Hoover Dam Strike

Hoover Dam was virtually under martial law last week. A strike was in progress. No work had been done for seven days, since Six Companies, Inc. had paid off 1,300 men and ordered from the reservation 200 who had struck for higher wages, better working conditions.

In the Nevada desert the summer temperature ranges between 100DEG and 120DEG. In the diversion tunnels on the canyon floor it averages 10DEG to 20DEG higher. Since work began at the dam five men have been killed by accidents, twelve have died from the heat. Workers claimed the water in the tunnels is too hot to drink, while outside they have to drink river water. They complained ventilation is poor in the bunk houses, where they pay $1.50 per day, that some time ago wages for laborers were reduced from $5 to $4 per day.

Fortnight ago some 30 tunnel shovellers whose work had been replaced by machinery were discharged from their $5 jobs, offered work outside at $4. They refused. The 130 other tunnel workers walked out in sympathy. The company replied by stopping all work, making 1,100 others idle. Frank Crowe, superintendent of Six Companies, Inc., blamed the oft-blamed I. W. W. Said he: "We are six months ahead of schedule now and we can afford to refuse concessions which would cost $2,000 daily, or $3,000,000 during the seven years we are allowed to finish the work."

Facing hunger, seeing hundreds of unemployed waiting around for their jobs, the striking workers modified their demands. U. S. Marshal Jake Fulmer went from Carson City prepared to summon troops if violence threatened,

After seven days Walter Young, construction engineer of the Federal Bureau of Reclamation, notified the contractors to resume work, cleared the reservation of all who did not have passes signed by him. Company officials said no striker would be reemployed, said nothing about restoring old wages to workers on the dam named for the foremost U. S. wage-maintainer.

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