The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-09-07
Railroad Conductors.


A reporter who interviewed railroad
man learns the following incidents about
the populations of conductors: The
peculations of conductors are only
proven by the use of what is technically
known as "spotters," and the results of
their Investigations are often as disas-
trous to the conductors as they are salts
factory to the directors. A few years
ago railroad in Pennsylvania was
"tested," and over $100, 900 were recov-
cred from conductors on the same, of
which $50, 900 we're from one of the most
popular and most trusted conductors.
The company then introduced the sys-
tenn of paying their conductors $100
month, and, in addition to this, setting
aside for each one $500 in stock per an
mum on which the dividends were paid.
This stock the conductor could neither
transfer nor hypothecate, but at the end
of certain term of years, if he was hon.
est and remained with the company, the
stock was made over to him. The result
was that in test of this road, made two
or three years subsequently, it was
found the company were not losing $400
a year.
OF course there is much said and not
little written against the injustice Of
subjecting conductors to the operations
of "spotters." On another road, s'test-
ed" at the same time as the one men
toned, majority of the conductors
were discharged. They made howl
about the matter, said the "spotters
were liars and thieves, and all sorts of
things. They compared notes with
their brother conductors on the road
which had borne the test so we'll, and
met with but little sympathy from the
latter, who had been personally compli.
mented by their president for the excel
lent report given of them by the ma
ligned "spotters." Ergo, rogues kick
where honest men can rest in comfort
From the returns of conductors it is
impossible to single out the honest from
the dishonest, and it often happens that
the trusted man is the rogue while the
act to cent. The men who divide the
cash fares between the company's treas
urer and their own pockets On
courage the payment of cash fares on
the train in many ways, and so may
turn in more money than the honest
conductor receives on the same run, and
still retain large percentage. / knew
one case in which conductor put up
job to have the ticket agent away on o
night when a whole opera troupe went
out on his train, and from the cash re-
ceipts of this one operation, skillfully
spread over three months reports, &C
tually turned in more money than any
other conductor, and kept more for him
self
Another case, showing how shrewd
man can circumvent any of the methods
introduced by the railroads for their
protection, was that of a conductor run
ming out of st. Louis, who had little
dialogue with another. The latter said
he wasn't making anything since the
road had commenced using round trip
tickets, while the former said he was
making more than ever. How was
that' "Why," said he, 81 watch out
for men at the stations who have round
trip tickets, and after they get on the
train I don't notice 'em. When they
come back I collect their tickets, and
the next time they go they think shall
skip 'em again. So they don't buy any
ticket, and that's the time I strike 'em
for nacb ID