The work on the bridge at Vancoover is being pushed with vigor, and the new line between here the Sound is expected to be in operation as far as Tacoma by June next. be unto his ashes. Your correspondent predicted elect in their places men who will be of some the company would miss the service of ex-Supt. benefit to their constituents. Johnson, which now proves to be true. Someone is to blame for the past accidents and removing competent men from office is a serious mistake, as eastern men have eastern ideas, and are not familiar with all the requirements in the west. Taking the majority of the forces from the sections along the road to curtail expenses, proves incompetency from some source. Since the force left has proved inadequate to keep the sand from the rail, causing the mail to be from twelve to twenty-four hours late. God knows, the road is bad enough at its best. Then why heap blunder upon blunder by going from bad to worse. Alas, that experience should be so dear, and human lives so cheap! Some novice thinks he has devised a plan to blow the sand off the track at last. His invention consists of an eight or ten horse power portable engine placed at one end of a flat car and a fan at the other with pipes attached that reach close to the rail. Work seems plentiful and men accordingly. I see more men looking for work than I have for years past. and one peculiar feature I notice about a majority of them is that they belong to no labor organization and when they get something to do they do not remain long in one place. They are no good to themselves, a stumbling block to labor organizations and a burden to those that employ them. "Cheyenne Reddy" is here. He says that he had the mountain fever at Cheyenne and did not like the climate. From what we read from the correspondent at that place we are inclined to agree with him. He lost his hat a few days ago and matters are not as agreeable with im here as he would like. The Magazine is becoming a great favorite here and we hope to increase the subscription list soon. Should the invention operate the machine my Good news may be expected from this locality for prediction is that he and the machine will find a cold bath in the Columbia some morning when the wind blows high. The motive power here is in a demoralized condition, and all the shiffers are howling themselves hoarse for cars- And all along the line there is trainloads of grain waiting for shipment. Trainmen are taxed to their unmost. There are in the neighborhood of 500 men at work here and work still accumulates. On October 6th a bulletin was stuck up annouc ing that on and after October 9th the first whistle would be sounded at 6:30 and work would begin at 6:45; and again at 12:00 and 12:45, giving us only 45 minutes for dinner. If the instigator of this novel scheme had a horse at work he would give the dumb brute at least one hour to eat his feed. But in the eyes of some officials men are considered in some particulars inferior. The brass tags bob up serenely again. The man in charge of those valuable articles has quite a task to deal them out, and he is late frequently. Sometimes he does not arrive at his post until the whistle has sounded for work, and five hundred men stand around waiting for their number, causing considerable loss of time which it seems to me could be avoided by some other method. Our city council has a great task upon their hands at present considering the propriety of building a city hall. Their debates at times are of a novel nature. At intervals they emphasize their arguments with spittoons and chairs, which seems to me a very caustic way to convince an opponent. The action of a delegation of backwoods men could not be more disgraceful than some of their sessions. Our genial mayor, who, by the way, affixes the letters M. M. to his signature on railroad documents, presides over their deliberations and it is useless to say that matters are made very interesting for him at fime. The voters of our prosperous city would do well by leaving them at home next election day, and the future. Yours in behalf of the cause. TERMINAL. EVANSTON, Wyo., October 22, 1890. Editor Magazine: If not too late, I hope you will find space for my short letter in your valuable magazine, but better late than never. departments, we scarcely find time for anything, As we are so busy in all but such is the life of one that works for a railhave one of the worst round-houses to work in on road company; and to make things worse, we the system. It is nothing to see a man in water up to his ankles, which causes considerable sick ness. There has been a number of changes here since the first of the month. Mr. T. P. Malone fills the position of foreman, and James Stein, the gang boss. The former gang boss, Harry Carrick, left us to fill a better position on the O. S. L. Harry, we wish you good luck in your new field of labor. Two of our apprentice boys, T. Crosbee and T. M. Johnson, have left us on account of small wages, and I will venture to say they will get higher wages elsewhere, as they are worthy of it, and as machinists are superior to some we have here who have come during the past few weeks, as it is understood one of them gets $2.40 per day when $3.50 is the standard pay. Is there a place where the agreement is violated more than it is here? We would like to hear of it. There are blacksmith helpers and boiler helpers working for $1.75 per day, and when one of them asked for more wages he was informed by one of the officials here that he would have to work six months before he could get it. There are more things I would like to mention, but will try and do so next time. The smiling face of Thomas Moore is seen once more. We understand he has just returned from a trip to Denver. I think I have said all this time.. Hoping to be able to pen a few lines in the near future, I remain Yours respectfully, M. G. T. HANNA, WYO., October 23, 1890. Editor Mayazine: Work at the Hanna mines still continues dull about half time, but we hope for the future, as coal is a necessity. My last in the Magazine caused quite a commotion in the ranks of the bulldozers, to use a vulgar expression; and while they know that the half has not yet been told, they are wondering what will come next. Strange indeed, how some men shrink when their deeds are laid bare before the public; they hum and ha but avoid a denial, knowing that still worse exposure will follow. Their trickery and ignorance will be shown up from time to time in the Magazine. Let it strike who it may. A committee, self-appointed, put around the hat for the purpose of raising funds, the same to be used to purchase a momento for our out-going foreman. It seems the venture was a complete failure. An explosion which occurred here last April is still too fresh in the memory of those who have any sense of honor left. Of course, Joe will have to do with the present. If our superintendent here would resign, there is no doubt that he would suffer the same fate. When local managers work for the best interests of employer and employe, then their services will be appreciated. OBSERVER. ARMSTRONG, KAS., October 23, 1890. Editor Magazine: I will give you a brief sketch of some of the many improvements that were made in and around Armstrong in the last few years. Notably among them are the following: The Seventh street viaduct is probably the finest structure of the kind in the West. Beginning at Colorado avenue in the old city of Armstrong, it extends over the Union Pacific and Rock Island yards to Kansas avenue, on the south side. The viaduct proper is an iron structure 1700 feet long, but with the approaches is over a half-mile long. It is thirty-two feet in width, twelve feet of which will be used by the elevated railroad company for an electric railroad, which is now in course of construction and will connect Armourdale with Wyandotte by connecting with L road at River View and will pass south of the shops on Fifth street. A 6-foot sidewalk has been built on the east side of the viaduct for pedestrians. The viaduct cost $70,000, of which sum the Union Pacific and Rock Island companies agreed to pay half. In order that the street running through their yards could be closed to the public, the building of the viaduct was of great benefit to the travelling public, and particularly to the denizens of Armourdale and Armstrong. The next great enterprise is the great grain elevator built on the Uuion Pacific Railroad Company's land between Armstrong and Armourdale by Peavy & Co. It is the largest grain elevator in the western country, having a capacity of 1,200,000 bushels of grain. Its cleaning and hoisting machinery is of the most improved kind known to man. The building is 200x100 feet in dimensions and 168 feet high. The whole building is covered by corrugated sheet iron, and although as thin as paper, it took 10,000 pounds of it to cover the entire structure. To construct the building it took 3,000,000 feet of lumber and 150,000 pounds of nails. It has an electric plant to light the whole structure by electricity, and has the most improved water facilities of its own to put out fire. The brick smoke stack of the engine room is 148 feet high and twenty feet in diameter. In fact it is a marvel of its kind and is capable of handling 800 cars of grain daily. It is supposed to be built in the interest of the Union Pacific Railroad Company. There is a Work in the shops here is good. scarcity of engines to do the work of the road here. We should have more engines by all means. A collision between two freight trains on second division this week makes things look worse, as the two engines were badly damaged. There was another collision between a Rock Island passenger train and a Union Pacific passenger train at the Rock Island Junction about half a mile west of Armstrong, on the morning of the 22nd inst., in a dense fog, the Rock Island train running into the rear of the Union Pacific passenger train, supposed fatally injuring the engineer and fireman of the Rock Island train and wounding the Pullman car conductor. All sorts of rumors were rife in the shops shortly after the accident, some claiming there were 9 men killed, while others made it as low as 5. It was strange that no more was injured, as two or three U, P. passenger coaches were forced half ways into each other. The wreck was cleared up in short order and busness resumed as nsual. No one seems to know where the blame belongs. Frank Bruce is the name of our new master mechanic. He hails from Fort Madison, Iowa, and was at one time an employe on the Santa Fe. So far he is well thought of by foremen aud men. Bates Dunlavey, head clerk in M. M. office, has left for Cheyenne, Wyo., to join Mr. Mertzheimer. Consequently promotions are in order. Charles Hughes succeeds Bates as head clerk. David Myers succeeds Charley Hughes, and Samuel Mileham succeeds D.Myers as master car builder's clerk. The shops are running 91⁄2 hours with orders to hire no men. James Nolan is back from Denver where he has been attending the District convention of the K. of L. He seems to think that there is a bright future before the Knights of Labor, if such conNeasham are kept at the head of it. servative men as T. V. Powderly and Thomas We have beautiful fall weather here and are enjoying it immensely. AU BOUT DE SON. DENVER, Colo., Oct. 25th, 1890. Editor Mayazine: The condition of affairs described in my last letter that had arisen with the switchmen here has been kept up since with varying excitement, but now appears to be about petered out. The Pinkeys do not seem to be as numerous as they were and little is heard or said about them. It has been anything but pleasant to see the cut-throats around. What reason there was for employing such animals remains a mistery. There were about 250 Pinkeys and local guards on hand at one time, against about 125 switchmen. Ten guards at most would have been sufficient to have resisted any steps that might have been attempted by ill-disposed persons, and these could have been furnished by the city authorieies from citizens. There has not been the least thing to show that the switchmen or their friends had the least desire or intention of resorting to violence, and the company has brought down a great deal of unnecessary sensure on its head by going to the extreme it did. The Pinkeys succeeded as usual in severely abusing some innocent parties, though they did avoid doing any shooting, that fell into their clutches and also resisted local authorities that were sent to arrest them. The whole trouble in the yard has the appearance of a very simple matter given the cloak of a very serious matter. The switchmen had determined that one should not be their foreman, and the company insisted on the one they did not want. I question the policy of men taking such a stand, for it matters little who is foreman so long as complaints against him can be heard and a possibility of abuses being righted after a thorough ventilation, and it seems to me as if a reasoning policy would have been far better for the company and less expensive. The trouble nearly two years ago under Mr. Choate, while started under more serious conditions for the company, was settled with far less friction, trouble and expense than the present and quite the opposite course was pursued, Mr. Choate conceding all that was fair and that not not being accepted by the switchmen then here, his position received the support of the other employes on the division when he made known the facts to them. Fairness is all that the mass of workmen expect and will aid in sustaining it. Nine hours per day is the working time in the shops now. It seems like a strange move, for whatever might be the reduction on the pay rolls is more the offset by the increased demand for over time. Work on the new shops has also been checked by laying off some men. The new shops are beginning to look as if they were intended for business but it will be some months before they will be ready for it. The political pot is boiling. There are five county tickets in the field: Independents, Prohibitionists, Democrats, the gang and the gangsmashers. The Independents are tho only one representing the industrial masses. It is the People's party, A circular is around the shop which asks men to join a Railroad Men's Teller Club. What possible interest can the working men have in boosting Teller. Can he raise wages to equalize the increase cost in living that the McKinley bill is sure to cause? Has he anything in common with the working men? I have no objection to his returning to the U. S. senate if the people of Colorado want him, but knowing that working men are in the majority I cannot see why they should want him. It would seem more consistent for them to send a man of their own choosing, and if they would but agree to do so they would. I understand the employes of the smelters have received instructions as to what will be expected of them on election day. Is it a correct theory that all of the man is sold when he sells his labor. It seems to me that results would be quite as just if that theory was not implied to workmen by large employers of labor. There have been two men killed in the yards who were switchmen, besides a great number of men injured. Experienced switchmen have accidents enough, but green men have but little show. These accidents have been kept very quiet. Great preparations are being made for the entertainment of the General Assembly when here next month. T. V. Powderly will speak at Coliseum Hall on the evening of the 10th, and on the 19th a grand ball will be given in honor of the General Assembly at the same hall. L. A. 3218 is growing rapidly in membership and the open meetings on the second Wednesday of each month are crowded. All who heard Brother Gantt of North Platte speak at the meeting on the eve of the 15th, are unanimously of the opinion that workmen must combine in political organization as well as labor organizations. LINES ON "STRIKES." I've a liking for this "striking,” One another, working brother, The supply and the demand. My advice is, strike for prices Nobler far than sordid coin; Strike with terror, sin, and error, And let man and master join. Every failing now prevailing TIM. Much the chopping. lopping, propping, Ere the plummet, from the summit, Take the measure of false pleasure; Try each action by the square; Strike a chalk-line for your walk-line; Strike to keep your footsteps there. The fountain of creation Lies in Truth's unerring laws; Man of mortar, there's no shorter Way to base a righteous cause. Every builder, painter, gilder, Man of leather, man of clothes, Each mechanic in a panic With the way his labor goes, Let him reason thus in season: Strike the root of all his wrong, Cease his quarrels, mend his morals, And be happy, rich, and strong. THE TRUE HERO. Boast not because you never fail- With favoring tide and favoring gale, Will seldom miss a trip. There's little merit in success Where no disasters rise, No favor'd one may pæans sing, He is the one to who the meed He who can rise and fall again, LEAD, KINDLY LIGHT. Anon. -Anon. Lead, kindly light; amid the encircling gloom; Lead thou me on. The night is dark and I am far from home; Lead thou me on. Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see I was not ever thus, nor prayed that thou I loved to choose and see my path; but now I loved the garish day, and, in spite of fears, O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torent, till And with the morn those angel faces smile THINGS NEVER ARE SO BAD FOR US BUT THAT THEY MIGHT BE WORSE. Of wise thoughts handed down to us By poet, sage and priest, This one, the subject of my song, Perhaps is not the least. It makes a true and homely text- But that they might be worse." The dreadful and horrible Do happen, I attest, And you and I must take our share Along with all the rest; But when we would, with dolorous voice, Our many ills rehearse, Friend, let us stop, and stopping think If it could not be worse. It is a world of sorrow, yea, A world of suffering; And sometimes we may lose, perchance, Our faith in everything. But do not thou, I pray, forget The ending of this verse"Things never are so bad for us ness. But that they might be worse." -Helen A. Manville in the Wisconcin, A case came up in the court over which Judge Bill presides in St. Paul, in which which a big colored woman was a witShe testified that she had whipped her little boy very severely, and as she went on with the story of the exceedingly stiff beating she had administered, the Judge's clear brow grew a little darker, and he interrupted her to ask if it had been necessary to chastise the boy severely. The colored lady looked astonished at the question. Gazing intently at the court, she inquired: "Jedge, was you eber de father of a wurthless mulatter boy?" "No, no," said the Judge, hastily. "Then, Jedge, you don't know nuffin' about de case."-Boston Investigator. UNION PACIFIC EMPLOYES' MAGAZINE. VOL. V. DECEMBER, 1890. No. 11. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. shown that they have not been over cautious in pushing advances. The fourteenth General Assem- Those who complain of slow movebly of the Knights of Labor, which ments should do more work where was held in Denver, Colo., the past the real work of preparation for month, probably has done as much advance must be done and look toward the advancement of the for the retarding causes there. masses as any body of representa- Many theories have been advanced tive workmen could do or has been and tried and branded failures, accomplished at any previous ses- not because they were not correct, sion. It is not in general assem- but because the necessary material blies of workmen that the great for their accomplishment was not work of advancement is accom- at hand in sufficient quantities. As plished, but rather in local meet- long as men are disturbed in mind, ings where the educational work discussing and trying, they are is done; where the masses awake going ahead; they are facing up to their needs and rights. Gen- the advance road; the distance eral assemblies can do no more accomplished is seen by looking than to unite the forces thus backward. raised and lay out the course they should persue to accomplish the most. The educational work that been accomplished, improvements that are in practice since the first genGenerals can never be far in ad- eral assembly of the Knights of vance of the army under their Labor met-since the order first command, nor lead them more took up the cudgel for industrial rapidly than the physical powers humanity is where the record is of the men will allow them to is to be seen. It is the result of move. Mankind's advancement in no general assembly, but of local political, social, and industrial assemblies scattered all over the affairs depends on their intellec- continent, often meeting under the tual powers, and labor or reform most trying circumstances and seorganizations are but armies verest restrictions of their emeformed for uniting those powers mies, where the principles for and put them into practical use. which the order was founded to General meetings of leaders are advance have been rooted deep councils of war to plan the cam- and strong. Not that a class or paign. It is absolutely necessary craft might enjoy more of life that they should consider princi- than others, but for the advancepally how well the army is pre- ment of all humanity to a higher pared for advance, not how well intellectual, moral and social a few individuals are, but as a plane, which is the only way humass, and results in the past have manity can advance, for if organ |