The Oskaloosa herald., 1914-01-29


much that day, but went to Long
Beach Milling Co.'S plant, where We
knew we would find our old chum and
school-mate, John Madison. Temper
arily assisting in the office, also. we
found Carrie Mattison, and 1t seemed
good to hear their voices as OF yore.
From them we learned that all the
Oskaloosa colony was in the main,
enjoying good health and prosperity.
John has enjoyed the luxury of an
automobile for several months, and
after the taste of the pleasure, his
father, VIM. Mattison, could not re-
sist the temptation and has Just
bought one of his own.
- - :. ,..... 80. r.....,..
The same evening after our visit
to Long Beach, we set out to call on
David Vail. 1t had quit raining when
we started but when we got to the
getting off place the rain was coming
down in sheets, so we stayed on the
car and rode out to Altadena and
back. Travel was light and we en-
gagged the conductor in conversation.
He told us there were several thous.
and men employed on the PACING
Electric System in all departments,
and that the cost of labor and main
tenance amounted to over one million
dollars per month. 1t surely taxes
many nickels and quarters to pay this
sum. He also told us that the lines
were owned by the same men VINO
control the Southern Pacific Railway,
and that the management was practl'
cally identical.
- - -.
There is not a union man on the
system" he continued, and so far
as | know, there is not street car
union in California. Other unions
are very strong in this state, and
most of our men would be glad to
belong to a union, but the company
will not stand for it. They keep
detectives out along the lines all the
while and the minute they learn that
any of the boys are talking of form
ing a union they can" the whole
bunch They are also black-listed
and never again given place. But
all departments of the Southern IA
cifc are thoroughly organized, and
as the systems are drawing closer
and closer together, it can only be
question of time until the street car
men are uniOnlZed.
AS to wages, our informant said:
l"New men on the local lines get 20
cents an hour for the first year, rs
cents, the second, and so on until
they get 80 the fifth year. This Is
the highest paid and 1t does not make
any difference how efficient or faith
full a man is, he is never worth any
more to the company. Some OF the
boys have been in the harness as long
as % years. On the interurban lines,
men get q cents to start on, and an
| increase of a cent year for hVe
years, or a limit of 81 cents. The
company expects it's employees to
dress well and put up good appear
ance all the time. These demands
added to the high cost of living, make
| it hard for a man with family to
get along. The company ought to be
as liberal with its men as it expects
it's men to be with the public. A man
| is given two weeks to learn. If he
makes good he Is paid for one. If
he fails he loses his two weeks time.
There is no scarcity of men, the wait
| ing list always being filed. Well,
here is South Marengo, good bye"
It's queer how things will come
about Some fellow stole our pants
at FL Paso. Not the ones we had on,
but our best Sundaygo-to-meetin' APP
parel. We got along without going to
church, until We got to Pasadena.
We went out to buy new pair the
other day and dropped into a tailor
| ing establishment. We found good
match for the rest of the suit and left
an order. The tailor, as Is customary,
asked a deposit or a reference. We
offered both and after paying what
he asked, we referred him to George
Vincent, the Druggist on the corner.
Well he said, IF you're a friend
| of George Vincent, you don't need
any money. There is a suit | am
making for him now" And we are
all fixed now and attend divine ser.
vices.
We were panied to learn at Pasa-
dena, OF the death in Chicago, of
Walter G.. Wilson. Walter was one of
the nine boys of the High School
Glass of 1885, of which the writer had
the honor of being member. The
others are, Harry Trask, of Kewanee,
John Mattison, of Long Beach, DR..
Walter Wright, of Rose Hill, Bert Nc
Quiston, John Scott, Rolla Kendrick,
of st. Louis and Chas. S. Walling.
Walter was In every way the model
member of the class, and his noble
character had a restraining influence
on the effervescent mischief that will
naturally spring into the minds OF
boys from 16 to 10 years of age. He
early felt the duty of being mem
Der of church, and all his life lived
up to the teachings of the Saviour in
Whom he found inspiration and guild
ance. In all our acquaintances we
have never met a. finer character or
enjoyed better friend than Walter
Wilson, and the greatest monument
that will be erected to his memory
will be the love that will linger al
ways in the hearts OF those who knew
him. ft|
The trees and plants in California
are so different from those we have
in Iowa that they are interesting; but
in no wise more beautiful or useful.
The English walnut trees here;slook
like abandoned apple trees and are
=