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Isaac Mar. 6, 1848 There are great times just now among the Irish laborers along the Rail Roads about here. Wages have been this winder &.70 per day for shovellers. That is little enough to be sure considering that they may not be able to work more then 15 or 20 days in a month and their board costs them generally about $2.25 or more per week. But since March came in, and the wages not raised, they have had a general "Strike for higher wages!" all along on this Road and others simultaneously. Not content with stopping work themselves, you see, they undertake to all from working whether they wish or not; marching along the line sometimes three of four hundred together armed with clubs & pick handles, stopping the crews who did not strike, in some instances, destroying cards, shovels, etc. Most of the works about here stopped when the rest did, but as yet there have been no overt acts. Some think the mobs will show themselves here within a few days, to break up the crews who are still at work on the bridges etc. No one knows what will be. One of the bridge contractors, who has a crew still at work down on Miller's River, had armed himself with two or three "Revolvers" declaring that no one shall drive his men off the works. He is a resolute fellow too.

I think now I shall continue some way to get off here a week or two the last of April or in May. I rather think they will let me go, if they are not extremely and unusually hurried. I have certainly been very steady at business since I have been here and indeed am in such a situation that they owe it to me. Moreover, those with whom I have to do are the best  sort of men to get along with. Mr. Field my immediate director is a great friend of me, and ready to do any thing to oblige me; and Mr. Johnson, the Chief Engineer, has the reputation of being very obliging in such matters. To be sure, leave of absence for an Engineer is something not usual or to be expected. The universal answer to applications is No. If a Junior ever gets leave of absence it is a special favor. It is a kind or work that cannot stop and no one can take another place for a few days or a week. However, you may fairly expect Me; so of course Mother be ready to come back with me at once. At any rate to come.