Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-07-20
TIE OAKLAND ooLLra1oN.
Soma Willfuuy False Statements Come
10 Early Grief.

The following letter, published in the psper
addressed. fully explains itself, and poinledly
exposes the aninps of Journal which viii
publish such false statements wnen it has only
to ak 50 ascertain the truth;
To sde Editor Of che CRrvnicle-Sir: The
readers Of your journal, more or leas infu.
enced by lis t5sohiueg, well understand your
vigorous viii and the determined purpose of
your policy, Holding ard usiag the great
power Tor good or evil, you are by false repre-
sentations doing US great injustice, and be-
lieving that, when the facts are known, YOU
would be willing and disposed to Go Us even.
handed justice, snd give this denial IS broad
a circulation a. yen did the ucjGst imputa-
tiop, [ would most respectfully call your at.
tention 81 80 article in yesterday's edition,
entitled, who Was 20 Blame mo IrquiGy
Made Into ths Recsnt Oakland Collision. -
We are so much eb5oTbei in the affairs Of
aur profession thnt We have not the sims nor
ths inclination to answer all tho unffien5ly
articles published ef3cbiag on the manage
men5 OF cur roads, but the one referred TO is
80 unreasonable, unjust and calculated to
alarm cur patrons, and so much at varisncs
with the facts, that we are impelled to answer
il. Yen say:
1t is the custom Of Eastern railroads, when a col
Ston or accident occurs on their roads, TO suspend
the engineers aud conductors OF the wrecked or
damaged trains, pending official inyes-
tigation. The inquiry generally fixes the
blame where it belongs-either on the en-
gineer, the conductor q switchman. The
culpaba ones then discharged or " blackballed
To be " blacSbaled" means to the Eastern railroad
employe that he might as well abandon the calling,
because, unless he travels under am assumed name
he never follow his vocation again. except he be
renstated and place il good standing by the com
panT that discharged him The various railroads
throughout the East keep what IS called black
list" which contains tie names of all employees dis
charged for cause. When man is back-ii5ted his
name, the position lie occupied, the reason Of his
discharge etc, sent 20 the other roads and the
facts are paced on their black lists Thus it is
ne Xt to an impossibility for discharged employe
from one company to secure employment from au-
otber. ii he assumes alias he is liable to discoV-
cry at any time, some Acquaintance is likely to
appear in search Of job, and. knowing the man
was discharged and blackballed bv his former en-
ployeTs, he does hot hesitate to "givs him away to
the sup rntend mt and then step into his place In
some cases the punishment Is harsh, but as q rule
the system % good enc, and Is caicul ted to make
the switch-tendefs more careful and thus to lessen
the chances Of accident. This Eastern method,
which has proved so effective, evidently does not
commend Itself 70 the Central Pacific managers
IL his YOU are entirely mistaken. This
so-cllie3 u stern method has been iG prac!i.
esl uss by cur companies for many years
Il
system, it having originated. "a far as We
kuow, with this company. The officers Of
msny ettec con pAries hars asked for and
rfcsiyed cur blanks aud forms il order that
they might Introduce The system You fur
taer say:
10 spite Of all the surmises the feet remains that
the accident occurred and that some one is to
blame for it, bus who the culprt is does not seem
to concern the company. They have made no in
70
sponsbiity and the people who daily travel between
this and the towns the bay will no doubt be
surprised to learn that both Of the engineers still
hold their positions and that Perkins continues to
handle the switch levers at the crossing on the
mole.
In THE, again, you hsvs been misinformed.
A full investigation Of the matter was held
within tea hours from the time of the acct
dent. Tbs facts clearly proved that the two
engineers were alone responsible for the acct.
dent and they were discharged from the COM
pany's service on the following morning.
Accidents are comparatively 40 more fse-
quent with Us than with Others Mistakes
are made and faults committed by msn in
every branch OF business. OF the thousands
ia the employ of the company, aggregstipg,
rail and river lines, between 5000 and 5000
miles, many are ever in the midst of the
hazards and dangers of railroad life. They
sUhetilAss DeSuIe CafSiesS VI tnelr iuNetesEs
and ihose Entrusted TO them. We do not say
our road is managed, in the administration
OF IT'S affairs, with degree of sagacity. en-
ergy and harmony not enjoyed by other
companies; neither do we profess to have
gifts of government not possessed by man
sgars Of other great roads but we do claim
that. "a rule, there are 20 safer or better
men on any rosd, and that the discipline
and morale OF the liue is often referred 70
by other managers as being as thorough ard
complete SIS msy be found en- any road in the
country.
Trusting you viii be disposed to publish
this communication in justification Of our
position. sul yours respectfully,
A. \. ToWNE.
San Francisco, July 16, 1883,