The New York herald., 1879-10-22
THE PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD.

ANNUAL TOUR OF INSPECTION OF THE GENERAL
MANAGERS AND sUpERINTENDENTs.
special train. composed Of an engine and two
cars left the Jersey City depot of the Pennsylvania
Railroad at fifteen minutes past seven O'Clock yes
terday morning for Pttsburg. whore it was expected
arrive at fifteen minutes past in tho evening"
1t carried at the extraordinary pace which it's
schedule time indicates tho executive heads Of
tho company, who are on their annual tour
of road inspection, which commences tomorrow at
the Western terminus. Mr.. Frank Thomson. general
manager of the road, is tho official head Of the
party. and it was in his private that he and his
lieutenants seated themselves for their long ride.
Mr.. Charles E. Pugh. general superintendent Of
tho Pacific Railroad. which means all its main
stem and al Leased lines east of Pittsburg,
took seat beside Mr.. Thomson. wolcott Jackson,
general superintendent Of the consolidated limos in
New Jersey, sat next and Mr.. McCrea, the new
superintendent of the New York division recently
transferred from the Middle division, fell into scat
near by others in the car wero Robert Pitcairn,
superintendent of the Western division, from Pitts
burg to Altoona; Mr. Provost, superintendent Of the
1876 miles between Altoona ana Harrisburg; Mr..
Lockurd, superintendent of the Phlxdephia divis-
ION; MIR. L. G. Wilkins, general superintendent OF
the Baltimore anu Potomac road; Mr.. A. Bald
win, general superintendent of the Philadelphia
and Erie with his four division superintendents and
Superintendents Nelson, Quicker, Tyler and West
fall of tho Northern Central road from Baltimore to
Canandaigua. The division engineers and supervi-
sors thirty in number. lett for Pitsburg the night
before and met the there last night
on their arrival
This morning ut daylight the inspection will be-
gin, and the party travelling in four observation
York some time early next week, proba.
bly, Tuesday. 1t is not proposed that they
shall leave the main line at ALL and it may therefore
be seen by the time to be consumed how thorough
the inspection will be. The observation trains con-
sist Of an engine drawing hotel and dining room
and pushing "gondoia"-that is, low,
open platform car. with seats raised in tiers.
the superintendents occupying the first train the
civil engineers tho second the road supervisors tho
third ana the division foremen the fourth. Each
gentleman is provided with printed form,
on which he marks scale OF from
(very bad to ten perfect) his estimate OF each
section Of the roadbed. The verdict is reached by
considering the condition OF the track line and the
balasrg. ditchng, draining. policing and neatness
of the work. When the trip is completed
these cards are made made .r.,o up ana na an ,a aS
est average indicates to whom OF the super
visors shall be gwen the first prize. usually q
chronometer gold watch and chain appropriately In
scrbed. aud to whom Of the division fore
men the second prize shall be given. There
is great competition tor these prizes and tho
found to be of the greatest value in get
ting the best kind OF work done the
roadbed and line Of rail. Most of the super
intendents this trip have intimate practical
they have served tho company OF which they arc
officers roadmasters and division super.
visors, winning experience and promotion In that
way. Last year the inspection extended over all
the leased lines of the company the superntendents
passing over on their trip more than two thousand
six hundred miles OF the company's track.
In doing this. however. they were not able
to give the track that close scrutiny
which the Importance of their errand demanded.
Therefore this year the trip will be confined to the
main line and its important branch. the Northern
Central Railroad from Harrisburg to Washington
and Sunbury. Last year the section south OF New
ark. part of Superintendent McCrea's division.