The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1877-08-21
A BRAKEMAN's SENSE.
se Looks Through the PHILOSOPHY
Ot nan rrestacnss, ssd ssiss some
Bottons Facts.

A brakeman attached to one of the
passenger crews on the New York Di-
vision of the Pennsylvania Railroad,
recently expressed himself with con-
siderable freedom 10 representative
OF the New York Tribune. His state
ments, which are here presented in
substance, have some interest, says
that journal, as an expression OF the
views of one OF the most intelligent Of,
his class; and although his account OF
certain luxurious perquisites enjoyed
by his superiors is, perhaps, colored
too intensely by the glow OF vigor-
GUS prejudice, il may be salutary TO
take look at these practices as seen
through the atmosphere by which he is
surrounded.
"When we complain" said he, "that
our wages are too small to support
comfortable life, they tell us that rail-
roads do not exist primarily TO support
us in any sort OF life-that the man.
agement are trustees of other peoples
property, and they must conduct their
business so as to protect the interests
OF the property Now we
can't help seeing that these managers,
in spite Of their conscientious devo-
ton TO the interest Of the road. owners,
have been willfully squandering this
property, income and assets, in crazy
struggle to slaughter each other
Everybody knows that they have been
sinking money, sinking 1t needlessly
and wilfully; and when this ruinous RI
valry flares out in such freaks OF puer-
lie and jealous extravaganza as those
senseless, dangerous and demoralizing
races across the continent with fast
trains. we lose some of our reverence
for the superior sagacity which capital
is said TO attract into it's service. But
il is still more irritating to see the
money, which is whitfield from our wa
ges by these magnates, spent with
open-handed liberality to crafty their
own love OF display and sumptuous
pleasure.
Fright here, into this Jersey City
depot, there come at least dozen pri-
vate cars, each Of which belong to
some grandee on one OF the lines in
this system. Now there is actual
need of some private cars on some oc-
casions, and If the gorgeousness OF
these vehicles could be subdued tri-
fie in the interest OF economy and good
taste, and il they we're only made TO
facilitate the business OF the roads,
they would provoke no complaint or
comment. But hardly a day passes
without one or two of these palaces
rolling in here. Empty Pullman coach
as are running every hour, but the rail-
road Pasha must have a car of his own.
He may have his car all TO himself, or
he may have all his friends with him.
The supplies which are furnished TO
these luxurious travellers are not such
as the families of brakemen habitually
enjoy, but they are luxurious meals, IN
several artistic courses, with wines 10
suit, aud oil are charged 10 'the COM
pany, The occupants sometimes live
in these coaches for days together, and
they (the coaches) are always nuisances
here. They are in everybodys way,
and somebody is kept switching and
backing and hauling them about until
they are coupled TO an outgoing train,
and on their way to another yard. The
actual expenses OF round trip from
Philadelphia for one of these cars is
500 at a moderate estimate, and when
forty or fifty trips are made in month,
besides voyages to other places, clean
81 900 is wiped ont.
"But there are stlll more expeditions
methods than this of bringing about
an alarming 'shrinkage Of values in
railroad stocks. Private cars are not
sufficiently distinguished to crafty the
most luxurious officials. They must
have special trains, and everything
must clear the track for them. Mr.
thinks no more of ordering locomotive
|. .O0l hooked up 10 car 2.002 than he
does Of ordering his coachman to har
ness his bay mare to his road wagon
for a drive. Last summer he used to
roll from Philadelphia TO New York in
.his grand style to attend the opera,
whenever the performance promised to
be sufficiently attractive for his elegant
taste, aud then he would steam back
after il was over. IL costs about $3.50
TO make the run, and five or sax spec
ials month knock the bottom out Of
another 1000. Now 81, 600 a month
for private cars and specials is rather
PERCEPTIONS. 1t is 10 per cent. of S20,-
900, or the pay Of 400 men at $50 per
month. And this amounts to saying
that the 10 per cent. saved by reducing
the wages OF 400 men on this division
never gets az far as the stockholders,
but is charged mp in a couple OF items
to the vanity and ease account"