Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-01-07

Co.. IT. Wayne, Ind.
and other supplies has
Isvied . tribute Of untold millions upon
tho railroads. which have not only
been forbidden to increase their ratas.
but, on tho contrary, In many In
stances. compelled to lower them.
Big Increased Cost ef.laber.
To give the reader an exact idea Of
how the cost Of labor has advanced in
following increases In tho daily wage
fourteen yearS: In the case Of enei-
neers it increased from $3.50 per day
to $5.7S, or IN increase OF IS per cent:
fremen from $2.d to $3.50, or 81 per
cent: conductors from 1881 to $3.50,
or IS per cent: station agents fiNm
$1.SS TO Sis, or per cent: other
station men from $1Aa 70 $3.50, or II
per cent: ordinary trainmen from $f.07
to 33.38, or 10 per cent: machinists.
from sara to $3.50, or 40 per cent:
carpenters from 32.31 to sass, or II
per cent: other shopmen from $1.93
to 1870; or II per cont: section fore
men from 31.t1 to $1.s3, or 81 per
cent: trackmen from $l15 to $1.5z, or
81 per cent; telegraph operators and
dispatchers from $2.26 to sass, or II
per cent. This means q general aver
age increase in wages Of 80 29-100 per
cent-and all other classes Of railroad
operatives and employees In . more or
less similar degree. While these id.
vancsS have proven q great boon to
the nearly two millipe men employed
in the railroad service and increased
their capacity to buy from mercHant
and farmer, they have enacted msny
millions annually from the railroads
themselves-all of which made the
general public richer. but the roads
poorer. In 1900 the railroads paid S1.44
per ton for coal. Now they pay $1,s1.
Then they paid 80 cents for ties. Now
they pay SO cents.
0ther Increased Costs.
But there are many other items
which have enormously increased tho
cost OF railroad operation which we
can not go into because Of lack Of
space. The public 10 constantly de-
manding more efficient and safer
service, and hence the railroads have
had to spend vast sums in installing
block signals. steel passenger cars do
ing away with grade crossings
STRENGTHENING lines. heavier locomo-
tives, better roadbeds, and supplying
many other precautions protecting
both their operatives and the public
all things very necessary. yet very
costly. So. too, numerous states have
passed full crew. laws which, with
out benefiting the public. have COM
PEELED tho railroads to pay toll Of
millions to useless emp ~
lob
merchandise and manufactures and
supplies OF all kinds have steadily in
creased in price, the railroads, as
stated before, have been compelled to
reduce their rates in the face Of this
avalanche Of ever advancing cost OF
operation-and that all but the most
powerful lines find themselves in an
/ exceedingly critical condition is not to
1 be wondered at The farmer, the mer-
/ chant. the manufacturer and the la.
borer justly insist that they would not
be able to get along on tho prices they
\ received ten or fifteen years ago. How
then, can the railroads, which are the
largest employers Of labor and buyers
OF material In the United States, BIZ
u expected 70 exist on lese than they re.
ceived ten o. fifteen years ago? II
J, view Of these facts. It II no wonder
a. IIouon. wH.on ana otneT pa
n..a anu ca , sluoents OF tne sil'
uaun W .pean. Woras OF kinoil
auAon.'. ~, ~ TUG ame1!can puohc, .
.. s eu . 49, .ne rAn Y. thi1 wnoS'
sun. asee..e0 low the very IRE Dloot
ane na.'oii' my no1 % wrecked AM
" ...
.oMe INC sno Manager
VI sne o as nanu, ZOE the iast twenty
~ o 800 s1H , ..s puDnc nas oemanded tn'
-. ne hlsnest ericiency IN servic