The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1922-03-04
INCREASE FORCE
At LOCAL SHOPS
To HANDLE WORK
Thirteen More Men Return TO Jobs
at Rock island: More Than
100 Put Back Since
January I.
BELIEVE OTHERS DUE
TO BENEFIT HERE SOON
Present Force "snowed Under:
Work OF Putting Down Water
Wells Continues: Other
Data 10 Given.

Normal conditions are fast belnI
restored IN the Rock Island shops
according 10 information obtainc,
today from the office OF q. II. Pret
~. general foreman.
Since January /. one hundred mer
who were laid off during the last
two months OF 1921. were placed
back TO work. This morning. the
dwindled shop force was increased
IL when two machinists. three boil
ermakers. one painter one copper.
smith. two boilcrmakers' helpers.
three maolinlsts' helpers md one
boilermaher apprentice returned to
work in accordance with orders -.
sued by company authorities.
Bigger Increase Expected.
That many more men will be
placed back to work was the opin.
ion expressed this morning by those
in close touch with the situation;
When another increase will he made
in the force Is not known by Gen.
eral Foreman Pretty.
Several engines are in store here
waiting to be overhauled. Il was
learned. A force much larger than
the one now being employed would
be necessary TO ovenlaul a majority
of these engines this month, II was
pointed out.
One informant said that the pres
ent force is literally showed UNDER
with work.
Until March 1, the shops here
were being operated only 40 hours
per week-five days per week. The
4S hours, or six days per week
schedule was put into effect We'd
nesday, according to Foreman Pretty.
The shop force now consists of
about 200 men. including those EN-
ployed in the roundiouse. The
normal" force is about $50 men.
Freight Business Increasing.
J. r. Nugent. local agent for the
Rock Island, stated this morning
that business had been on the in
crease since the middle of January.
Four switch engines are now be-
ing used in the yards here, accord
ing to e. J. Harris, formerly of |
Waurika, who just recently succeed
ed C. w. Moffett as yardmaster
here. Mr.. Harris served as yard
master at Waurika. Mr. Moffett is
now conductor on the Lindsay
branch.
When business was at its peak
here, only five or six switch engines
were used in the local yard, it is
said. Twelve regular Switchmen
and three extra men are now being
employed.
Delay In Improvement
Work on the construction and in
stallation of the boiler washing and
water supply and publication sys-
tens has been retarded by the in
clement weather, it was stated to-
day.
These Improvements which, it is
estimated, will cost approximately
s180O00, were started in January
Cost of the boiler washing system
is estimated at approximately $4,000
and the water supply and purifica-
ton system, it is said, will cost ap'
$150,O00.
Water Wells Being Drilled.
Indications now are that the Rock
Island will soon have its own sup
ply Of water and will no longer de-
pend on city water for use in oper-
ating its shops and engines here
Three deep pump wells have been
drilled on the Rock Island right-of-
way east of the roundhouse. Seven
other wells will be drilled, accord
ing to plans announced some time
ago.
It was reported this morning that
the three wells already completed
have an abundance of water and it
is believed that the ten wells will
furnish an ample supply. Tne water
will be treated.
The belief that the question OF
the local shops will be ma
terially enlarged hinges on the abil-
ity to obtain an ample water supply
from these wells has been freely
expressed here. Thus far indica-
tions are very favorable, number
of Rock Island employees declared
this morning.
More than one mile of pipe will
be constructed to perfect the water
supply and publication system. A
pumping station and reservoir
with a capacity of 100000 gallons
will be established in connection
with this system. An eight-inch
main will be established from the
water wells TO the reservoir.
The installation Of the water sup
ply and publication system is ex-
pected to materially decrease the