Letters sent to Li from K Blackwell on Grand Trunk Railway Office Of the Assistant Locomotive Superintendent of Belleville Station Letterhead, 1876
Name/Title
Letters sent to Li from K Blackwell on Grand Trunk Railway Office Of the Assistant Locomotive Superintendent of Belleville Station Letterhead, 1876Entry/Object ID
2021.1514.01Description
Total of 11 pages worth of letters sent from K Blackwell at the Grand Trunk Station in Belleville Ontario to Lee. The letters vary in context, most of which discuss company policy changes and concerns from Blackwell. The letters were written in the year 1876 and were also signed by H. Wallis Esquire. TRANSCRIPTIONS: Letter 1: "Belleville Dec 14 1876 Dear Lee, I hear that Artticus is in Toronto but - do not know what is going on - am going there to in just - I will find out and let you know yours truly K Blackwell H. Wallis Esq" Letter 2: "Toronto, Dec 22 1876 Dear Lee, W. Gregory informed me that he is going to serve a notice on his trainmen, who were notified that their services would be deferred with, that they will more be required because the festivees keeping up beyond satisfaction - Lary and Doug are the only men who have come up and truly are afraid to serve. Dough would in a pinch but not in a [illegible] in a shortage a Dough says in [illegible] I know the district and is afraid in I the gang again they all seem to be rotten here and a loyal unit amongst them and all outsiders who replaced unreld be willing to cork dark come near me. At the present moment my only way of getting cleaners to go as firemen and firemen to go as enginemen is to give them the 2 role as firemen and 3rd role as enginemen, I think this is the best plan, as it will satisfy them to make a start and me started, things may go on all regular and the men who are determined may not have to cause a stoppage - this is the only way to avoid things coming to a dead lock have at the end of this week because the firemen is Lary and we cant [illegible] trains without them. But asfar as the cars inside the [illegible] are concerned it is [illegible] to do anything better than have a strike commence our engines will set damaged besides the [illegible] damage to the traffic - I cant [illegible] any Montreal men could be conducted to seen here - I have endeavored to pay the case before you in this letter - there is no doubt they can attack and of the end of the road cause a stoppage that will cost the company a great deal. There is a chance that these stations may not have enough influence to cause the whole of the men to strike - and this and I am now [illegible] of fitting clearance and firemen an at the old sales may serve to take the trouble [illegible], for I would get over the difficult and all the secure future get [illegible] of these [illegible] In case you decide to give way in this matter it would be only necessary for you to advise us by wire before Saturday [illegible] that all thus answer" Letter 3: "Belleville Dec 5th, 1876 Dear Lee, Re Reduction of Expenses During the last two years we have been workong so cheaply, that in going over the pay rolls again today. I am allowed at a loss to know where any more deductions can be ade, and I do not expect to be able to make a saving it were there about $150 per month in shop staff on my district the repairs required on engines are becoming heavier every day and at the present - moment we are scarcely keeping up with the wear and tear if there are to be any reductions in rates of wages paid to employees, I presume the enginemen on the 1st rate would be confused in my opinion these men are in useful I a higher rate of recommendation for work performance,than any other class of men on the road. A Reduction of 10% on the wages of the enginemen who are now on this rate would amount to a saving of about $600 per month on my district. Enginemen in a lower grade and firemen are not too well paid at all and think it would be unwise to attempt a reduction. The rate of wages paid to foremen is also way small and I hope you will not attempt to reduce them. I feel permitted that a general reduction of 10% on all enginemen and firemen would result in a stoppage od work - but I think it could be carried out ig managed judicially on the 1st class enginemen it would be necessary to show their men that reduction would only last as long as the hard times and at the past time to be [illegible] 2 3 4 and firemen see that the reduction would not after the, they could persuade the younger men to join them in a strike. With regard to the passenger runs, I shall be glas to hear what is going to be done if you can decide to run from Toronto to Sarnia it will leave on my district because of men [illegible] 220 at a reduced wage with long spells away from home at the other end the Toronto men who have shown the greatest dismay will still be enjoying their old [illegible] at the old rate and without any inconveniences. Most of the Montreal men have already complained to be that they find the 220 miles too fatiguing - I do not admit that this run is unreasonably long myself - but I think as compared with the Toronto run, it is "taking it out" of the Montreal run matters too much. In case you arrange a run from Toronto to Sarnia I might use any passenger engines through from Toronto to Montreal changing men at Kingston. This would save lighting up a Engine per day at Belleville and Engines per day at Brockille and at the same time show you what economy there was in running engines this and changing men on them, without you running any further risk of [illegible] the plan on more train 8 and 10 engines the drivers then would have a [illegible] run and would have a day of 8 hours at Kingston taking the pause turns as they did when they formally run this run. The repairs to all the engines stopped on passenger trains in Central [illegible] could then be down at Montreal think about $20.00 per day could be saved by this plan. I shall be in Montreal in a few days and should like to talk this over with you. I'm speaking of the difficulty of making reductions, in the former part of my letter, you will of course understand that I could [illegible] W several mechanics at each station if it were decided that necessary replaces its the Rolling stock it to be neglected but I do not for a moment [illegible] that such a course in contemplated I should like to see you shortly, are you coming when I will your be in Montreal ? yours truly K Blackwell H. Wallis Esq [Esquire] Distinguishing Features: On Grand Trunk official letterheadContext
The Grand Trunk Railway was founded in 1852 with the goal of building a railway line between Montreal and Toronto. The railway operated in Canada and the US in the provinces/states of: Ontario, Quebec, Connecticut, Maine, Michigan, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. It also included three subsidiary lines: Grand Trunk Western, Central Vermont, and Grand Trunk Pacific. The company was later purchased by Canadian National in 1923Collection
Library ArchiveCategory
Canadian National, Grand Trunk