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

ductlYe TO the ART OF 6mOOtn speaking,
however much they may use plain talk
somewhat emphasized. The construction
men, who are our most frequent orators,
do not require speciel brilliancy. And
so with such training, you cannot expect
from me, aught but the thought of exper-
fence expressed in the plain, blunt words
that belong naturally to our calling.
And when we come to our vocation as
field of thought, study and research the
scope is broad and wide enough for all.
No man of Judgment, of proper concep-
ton of duty, of conscience, of heart, of
honesty or fidelity, can spend his life amid
the responsibilities of road service, with
out feeling the occasion for constant con-
scientious thought and study.
The railway is the modern highway OF
modern commerce. The tonnage of the
world, the lines of the nations hosts are
confded to its carriages. The sovereigns
of empires, the chiefs and presidents of
republics, with the vast multitude of their
followers entrust their lives to its mighty
power, while the management of this great
factor in the worlds progress must carry
| the dread responsibility of this burden
thus conided to its keeping.
At the very foundation of this response
biIity is the integrity of the roadway de-
partment.
It is department and yours is a posi-
| ton to be proud of. The roadway is to
your company what the fields of the far
Iners are to the countryside source the
| foundation of success. And the roadmas-
t4r and his force are to the roadway what
TIA husbandman is to the fruitful acres.
What the training of the boy is to the
I IN or the wall is to the house, such
l. the roadbed to the railway.
As 1t shall be honestly built and honestly
gu ,rded with intelligent anticipation and
CO nprehension of the frosts of winter, the
raj s of summer, the changes of currents,
the effect of settlement and cultivation, SO
sha,i it or not, bear safely the mighty
| was of commerce and the travel destined
to IS thereon.
!, I must it lag in the line of improve.
meI'. The strap iron must needs vanish
befo the chair-rail and the latter must
pro-. fly yield to the fsh-plate. Iron
mus, i've way to steel and in the compe-
tition f the busy present, success brooks
no la. ards.
| Gr. .ents and curves are to the road de-
| partu,. ut more than mere inclines or lines
of be. ~. They present practical ques-
| tions 1t reach into the realm of tonnage
and II! domain of force, the region of
earni %. and the dreary confines of ex-
pense . I'd waste.
The lrface is more than bare smooth
ness. Il too touches the bank account and
the div lend as it smoothly or not carries
| the pou ding wheels and the fastidious
| traveller.
4 M hot
competitors can present equals that of q
smooth road bed known by years of trial
TO be sGfe.
That tbs may lie the honest claim of
America railways rests largely with the
departme ITS of roadway service to which
we gentle ,nen have the honor to belong.
I say thu honor to belong, because I hold
it to be blow none other in the honorable
that ever belongs to responsible situa-
tons. still I believe this is or has
not been IDLY appreciated either by our
| selves or the public.
This is an age of combination and CO.
| operation. Railway companies themselves
| and their several classes of employees are
| combining, cooperating and coming to-
gether in conventions for mutual profit,
strength and information.
We are tire last to seize the opportunity
for advanta ,es thus afforded. The eper-
ating del, Artment have for years
reaped tia profits thus afforded.
Public conv 4ntions have kept our worthy,
technical AID theoretical friends, the civil
engineers; our ever careful and cautious
friends, the car builders; our practical
friends, the master mechanics; our watch
full and vigilant compatriots, the locomo-
tive engin. ers; our gallant friends, the
conductors; our careful brethren, the bag
gage-smasbers, all in eye, until it seems to
have been ,rgotten that there is depart
ment that the very foundation and in
ception of he whole system in the careful
and eficieI. management of which rests
the safety 80 all these employees, the profit
of their en- ,Jloyers and the comfort of the
public.
This is not as it should be. It is high
time it were otherwise. 1t rests with oar
| selves, gent men, to make it so.
The road " department of the most in
| significant cailway surpasses in actual
practical in portance all departments of
its own or '.4y other road, and in so much
as it does, t. .es our position exceed in re-
| sponsibilitl and consequent Importance
that of am Jther in the line of railway
service.
Executive management can never foist
upon crit i public poor, unsafe road
| bed.
Financial hcials cannot make of per-
| manent wo the stock of railroad cor
poration v ,se grades are poorly con-
stru3ted and tumble beneath the contact
of the elems IS, or whose bridges 90 down
before the ssh of torrents, ignorantly
unanticipat".: or unprovided for.
Honest ca al seeks the railroad that
has an hone> road-bed.
Gilded shes, epicurean dining cars
and luxurious sleepers will not attract
travel long ~ the rough or doubtful road
| bed.
Capital, trnvel-and commerce are criti-
cal in these respects ard brook no ineffi-
cheney here.
And so We I've the supporters and sus-
tanners of u nperstructure that stands or
falls, as our ,rk is done honestly, or ill.
Done honest means years of preparation
| in the most actical of all felds-actuaI
! work-the C ical test of every excellency.
1t means ths sudicious study of the action
of the greatest force, steam, limited with
speed and ponderous weights; the expert
| mental test of wind and wave upon earth,
stone and iron; the economical use of men
and means; the anxious thought that
comes to every honest mind as it contem-
II of tho mas IF orror or 2.