Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-10-04
N. C. & St. L. Announces In
crease to Engineers, Fire.
men, Clerks, Etc., Amount
ing to $500, 900 Per, Year
OTHER SOUTHERN ROADS
HAVE DONE LIKEWISE
Total Increase in Wages of
Employees in This Territory
Will Probably Reach Half a
Million Mark


An increase in the wage scale for all
| employees in several departments was
agreed upon by the Nashville, Chatta-
nooga and st. Louis railway system last
Saturday night, which, added to an in
crease effective on July 1, will amount
to upwards of 100000 per year.
This increase by the n. C. & st. L. Is
one of a large number of increases that
have been made by railway systems
in the southeastern territory in the
last few weeks, all of which put to-
gether will reach an estimated total OF
perhaps 100000 per month.
A part of the increase decided upon
by the n. c. & st. L. became effective
on July L. The increase decided upon
Saturday night will be effective dating
from September l. The first salaries
to be advanced were. those of the train
men, conductors and yardmen The sal
aries advanced Saturday night were
those of the engineers f1remen, roadway
men, agents, clerks and telegraph OPP
orators The increases vary to great
extent owing to the fact that the sys-
tenn comprises so many different dlvi-
sions. but none will run lower man
per cent, and the highest will reach IL
per cent.
Details of the increase by the N. c. &
st. L. were given to The Journal Mon
day morning by Major ]. L. McCoilum'
superintendent of the W. & Al railroad
Negotiations were held with the en-
ginemen and the trainmen, he stated'
but none with the other employees whoss
salaries will be increased. This means
that the enginement and trainmen ask
ed for their raise, while the others got
IL without asking.
ssrhe mana ge.hent felt that they We're
as much entitled to an increase as those
who asked for IL, said Major McCoA-
| Ium, land accordingly did the best lor
them that could be Afforded"
Asked if the increase would result IN
an increase in passenger or freight
rates or both, on the ". Z. & 81 l..
lines. Major McCollum said the system
felt il would be justifaDIe In increasing
thes rates, but he didn't know Wnether
| 1T would or not That is matter tnat
would involve more than mere de-
| cision by the system, h. pointed out.
| OTHER ROADS MAKE INCREASES.
Major McCoIlum was asked the ques-
| tiop whether or not all the railroad sys-
TENS south of the Ohio and east OF the
Mississippi rivers had been waiting on
| the Nashville, Chattanooga and s.. Louis
to agree on an increase before they TOOK
similar action. He replied that In ad-
1 vancing wage scales all the railroads IN
| this territory act independently, and not
| IN concert. but he said 1t is fact that
| most of the roads in this territory had
made advances, varying in amount, from
| time to time during the last two months.
| The same statement was made by Gem
eral Manager Thomas K. Scott, or the
Georgia railroad. who happens to be IN
the city. Neither he nor Major McCoi-
lum were able to give an idea, however,
of what all these advances would amount
to if put together; but both said that
| II would be an enormous sum of money
per month.
From an authoritative source it was
learned that among the railroads making
| advances in the last few months are the
| following: Southern; Mobile ana ONO:
| Illinois Central; Clinchfield, Carolina ana
Ohio; Queen and Crescent; Cincinnati,
New Orleans and Texas Pacific; Alabama
Great Southern; Chesapeake and Ohio
Norfolk and Western, and the Georgia
railroad.
The increase made by the NashviE2s
| Chattanooga and st. Louis is said to %
typical of the increases agreed upon by
the other lines-that is, an advance of
! to II per cent. This means that most
of the railroads in the southeastern ter
1
the employees of the operating depart
ments that is practically the same as
the Chicago" and the New York.
| scales. which terms are used to desig-
| nate the wage scale now in effect on
| most of the systems in the eastern. and
| most in the western territories.
NEWS TO employees.
No formal announcement of the last
| increase decided upon by the Nashville,
Chattanooga and St. Louis will be made
| to the employees whom il effects, stated
Major McCollum; nor was announcement
made of the increase beginning July 1.
The first the Nashville. Chattanooga and
St Louis employees ever know of an in
crease in their pay is when the pay train
comes round, said Major McCollum. The
same is understood to have been true of
most of the other railroads that increased
their wage scales.
The effect of all these wage increases,
taken in the aggregate, is a tremendous
boost of prosperity among the particular
class of wage-earners whom it benefits,
and likewise an increase of prosperity
that is general throughout the south.
For an increase of 100000 put into cir
culation every month by railroad en-
ployes means that every line of business
will feel its stimulating influence. 1t is
also a notable and significant fact that
these wage increases were granted by
the railroads not as the result of threat
ening demands or strikes, but were Sc
cured by certain classes of employees
through friendly negotiation, and by the
others as a voluntary increase from the
railway companies.
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