The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1906-03-02
LABOR is SCARCE
DIFFICULT FOR RAILROADS TO
SECURE w0RKMEN.
Italians Seem to Offer Solution of the
Problem, as the Japs Have Quit
Railroad Labor.

n0 IdLAIOduB Va JnO WCCU al o
threatened with such a scarcity of
labor for the large construction
projected for the coming spring and
summer that many contractors and
railway men are apprehensive of a
serious curtailment of the mileage
planned for the year. There is al
ready a lack of laborers for the ex-
tension and lines now being built in
the states of Oregon and Washington,
and when spring opens, the difficulties
of the railroad builders will largely
increase, owing to other industries re-
suming activity and attracting men.
Railroad interests are worried over
tie outlook, and the Hill lines an
nounce they will carry laborers to the
coast free from st. Paul, who will
agree to work ON the Portland & Seat
tie line. The Hartman interests are
in urgent need of men on their numer-
GUS extensions and will transport rail
way laborers to the Oregon division
from Denver and Salt Lake City at the
rate of cent mile. While these
inducements will bring many to the
coast, there will still be considerable
difficulty experienced in securing men
to fill up construction gangs.
The large operations planued in the
two northwest states this year require
a great number of laborers to push
construction work with the speed de-
sired, but although men are being
hired wherever they can be found, the
railroads are hampered by shortage
of help. The open winter has been
favorable to all kinds of outdoor
work, and the demand for men in
building construction and other in
dustries, as we'll as railway work has
been far greater than the supply.
With the opening of spring the de-
mand in all lines will increase, but in
none will it be more urgent than in
railroad construction.
Wages averaging $2.25 day for
common laborers, with $3.50 for rock
men, are being paid in the northwest,
and this is higher than such work Sc
cures in other parts of the country.
Even at this figure men are hard to
get and are quick to quit their jobs
when they get little money ahead.
Others to take their place are extreme
ly difficult to get, say foremen of the
construction gangs on the railway
lines now building.
1--WE are very badly handicapped
by the lack Of men to carry OH our
present operations" said J. P.
O'Brien, "but we anticipate more seri-
ous difficulties during TIE spring and
summer. For this reason we are doing
all the work we can now to avoid as
far as possible the extreme shortage
expected in the labor market in June
and July. The various extensions of
the 0. r. q N. are being pushed with
all the speed possible, and within 30
days we expect to commence the Coos
Bay branch. f"
George w. Boschke, chief engineer
of the o. r. g. NJ, reports difficulty
in getting men, but thinks the string
ency will be relieved somewhat by
more men coming in from the east, in
view of the generous inducements
made by the railroads in the matter Of
rates. However, he realized that
many taking advantage of free trans
portation to the coast will not become
permanent additions to the construc-
tion gangs, but will use this means of
reaching the northwest without pay
ing railroad fares.
Japanese are usually the reliance of
the railroad builders, but there are
none to be hired for that work now,
say railway men. The japanese have
taken mp othesA more remunerative
lines of activity Some are in bust
ness for themselves, Others have learn
ed skilled trades while large num-
ber dominate tho kitchens of homes
and restaurants. The japanese are
good workmen for railroad purposes,
but they are not to be had this year.
The shipping in of large numbers of
Italian laborers from the east is pre-
dicted by some railroad men as the
outcome of the present difficulty to
get workmen. The present low rates
from the east for railroad construction
gangs are expected to bring large
numbers of Italians west.
Competitive bidding between rival
railroads in wages for laborers is re-
garded as possibility by some when
the situation becomes acute later in
the summer. The harvest fields and
the hop yards, besided other outdoor
industries, will offer attractive in-
ducements to men who tire of railway
work, aud it will be hard to keep
large number of men steadily at work.
STOOD OFF THE MARSHAL,