The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-20
The Brotherhood of Locomotive En-
gineers Described.
ITS HISTORY AND PROGRESS.
How the Order Originated and
Grew Into Importance.
PRESENT AIMS AND PURPOSES.

two Engnecrs'' had It's origin among few engineers
at Detroit, Mich, who, August II, 1863 formed
themselves into an association, which they termed
"rhe Brotherhood OF the Footboard." They desIs-
mated their object in view ian association oil loco
motive engineers to elevate their standing such and
their characters as men" The project found in
tho eyes of the engineers and second lodge divs
Ion speedily followed In formation, that OF No. OF
Detroit, Mich, No. 2 being organized at Jackson, IN
the same State. In the year that followed several
new divisions wore founded and grano meeting Of
delegates and members from all tho divisions
was held at Indianapolis, Ind, on the 18th
OF August 1864 being the first anniversary Of the
foundation OF the Order. Al this meeting II was re
solved that the brotherhood OF the Fooboard'
did not sufficiently designate the association, and
the name Grand International Division Of the Broth
erhood Of Locomotive Engineers" adopted in It's
stead and has ever since been retained. From the
one lodge formed at Detroit August IL, 1862 tho
Brotherhood has grown until it now the whole
Of the United States and Canada and has less than
192 divisions or lodges These divisions placed
that they will the better tho convenience the
largest number OF engineers and places where tho
terminal points OF large railroads come together there
will frequently be several divisions Thus for the
railroads terminating the New Jersey shore opposite
New York there less than four divisions. two
being situated at Jersey City, one at Communipaw
and Hoboken. The grand officers OF the entire
organization consist Of eight officers The head Of
the Order is NJ. Arthur who Is Grand Chief neer
and is elected Tor term OF three years. Mr.. Arthur
was formerly engineer on tho New York Central
Railroad, end Is man OF great ability and OF very
many years experience rs an engineer The head
quarters Of the Grand Division ut Cleveland Ohio,
having been there established by vote Of the Grand
Division and 10 remain there for the space OF ten years
from January ], 1870 Tn. salary Of the Chief Eng-
neer said to DO 81 500 year, besides travelling
penses His duties call him every part OF the United
States and Canada where a railroad Is TO be found,
and he Is almost all the time on the wing. If
the grievance committee Of any subdivision have
trouble OF any sort with their railroad employers aud
are unable to bring about what they desire then
Arthur Is teleQraphed for and quickly appears. He
the story OF the men, grasps their erev
and visits the railroad superin,en dent with
view straighten the matter II possible. Sometimes
the trouble s the discharge by the superintendent
Of some OF the engineers for an accident on the
track, alleged carelessness when on duty or some
other cause which sufficient In the eyes of tho
superintendent to justify the discharge OF the engineer
But the discharged man, believing that he
blame In the matter lays his complaint before his d.
vision and its Grievance Committee visits tho supern
tendent in hopes of his resembling the sentence. II
he Will not do this and tho point at issue Is
strong one then MT. Arthur Is summoned as the ar
btratOr. He first learns the engineers side oil the
question and hon that OF the superintendent and no
is quick to solve the matter and decide wncn side Is
TO blame. It IS the engineer then he IS plainly told
that he the wrong and mad better look tor place
on sumo other road, as the Grand Division cannot
fight his battles arce; but If found 10 be
the right then Chief Arthur tells the railroad super
intonden very plainly and asks the restoration OF
the man. II It Is not granted he returns to his head
quarters calls other grand officers together lays
tho matter before them, and vote Is taken as TO
whether tho engineers OF tho road IN dispute shall
be ordered strike not. Sometimes II Is not
sidered cxpedient 10 at once order a strike, the
business OF the road being ocntimes care uy looked
0rct ifG
moving strike vii hurt the company but little just
them ana there would be plenty Of time Tor the COM
not IN the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. the rush of business
began again. So time Is taken when every engine is
needed, the company very busy and when each idle
day would result in very large loss Then the strike
comes or, and, depend upon IT, that discharged en-
him and good pace secured Tor him some other
road II will be that an immense power Is welded
by Chief Arthur, and bad man he can use fcaruly
But the Chief 10 generally considered careful
sClentious man, whose arbitration between the CON-
panes and the Is found to be Of great value 10
both. He has never yet been charged with improper
actions or intcnts ant his services are universally &C
cepted by both sides as a peaceful means Of settling
many disputed points. The men oil the road some
times get ancics their heads that tuey are beng
ovcrworked Ill treated and were II not Tor the cool
anu careul penetration OF Mr. Arthur they would per-
haps their places one by one for not doing what
was demanded OF them. ON the other hand there
are railroad superintendents who Cypress their men
unnecessarily, and Tor whom a talk from Chief
Arthur is good warning They then sec that To
drive their men 10 strike will often bring disgrace
they may be proved TO have been in fault instead oil
tneir Cnci Arthur also hesitate 10 pay
the president OF road visit when he nnds that the
supcrini ndcnt IS anenaoe to rcasOE and so 1t
comes to pass that his services are very valuable
oftenmcs to both The railroad companies aud the ell
ginecrs
Grand Chef Engineer, who Is Likewise stationed at
Cleveland and the place OF Chcf Arthur when
he absent goes Tor him 10 any point that requires
arbitration. He is paid fixed yearly salary and is
elected Tor three years.
Tho Third Grand officer Is the Second Grand Engi-
neer, Mr. William Robinson, OF Toronto, Canada, VINO
receives salary called upon by the sickness
death OF the First Grand Engineer, 10 perform hs
duties
The Fourth Grand officer is First Grand Assistant
Engineer L. b. Greene, oil Cleveland, who is the Sccre-
tary aud Treasurer the Grand DIVISION, collects the
dues, INES &C. Signs ana issues the charters Tor new
divisions aud receives yearly salary Tor his SERVICES
Then comes the Second Grand Assistant Engineer.
Mr. W. b. Thrall, OF Rutland, W., VINO, twice year,
Is called upon to audit the books OF the grand olcers
For his when called upon he Is paid such re-
muneration as the Grand DIVISION may determine.
The rhird Assistant Engineer, Mr.. o. ii. sherman, OF
Dunkrk, N. Y, isthe Tyler TO the Grand DIVISION ana
receives salary.
The Grand Guide, Mr.. G. A. Hunt, OF Ubrichsvic,
Oh.o acts marshal IN PROFESSIONS and receives ana
introduces delegates and visiting brothers ut tho meet
ings of the Grand Division.
Last OF all comes The Grand chaplain, MI. u. W.
Tyre OF Indianapolis Ind, who has charge oil tue ex-
ercises Of opening and closing tho Grand Division
meetings and conducts tho burial service over the
dead OF Tic order whenever he is able 10 DO present.
Besides these grand officers there Board OF Trus-
tees OF the charitable iund OF three, who, with Tho
Chief ana First Grand Assistant Engineers, havo
charge OF tho charity fund The trustees are elected
alternately, one each year
The following Is complete list OF all the divisions IN
the UBcd States and DOMINION OF Canada AS recorded
up to August OF thus year, but one or more new ulvl.
have been formed since that date The DIVISIONS
given under the head o the state where the mead
quarters OF that division are situated The number OF
each lodge Is also gwen together with the location OF us
the hgures to the right oil each otto
show tho number of divisions WITHIN It's borders:-
Maine No. 40. Portland. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. !
NeV Hampshire No. Ii, Concord .........ss....
retmvnL No. "a, Rutland; No 80, 81 9loansi NO.
106, Bellows Falls; No. it3. Lyndonville .......
Massachusetts No. 6l, Boston No. ~, Springfield;
No "a, Worcester; No 1yl, Fitchburg. ......... :
Rhode Island No. 81, Providence. ..............
Connecticut NO II, New Haven. .............:.. l
Ne,o York.-No H. Utica; No Is, Buffalo; No. is.
Rochester; No. III, Elmira; No. ~, Albany; No
Al, HorDelsviIle; No. 81, Port Jervis; No. 90,
GreenDusn; No g. Dunkrk No q, Malone Na.l No.
No 1871 Oswcgo; No. 1922 Wavcrey; No. 1876.
Ithaca No. 1863 Syracuse; No ~ Bngham,on. Is
Nam Nn ~ CAmdcn. No 30 phllIIpsOurR;