The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-29
RAILROAD NEWS.
The Interests Of Employer and
Employee Identical.
So Says B. +. YOakum 10 Fire.
mems Convention.
ADVICE FOR VOTING.
Tells the StOkers to Vote With
the Railroads.
Other Items of Interest in Rail-
way Circles.
ADVICE FOR VOTING.

Columbus. o.. Sept. 2s.-B. F. Yoa-
KUN. chairman of the executive COM
mittee of the Rock Island and Frisco
before the eleventh biennial convention
OF the Brotherhood of Locomotive Fire
men and Enginemen here last night.
Mr. Yoakum's speech in part follows:
Within ten years the number of fire.
men in the railroad service mas in
creased 90 per cent. During this period
the firemen's annual pay roll has in
creased from twenty-three million to
f1fty-three million dollars.
1t is an interesting illustration of the
efficiency OF the railroad service of our
country. which furnishes to the public
better and cheaper service than any
other country the pay of the employee
of this country is more than double the
pay Of Great Britain. The locomotive
fireman of Great Britain is paid $500
per annum, while the average pay of
locomotive fireman of this country is
$3.50 per annum, but as American citi-
zens. considering your efficiency and
loyalty. the money is we'll paid to you
when your standard is compared with
the standard of employees of any other
country on earth.
The railroad mileage of this country
last year was 227. 900 miles. which is an
increase of "a per cent in ten years,
during which period there were con-
structed $4,000 miles. On this basis
within the next ten years there should
be 3d. 900 new miles of railroad built. In
the past ten years the gross earning OF
the railroads have increased 100 per
cent, and at this same ratio of increase
the gross earnings in ten years will be
six billion dollars; as the railway en-
ployes receive AZ cents of every dollar
earned by the railroads, their pay roll
will have increased from three million
dollars per day as it was last year, to
seven million dollars per day. or an
nually to total of two and one-half
billion dollars. The pay roll of the
firemen alone which last year was
ffty-three million dollars, will amount
to one hundred and twenty-five million
dollars at the end of the next ten years
IL our country is permitted to develop
as it should and as it has for the last
ten years; and the number of firemen
will have increased from 10000 to $50,
600 men.
Much Money Needed.
To build these railroads. buy equip
ment and improve existing railroads
within the next ten years will require
the enormous sum of six billion dollars
or new money. Where is the money to
be had? Money necessary-to carry out
this great work of upbuilding is the
first requirement. and without it no de-
velopment can go forward. The hum
dreds OF millions of dollars of deposits
of farmers, manufacturers, merchants
and savings of the people at large in
the country's national savings banks
and trust companies are not available
for railroad construction. Such money
has it's uses in the development of agri-
cultural, industrial and mining enter
prises. and we must, therefore look to
New York for money to build the
necessary railroads to carry on the
great work of railroad construction es-
sential to development.
Money Is T'lmid.
Money is timid. This is natural as
most of the men who invest money do
so for others. Those making invest
ments for others are held accountable
for their judgment by those who own
the money. If a trustee or a guardian
or q banker invests the $4,000 we are
using to illustrate. for an estate, a
ward, or client, he tries to put it
where he is sure of the $3.50 a year
for the benefit of the owner of the
money. He is just as careful about
this as You are in receiving for your
time $3.50 per year. The investor hes
itates to risk his money in a business
which is being constantly attacked by
our law makers. Continued agitation
makes him afraid for the future. 1
lacks on the business hit the employee
harder than the man who invests in
stocks or bonds. as the railroad en-
ploye gets AZ cents of each dollar earn
ed while the investor receives 81 cents.
Keep these facts plainly in mind and
you will see that your interest and that
of the investor are insepara bly, linked
in a partnership, only you have twice
as much at stake as the investor i'm
the gross earnings of the railroads of
this country.
The American Railway Employees
and Investors association has been
formed-not for political purposes or
for any purpose detrimental or placing
unfair burdens upon the public. but as
set forth in the articles of organization
ITO do whatever lawful things may be
necessary in order to secure a fair re-
turn alike to capital and labor invested
in American railroads, with due regard
at all times to efficient service, fair
treatment and safety to the public
Bad Effect on Business.
The bad effect on the business of the
country is so far reaching that it would
be impossible to go into the many ave
nues where It is felt. George Harris