Gold Hill Daily News

Shortening Shifts,

The stationary Engineers of Virginia City held a meeting last evening and appointed a committee consisting of J. T. Greenwood, J. C. Coulter and A. L. Crossman to act in connection with the committee appointed by the Gold Hill Engineers, in an effort to secure a reduction in the number of hours of work to be performed by stationary engineers. The Gold Hill committee consists of G. J. Perkins, Ed. Peake and J. D. Channell. The Joint committee commenced work in earnest this morning. Superintendent Fair, of the bonanza mines, was first visited. He said he favored the proposition, and at once granted the request, putting all his engineers at work on eight-hour shifts.

Superintendent Osbiston, of the Gould & Curry and Best & Belcher, said he was willing to acquiesce, but that if he paid $5 for eight hours, he wanted machinists, not simply "runners."
He said he was willing to give $4 50.

Superintendent Requa was not at the Chollar office, but Mr. Gilman, his representative, assured the committee that the eight-hour system is in vogue at the Combination shaft, and that it would be inaugurated at the old shaft as soon as operations there were actively resumed.

Superintendent Gillette promised to give the committee an answer to-morrow. Superintendent Thayer of the Julia Consolidated, Superintendent Schultz of the Bullion, and Superintendent Hamilton of the Imperial, assured the committee that they would adopt the eight-hour system upon the first of next month. The committee wish to thank Superintendents Taylor and Curtis, of the Jacket and Justice mines, for their prompt action in shortening the shifts of the engineers in their employ from twelve to eight hours. Other Superintendents were called upon, but their action in the case is not known to the News.

There can be no doubt but that the movement will be general from one end of the lode to the other. The question is certainly one of importance, and sensible people must commend the action of the engineers in making the reasonable request they have.