LYCOS RETRIEVER 
George Pullman: Buildings
built 438 days ago
In August, 1893, George Pullman lowered the wages of all workers to cut cost and maintain profits while the national suffered another depression. At the same time, the Pullman Land Association, the subsidiary that managed the city of Pullman, did not lower rents and attempted to collect them each payday... leaving workers with less on which to live on until the next 2-week payday. Occasionally, that deduction left but $1 for the family. George maintained that this policy was required to keep workers employed during a period when business contracts were difficult to obtain. Meanwhile, he did not lower his own salary nor those of his executives, nor did he lower dividends to the company stockholders, maintaining that they contributed to the company's support. During this time, foreman drove the workers harder to get more output.
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In 1864, George Pullman began selling his famous railroad sleeping cars which helped him build a vast industrial empire that was supposed to last forever. In 1981... Pullman workers found themselves in the midst of a fight not only for their jobs but the future of the American rail car industry. One hundred years of government, union and corporate policies are traced in this engaging story.
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George Pullman was born on March 3, 1831, in Brocton, N.Y., but his parents soon moved to Portland, N.Y. His upbringing in the Universalist Church greatly affected his later philosophy of labor. His formal education ended at the age of 14, and in 1845 he started work in a general store. After his father died, Pullman agreed to finish his father's contracts to move some homes in the path of an Erie Canal widening. Upon completion of that work in 1855 he moved to Chicago, where he entered the business of raising buildings onto higher foundations to avoid flooding because much of Chicago's land area was only a few feet above the level of Lake Michigan.
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Between August and October, 1870, George and Hattie Pullman spent a trip of pleasure mixed with business in Europe, meeting many people and riding on many trains. While in England, George met James Allport, General Manager of the Midland Railway, who invited George to meet with the railway board of directors on February 18, 1873, for the purpose of introducing Pullman cars into Great Britain on an experimental basis. George secured a contract to deliver 18 cars by September, with George promised to return to see them properly introduced. The cars were made in Detroit except for the unholtery and trucks. By June, 1875, the railway and the Pullman Co. were making money on the experiment. Riders liked the drawing-room cars and sleepers, but not the day coaches, which were removed eventually.
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George Pullman used this office at Hotel Florence in the late 1800's to conduct business from the factory site where his luxury railroad cars were constructed. Today it is the main office of the Pullman State Historic Site, where state officials are working with the community to preserve the hotel, factory and other Pullman historic sites. Other groups, including the Arcade Garden Club and the House Tour Committee meet in this building.
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George Pullman died of a heart attack on October 19, 1897, and was buried at Graceland Cemetery in Chigago. Owing to the fears that former employees would desecrate his body, the grave was dug deep and reinforced with concrete and steel. A towering Corinthian column now stands over his grave.
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