The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1888-02-01

Mysterious Ruiea With Which II Takes
Time TO Form an AcauslbtsHss--yv Work
Done by OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES who
Earn Their Salaries.
Very few persons comprehend on In any
way understand the organization and man
agement Of the large railway systems which
are now such an important factor in the
commercial affairs of the country. The gem
ersl organization Is about the same on all
tho large systems, there being, however,
some difference In titles OF department Off
GERS and matters Of detail, according to the
fancies OF the directory or president, or the
peculiar necessities Of each case As the
properties IN this country are owned 10y
private individuals, who naturally try to
obtain the best service at the least cost, It is
prrsrmable that no extravagant or unneces-
sary positions or departments arc provided.
II is usually thought that the president Of
a large system has an easy place 70 fiji, and
really gets lorge salary TO do comparatively
nothing In many cases this Is true, and
that dignitary Is nothing more or less chan
HglIrehead, whose duties are performed by
vice-president or general manager, and who
may not have the slightest knowledge Of the
manner in which the business IS carried on,
except TINT at the annual stockholders meet
ing he win present them an elaborate state
naent Of earnings and expenditures, which
has been formulated and prepared Tor him.
Such presidents are, however, rare, and
nearly all of them earn their salaries. Really,
the president should DO the financial head of
the company, and II Is usual for him TO delc-
gate to o general manager the management
and operation Of the road The officer IL,
therefore, necessarily a practical railroad
man, and from him the officers Of all the Do
partments receive their instructions
THE SUBORDINATE OFFICIALS.
These departments arc tho accounting,
sometimes presided over by comptroller,
who may report either to the general man.
ager or the president; the traffic department,
which may have for its head traffic man
ager, assisted by general freight agents and
general passenger agents; the operating, In
charge of o general superintendent. The
accounting department. is the one In which
all accounts are kept, and the auditor, who
either assists the comptroller, or where there
Is no comptroller, is responsible 20 the gem
eral manager, who receives an impression
copy of each way bill,n which shows tho
name OF the shipper, the point OF shipment,
the name OF the consignee, tho destination,
charges on ench consignment carried over
the road This way bill no scrutinizes care
fully, and sees that the charges are In ac-
cordance with the rates announced by the
general freight agent. II they are found
correct, he makes from them numerous rec
ortis, crediting agents or connecting rail-
-osds, and charging others. Tho ticket
agents send him other daily, weekly or
monthly reports of their snles, which are
checked with the tickets forwarded to him
by conductors when taken mp on trains.
The operating department. is ono Of the
most important on n railroad, ns the success
Of tho whole depends on It's efficiency. The
general superintendent is assisted by SUI
perintendcnt OF roadway, a superintendent
of machinery anu superintendent of trans
portation. The superintendent of roadway
has charge Of all tracks, and usually all
bridges and buildings pertaining to tho track
department, although some roads provide a
separate officer who looks after bridges alone.
The superintendent of roadway is assisted by
roadnasters, who have charge Of divisions,
varying according TO the physical features of
tho track These roadmasters direct all
work performed ON their divisions by section
forenen and traclsinen. The superintendent
OF machinery has charge OF all locomotives,
and Is responsible for the performance Of
proper service. He also has charge Of en-.
ginemen, firemon and machinists.
The superintendent OF transportation has
charge Of the movement Of trains over tho
hne, appoints conductors, bralremon, agents
and train dispatchers distributes cars where
they are needed, and is generally responsible
for the safe and speedy movement Of passen-
gers and freight. Ho b assisted by train
=.
portation,