Vermont daily transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1868-1870, 1868-06-24
Local Items.
Concerning the Pdy Department.

Ivan Railroads, as one may easily sup
pose, is an important one to great
many individuals, and one not to be
successfully conducted by any man who
may come along. 1t has fortunately,
however, fallen to the lot of competent
men to conduct, o. w. Newton, Esq,
and Stewart Strannahan, ESQ, of st.
Adams, having formerly had charge of
it, and tonone more 40 than the present
Paymastcr, Geo. G. Hunt, Esq, of st.
Adams. 1t is apparent that the speedy
and accurate transaction of the business
of this department il of much conse-
uuencc TO the sixteen or seventeen hum
dred men employed in various capaci-
ties on these roads, as well as to the
managers and those owning property in
them. 70 facilitate and systematic
thoroughly the operations of the depart
ment, various improvements have been
suggested and adopted from time to
time, which arc due to the thought or
experience of EX-GoV. Smith, Mr.. Tay-
Tor. Mr.. Abncr Forbes and Mr.. Hunt,
The present paymaster. The result is,
that MS the department is now conduct
cd under its efficient chief it is probably
equal in facility and accuracy OF opera
ton to any connected with these roads
and no more need be said in its praise.
BY the old system of operation con-
tinued for some time by Mr.. Hunt, the
amount of each mans due was counted
out in money for each month, enclosed
in an envelope superscrbcd with his
name, and in this way paid to him. In
this manner, II slow and tedious one,
and liable of course to mistakes, about
$780, 900 in bills and scrip had to be count
ed and distributed each month"; or 500,
600 every year. In order TO do this
work, with its accompanying duties,
each month in time. so that there might
be no reasonable complaint of employ
ces, the amount of money had 70 be
drawn by the paymaster from ten to
fifteen days before the date of making
payments with it, a large sum of money
thus remaining necessarily in his hands
during considerable portion of the
year, taken together. BY new system
recently adopted all the employees of
these roads are paid by checks upon
which they can draw cash on prescn-
tation to any financial officer o. agent
OF the road. This does away with the
tedious and expensive counting system,
and is much more expeditions in opera
ton, and gives satisfaction. To further
expedite the paying of the employees a
new pay car has been fitted exclusively
for the use of the paymasters depart
ment The car is divided for conven-
fence into four compartments, which ill
clude an office, with desk, table, sofa,
and stove when necessary n room
where employees enter to receive pay
mcnt, which also is furnished with Il
desk, divided from the Paymasters desk
by Il movable window; Il room contain
ing sofa which is also bed, and may
easily be extended to Il more convenient
width than a common berth, a couple
of arm chairs, etc. and Il room at the
rear end of the car with one berth and
place to stow away necessary bedding,
wash sink, water tank, water closet,
etc.
The car is neatly but plainly and sub
stantially finished and furnished, with
the centre rooms carpeted, and is admir-
ably suited to the purposes of travel
ing office. AS the car is not designed
to carry much weight, the springs upon
which its body rests are longer but not
so heavy and stiff as those used usually
and the car rides very smoothly and
without jolting or pitching, and it is
far preferable in every respect to the
little tug' in which the paymastel
has rislled himself for some time past.
The car Of which we have been speak
ing made its first trip on Tuesday, ant
we had the pleasure of laying aside oul
quill and accompanying Mr.. Hunt on /
short business tour, by invitation, o
seeing the practical working of some
portions of hispay system. The was
attached to Il passenger train, and SC
rapidly was business conducted that Il
each station payments Of men employed
i'm and about them were made during
the ordinary time of stopping for til,
accommodation of travellers. Check
were given, receipts taken, and every
thing again in place, in the ordinar,
time of answering to the call, "tickets
sir ~ We noticed that the system
worked 50 perfectly that it gave leisur
for good humor, and hardly man lief
the car with his well earned and fairl,
received pay without the gratuity of
kind and pleasant word also. We di
not notice that the kind words produces
any i'll results, and think they may b
safely recommended to employers i