The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-11-05
COMPETENT RAILROAD MEN.
ARE SUCH EMPLOYED ON THE METRO
POLITAN ELFVATE ROAD?

superintenden, vaa Broehnn'. Experience
Rte Care In the Selection OF HI. Men
what 10 Expected Of then-Thsir Wages.
To determine the question OF the cxpe-
tlenco and capacity Of the employees OF the
Metropolitan Elevated Railway in view Of what
s asserted TO he tho irreRularty Of the train
,ervice. the Superintendent. Mr.. NJ. Van Brock
in. was visited Yesterday.
Upon Mr.. Van Broeklin the heavieet weight
81 responsibility rs TO the operation Of the road
rests. He has been y practical railroad man.
with the exception Of n short term Of service In
the army. since 1859 He took q conspicuous
part in Harry Meiggss great railroad enter
prises in Peru during five years. lnthe laying
out. building. and subsequent management OF
the famous Arroyo route which he said TO have
encountered and overcome greater engineering
obstacles than any other line In the world. Mr..
Van Brockhn bore leading share. 10 far As
thorough familiarity with the operating OF n
surface railroad lie concerned he may surely be
considered as havIAs had ample experience 10
qualify him for his present position.
He said: While quite u number Of our train
men were necessarily inexperienced when we
opened the road TO tho public, there are very
few now II any who are not thoroughly com
petent to discharge properly the duties devolv-
Ing upon them. Men experienced In the aiming
Of exactly such a road NJ ours VIC could not have
rot because thore wore none such; but We
made II a rule 10 engage only those who seemed
likely to learn readily 10 adapt themselves TO
our requirements. and 70 serve us faithfully ae-
eording TO the carefully prepared orders. Where
any we're found who did not meet our expscta-
tons In those regards. they have been weedvd
out. and now believe that we have model
force OF men. Bat do yeu knov that II " the
hardest thing In the world 70 tell . man what
not to do. The men who tend the platform
gates have very trent difheihy In maintaining
gers. and il Is not &" 70 Be wenaereG al Il some
times they foil to carry out the strict orders
which they have fes.iNed never TO allow the
Don, go oo,,, ,,,, an. ia, ,.., =. u.n.
Il would be- very simple and eaay Tor us To- run
On exact time, 10 maintain the most perfect
we'll as safe. But lock at thu facts. Between
the hours of p N. and ? =. N. We carry up
town. on an average. 10000 passengnrs. To do
that we have generally sixty-nNo trains. some
lines more. and they have TO make schedule
dime Of twenty minutss between Rector and
upon occasions. stimulate man. II they are At
al nervously inclined, 10 vary somewhat from
aucky at s,aoDs but Of eoarss e ,Ssy should
pot do so. and are liable 20 punishment OF even
discharge for Il Az for the trouble in getting
on tho cars, the paeeenRere themselves make
mat generally and often in Q way that Ia simply
pncontrollable. Look at them any evening
Itation. The station platform you will ind
provided. AZ soon as train stops they almost
on as can be secommodaied and tho signal Is
given TO 90 ahead after the train is actually In
n9tlon they will manage TO catch foothold out
Eateman has either to submit 70 their pushing
hoSns the gate closed them sS 10 oss
lhelr preoariouh hold and go ,plnnglnK head
Rat ws ave every dave when sSey see second
train approaching upon which they may get
safely in less than q minute moro and when
70 them 81 af they ny" Do Il simpy from mad
American impstience 10 be among the fore
NOW how are we to contend against that
Zach man thinks he has the right Of being tho
Ses, ,adfe Of rha, ne ssn DO sseS ana y
would be fatal TO BIN. We canno, put enough
two hours. and should We attempt to check the
geemingly Inevitable oyersrowdinS the en-
AS for our snsinser.: they are all pl,ked
surface rarosds SOBER Hssaar careful nc On
FnS s SSr Ssatrs az s ST sS
eentrinR here. We pay them regular wages Of
$3.50 per diem, with cents per mile for over
siO6 per monih-better pay than they get. on an
average. on the surface roads. Consequently
We expect TO get the best men, and believe that
We have them; Their orders are. not 10 exceed
six miles per hour In going around curves not
but what they might run safely there at a higher
rate OF speed. but II ie desired 10 avoid even the
sembance Of possible danger. The curves are
unusually sharp. Il 70 true. on radius OF only
Do feet inside. but they are perfectly safe at the
speed our trains always run on them, and with
the precautions against accident which We have.
On each curve there are steel guard rails In al.
ditlon TO the track. and heavy wooden guard
rail besides. SO we cannot contemplate an acct
dent as even possible. you see"