The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-06-14
MISUNDERSTANDING.
How a Railroad OfHcial Has to Run Cars OF
Paper.

49,
Paper.
Within the last few years the work of
running railroads have been greatly
simplifed. Now on every well-regu-
lated railroad things move like clock
work, the machinery working without
Jar day in and day out. The Indianap-
oils Netos says: "In the movement of
trains much depends on the train-dis-
patcher, who fills a most responsible
and laborious position. The latter-day
train dispatcher sits at headquarters,
and, with the aid of curious chart, is
enabled to see at glance the exact
whereabouts of every train on the road
at any minute of the day. He has the
entire line before him in miniature.
Dots and pegs of different size and
shape indicate the different trains in
motion at the same time, and from the
chart and an elaborate time card the
train dispatcher is enabled to direct
operations by telegraph with as much in
telligence and absolute knowledge as he
could possibly have were he ubiquitous,
and able to give oral commands in q
hundred different places at the same
time. The train-dispatcher is supposed
to know and does know the size of each
train, freight and passenger, on his di-
vision, the speed and power of each en-
CINE, the grade of every mile of the
road, and where time can be made up to
the best advantage when trains are de-
layed.
"He usually works with the Superin-
tendent or manager of the road, though
frequently he is put in charge of his
particular department, and held re-
sponsible for the proper management of
the duties assigned to him, being given
a great latitude and left wholly un.
hampered. The train dispatcher keeps
a record of the time each train starts
from the end of the division, and, from
that moment until it arrives at its des-
tination, it is constantly under his eye
and guidance, like chessmen in the
hands of a skillful player. So long as
trains move on time he he is not called
upon to exercise his ingenuity much.
1t is when train is ditched, or meets
other unavoidable accidents that the dis
patcher shows up to advantage.
Here he fluids field for the exercise
of his full powers. In such emergencies
the regular time-card is of no earthly
account, and he is forced to improvise
one for the occasion. He is called upon
to decide which trains shall have the
right of way, where and how they shall
meet, where lie on the side track, and a
thousand and one other matters that
arise out of the emergency. On his
presence of mind and accuracy of knowl-
edge depend the lives of hundreds of
train men and passengers, and thousands
upon thousands of dollars worth OF
property.
can illustration of his daily duties
Ten trains all off of time, and running
by telegraphic orders issued by the train
dispatcher (such a thing not infre-
quently happens); put these trains on a
stretch of track sixty miles long. and
designate where the five going east will
meet the five going west One of the
five west. bound is through passenger
train with no stops to make, and can
run at certain rate of speed another
is local passenger, making all stops,
and can run of certain rate of speed
different from the rest another is q
freight with a light load and another
a freight with a heavy load. One