Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-09-15

rests fundamentally upon the integrity of
our labor, it follows, as necessary conse-
quence, that the object of our coming
together should be practical, comprehen-
sive and thoroughly useful.
A purpose of mutual benefit can only be
fully served as it shall comprehend as we'll
the thoughtful consideration of how best
to perform, to our several employers, the
duties of our station, as our own immedi-
ate betterment and advantage. For the
latter can only be based or demanded up
on merit and these can come alone upon
the best, the most conscientious, the most
thorough work.
The right to personal advancement, pro-
motion, increased compensation can no
more be founded upon careless, unintelli-
gent work, than successful railroading can
be done upon poor road bed.
One and the first purpose then of this
convention of Roadmasters is to erect and
maintain, through concert of action, COM
parison and interchange of ideas, generous
and spirited rivalry of thought and effort,
high and practical standard for our de-
| partment.
This standard shall represent at once
| strength, economy, safety, vigilance, dis
cipline, harmony and general utility.
This m cans intelligent and attentive
| consideration of the several problems pre-
! scented from time to time for our solution;
| firm, but courteous endorsements of our
| judgments, when once they are formed;
| vigilant watchfulness as well for all i'm
| provements in ways and means, as for the
| encroachment of time and decay; quick
| and generous recognition of every aid
that experience and intelligence of
| others shall have demonstrated to be
desirable; careful and prudent use of
means as we'll as of men; garnering for
mutual interchange the fruits of our an
nual experience; in word, with every
intelligence on the alert, striving to make
that which to my mind is stupendous
art, perfect road bed that shall at once
by its economy and strength, satisfy the
company, by its smoothness and safety
command the confidence and admiration
of the public, ard by the manner in which
It was managed, leave no sting of oppres.
sion in the thoughts and memories of those
whose Drawn and muscle gave it form and
symmetry.
This involves infinite detail as we'll as
grand aggregates. 1t includes alike the
spike and the towering embankment, as
we'll the foot guard for the unwary, OF
more often busy and engrossed brakeman.
as the spanning bridge for the laundering
train, as we'll the pennies to be saved al
every turn, as the dollars on the occasional
contract, as we'll as the fiber and tension
of the tie as the strength and integrity of
the mighty beam, alike the possibilities
for mischief of the tiny brooklet and the
majestic river.
1t means to know the seasons and theil
influence, not as the farmer knows them
but as years shall have shown their infu-
ence upon iron and earth, upon rock and
stream, upon cut and fill and the conse-
quent integrity of each and its ability
still to bear with safety the burdens to il
belonging.
| 1t means to know promptly and to in.
telligently measure the alleged improve.
ments that active brains are constantly
presenting for the consideration of rail.
road men.
1t means to have track and road-be6
that shall combine safety for all who use
it, free from pitfalls and traps for the en-
ployer on foot, strong for the engine anG
| its driver, absolute freedom from danger
to the traveller and his property, as nearly
as this can be reached.
This is the great duty. To aid each il
Its best performance is one of the objects
of this association. To do this we bring
here and compare our several experiences
Here each member makes, or should make
his years work Tin so far as it is new, OF
developed new problems or new results) ar
open book for the inspection and instruc
ton of the others.
Has wood or earth or stone or iror
shown unexpected weakness or unusual
strength and endurance? 1t is page oil
instruction that should be opened for the
common benefit of all.
Has a wearing rail, a treacherous bank
a fitful stream made weeks of labor an6
nights of unrest, without one being able
to espy the reason, the facts and circum
stances belong to this place of common
| study.
Has individual study and experiment
happily found an easier or better way to
surmount a frequent difficulty, here il
should be brought as common benefit.
1t is as true here as anywhere that sin g
multitude of counsel there is wisdom
This wisdom thus acquired we use first fol
the benefit of the business Of our choice.
Our effort in this direction is fortunate
and suspicious in its commencement. We
are really only at the beginning of this
| effort TO improve ourselves, our work and
our condition by this union of action and
comparison of ideas, and as we come to
the plane of action in this movement te
unity our heretofore scattered energies; to
give character and form to great, but
| heretofore formless branch of railroad
work, to dignity the labor department Of
the modern highway; we find the whole in
telligent world rousing up to the thought
of dignifying, ennobling, intellectualizing
| labor.
Society has discovered that the hand
the eye, the arm was being neglected
That the brain was being carried out OF
the useful domains of the practical int.
the useless realms of the abstract.
That scholars are being made at the ex
| pense of business men. That the profes-
sions were being crowded at the expense Of
thinning the trades. That trained intelli.