The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-05-22
Railroad Management, nj

There is probably no one subject which oc-
cupies the attention of SO many men of educa-
tion as steam machinery in its various branches.
Immense progress has been made towards per-
fection III more fully utilizing the power and
in adopting the machinery to the multiform
purposes it now serves When, however, we
consider the weight Of disciplined thought
which is given this subject, almost wherever
the sun shines, and the rate of progress, it is
mot altogether flattering to mechanical vanity.
That these is much yet to do in size and weight
ofwheeh, in fuel and furnaces, in rvetiDg or
punching, in connections and pumps, the great
variety Of these articles offered to railroads and
steam machinists abundantly proves. In the
running management of railroads great inn
provemeits have been made; the number Of
lirst class men who are engaged in this bust.
ness leads us to look forward to still greater
strides. There is, however, woful List of mis-
managements which, if strung together in a
schedule, would make terrible showing. If
there conld be more concert in comparing ex-
perience. and more system in management,
many cases of mismanagement or accident as
commonly called, would entirely disappear
from our daily chroniciers. The changes which
frequently occur in the officers and personnel
GENERALLY of a railroad is one obstacle in the
way of Taore rapid progress. 1t is not possible
to prevent some changes, but system might
be adopted which if followed out scrupulously
would materially lessen the number of changes
and almost entirely nullify any ill effects from
them. The entire personel of railroad should
feel that the road was as much their business
as the merchant does. This can be effected by
making it an invariable rule to promote, after
severe examination and Q careful investigation
of both The personal and road history of any
one in the line of promotion--even from father
to son. Mechanical talent, administrative tai
ent, or any peculiar bent of mind, is most fire.
quently inherited.
There are difficulties in the way, or this mat
ter would long ago have been settled, but some
of the difficulties of the last quarter of CEN
tury have disappeared before mechanical in
.genuity.
A mechanical register has been invented,
which shows the hour of departure of train,
its rate of speed between stations, the length
of time lime consumed by each stoppage, and the
time of arrival. The transcript from this reg
lister, with the names of the employees on the
train, would be an important part of their road
history. The history of truck, the number
of miles it has run, the traasitit has carried,
the ups and downs it has encountered, and its
condition when discharged. In fine, all the
various points should have each it's individual
history. In single road this would result
benefcially, but when these histories, by COM
mon comparison, furnished their common de-
duction,, the benefit would be incalculable.
Many practicals think it best to keep all their
knowledge concealed. 1t is a short-sighted
policy. There are things in the affairs of all
Industries that are proper to be known only to
the heals, but it is not of such matters that
we are writing. Energy and readiness to act
have, and ever will, accomplish more than con-
cealment. A uniform system of national time
is now under consideration by some leading
railroad men. No one can doubt the practical
benefits which must result from the adoption