Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-03-11
EARNINGS OF ROAD
MIGHT Be WORSE"
sidetracks Full of Damaged and I'm
repaired Cars which Should be I'm
shops, Yet Shop Men Have Been
Given Bare Living for Three
Months-some Interesting Fig
urcs.

The Roanoke Times this morning
contains the following sensational
statement:
ABOUT THE N. & w.
n. & w. trains from coal fields
Monday-19.
Average daily number this sea
son last year-d4 to Is.
Earnings OF road for seven
months. ending January S1st, 1907
I-$17.645,O1455.
Earnings of road for seven
months, ending January 31st. 1908
-$1S,931,O41.17.
Increased earnings during last
named period-$1,2S6.02 6.62.
Report circulating that shops will
be compelled to operate full blast
by April 1.
Many disabled cars have been
shunted on sidings and allowed TO
remain unrepaired.
| Nineteen coal trains We're operat-
ed out OF Bluefield b ythe Norfolk
and Western railroad on Monday.
The average number operated from
this quarter last year was from II
TO / 3. daily. The increased earnings
of the road for the seven months
ending January 31st. 1908, over a
like period OF time ending January
S1st, 1907. are $1,2S6.026.62 Dam
aged or broken cars from various
| divisions OF the road. instead OF be-
ing sent TO the shops for repair, re-
Gently have been shunted on sidings
and allowed to remain there.
This information was secured by
Times man from an authentic
source, and from a man who knows
! whereof he speaks. There rs no
doubt that the business done last
Monday by the road, over its coal
/ field division, was far heavier than
the business done over the same
division OF the road during the same
season last year.
BUSINESS INCREASING
It Is declared that every day the
business OF the entire road Is fast
picking up, and upon good authority
Il was learned last evening that con
ditlons are fast reaching the normal
stage.
From the same source, Il was
learned that cars OF the road, which
are damaged or in need OF repairs.
instead of being sent to the shops
here, are shunted on the sidings and
ether cars are forced into service
to take their places. Yet the shop
men have not been able TO secure
enough work to provide them with
much more than hand-to-mouth
living for the past three months.
HARD TO GET CARS.
Persistent rumors have also been
making the rounds. and statement
was made to a Times reporter sew
eral days ago by small operator in
the coal fields. that the Norfolk and
Western road is very slow about
furnishing cars" to these dealers
This particular man asked that his
name be not used I'm connection with
the matter
AFRAID OF THE ROAD
"Why?" he was asked.
Because. sometime I may want
to ask a favor Of the road and the
road will turn me down"
A prominent operator OF Roanoke
is declared to have said.
1T is a fact that the Norfolk and
Western seems to be a little slow
about furnishing coal cars. do not
presume to say why"
But when seen by a Times man
and asked to talk for publication he
declared that he was having no diff
hculty getting all the cars he want.
ed for the transportation Of his
coal.
MORE TRAIN CREWS.
II is further reported. and the IN
formation seems to come from a re-
liable source. that the Norfolk &
Western Will have to put on four OF
five new train crews within few
days
It Is further declared that with
the piling mp OF damaged and dis
abled cars on the sidings OF the road
and other work. the Roanoke shops
must begin doing substantial work
before April first
The meeting between the five
chairmen Of the labor organizations
and the railroad officials takes place
on March &c.
II was also stated yesterday that