.
Cutting Down Forces Temporarily
Big Expenditures in the Spring.

AS 80 GAAO 0AlLAAA4
The Leavenworth Times SAYS: The
Union Pacific Railroad has.
within the past few days, DISCHARGED
five members of the working force at
the .Leavenworth, Kansas & Western
round house and repair shops in
city on the plea that it must retrench.
cut down expenses and make a show
ing.
The officials say that h reduction of
the force has nothing at all to do with
the removal of the general offices of the
railroad to Omaha and this is probably
h fact, yet it seems incident to a gen
eral plan on part of the to re-
move the interests from this city Just
as far as possible.
Recently a new management was
placed at the head of the Union Pa
cific and, in all cases where a new set
Of men come into control, there is a de-
sire on the part of those in the official
positions, to cut down expenses and
make showing at the end of the year.
Usually the result is disastrous. The
rolling stock is poorly cared for and
runs down, the roadbeds are neglected
and in the end the loses more
than it gains and does itself a erman
ent injury in the eye OF the travelling
public, the shipper and the merchant.
But this is neither here nor there. The
case in point is the discharge of two
wipers, a blacksmith, a machinist and
a car repairer from the local shops,
thus cutting down the already small
working force to the lowest possible
ebb. 1t is said by railroad men that
the road here is none too sumptuously
maintained, that its cars and engines
might be q deal better and hat partic-
ularly its roadbed should be improved.
When the force at the roundhouse and
repair shops is reduced the cars and en-
gines will be only the more neglected.
In line with this spirit of retrench-
ment the force of men working on the
sections will be reduced and the already
poor roadbed will go from bad to worse.
- - fo-r -,AHfho cnrfno Mill 49,
earth will thaw and soften and wrecks
on the line may result without increas-
ed forces of men to keep things IN
shape.
The rumor that the Union Pacific
was removing a large share of
the machinery and materials from here
to Omaha is denied by the company's
representatives here. The men who
have been relieved of their positions say
the rumor is true in a measure. 1t is
that they are mistaken since
the company has already let the con-
tracts to build a new roundhouse, put
up a new oil and sand house, install a
new turntable and make other improve
ments to the property here. In view OF
these facts it would seem a contradic-
tory move to take the machinery al
ready here to another city.
Tha the Union Pacific proposes TO
uild as soon as spring dawns is GER
tain. The plans have been drawn and
the contracts let for a new and
lIdllIG 4OAl4OAAOLoO 30 EAAo8
ETC., to cost SO, O00. The new steel turn
table to be placed where the present
one now stands has already arrived and
is stored away to await until the work
is begun In addition a new oil house
and sand house will be erected and 9TH
er improvements made to the shops.
This will necessitate a change in the
All of the tracks will have to be taken
up and new ones put down, new pits
for the turntable and for the round-
house which is to containssix new stalls,
will have to be put in and all the minor
performed. The total will cost
etwee $12, 600 and $4,000. The new
roundhouse is to go up On the site of
the present building.
The new roundhouse and other i'm
provements have long been needed in
this city. The old accommodations were
insufficient; work could not be properly
lone in them and the force has long
30 men four months) the force here
will probably be increased again if To-
cal r%ailroaders diagnose the action of
officials correctly. Until that time
much of the work formerly done here
will be lone in the Kansas City shops.