Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1889-12-21
ON BOARD A pAy-cAR.
Men aaS Means Used In Deilveriaa Rail-
way Empioyss' Wages.


Men and Mean. Used In Delivering RAIL
way Empioyss' Wages.
Every first class railroad In this
country keeps one or more pay cars In
commission, aud even the smaller
roads are beginning 10 find they can
not do without them. The monthly
and sometimes even fortnigh:ly paying
OF Of large bodies OF men. involving
the transportation OF heavy sums in
specie for hundreds OF miles, seems TO
have suggested this method OF pay
mex. at very early stage In the his
tory Of railroading. But In early
times II was generally accomplished
by trustworthy messenger leaving In
the hands OF each station agent along
the route such sums as might be owing
In his district; aud IL was not until
comparatively late times that car was
SGT apart and specially devoted 10 this
purpose.
The interior OF one Of these modern
| pay-cars bears n striking resemblance
10 the Office OF purser ON board
crack Atlantic liner. The same kind
OF argus-eyed official presides over It's
destinies. and its fittings. In the way Of
the standing cot and apparatus for
washing, etc. for even paymasters
must sleep occasionally, II only with
one eye shut-serve 10 make the like
ness still more marked. Even while
en- route the motion of the car bears
some analogy 10 the humping OF the
screw, and the illusion would be COM
plete II on looking through the heavily
barred window one were not rewarded
by glimpses OF field and forest instead
Of the restless surface OF the ocean
The novice In the business. who.
however. generally starts as nm assist
ant, finds II almost impossible at first
to make up his balance sheets on the
swiftly-moving car. His figures look
m though they had been struck By
lightning. and his writing is totally
iilegible. however he may plume him.
self upon Its plainness when written on
terra firma- After n little practice.
however. he becomes used TO the mo-
ton OF the car. and will write ~ good
hand at fifty miles an hour AZ he
would at his desk at the Office. The
figuring on many pay-rolls. done while
travelling at high speed and under great
stress OF short time, would do credit 10
its appearance to many tirst-class nc
countants . establishment
But IL requires something more than
mere good business qualifications to
make good paymaster. He must be
a man quick 10 act on an emergency,
and OF undoubted personal courage
aud nerve.
: Every rutflan and train-robber along
the lines knows that an Immense
} amount of cash lies within his grasp
II he can once get the best OF its cool
headed guardian; and numerous ars
the schemes which have been put up IN
order To obtain possession OF so much
: tempting wealth. The engineer whG
runs the pay-car's special engine ha.
TO keep very sharp lookout for tiei
and other distractions. the almost In
variable precursor Of an attack upor
me trnin.
: A whole armory OF weapons Is with
i In the reach OF the paymaster. day snt
i night, so arranged that, while no
i ohtrusiyely apparent, he can place hi
= hands upon them instantly and with
out leaving his seat The safe Ii
i which he keeps his cash is an un
$ usually strong one, and his assistant Il
!. a man generally chosen with some re
e gard To his physique aud pluck. as wei
u as his ability as an accountant
The great roads are paid of In sec
r tions. Each section boss Ia notified II
"a due time of the hour at which the ca
d will reach his station. and he notifies
: his men men. so that no delay oc
c ours. Each man. as as he enter
. the car. steps up to his desk
r gives his name. is identified b,
i the section boss. gets his cash and re
= ceipts his voucher. The same thin
q occurs at the next station. and 90 OF
: all down the road. An appeal agains
n ..dockage" or short time lies frou
y the section boss TO the main ofYice
During the construction OF new road
: the advent OF the pay-car at the termi
g nus OF the line IL welcomed with oul
r less hilarity and rejoicing than the sup
d ply train. The construction camps a
!; such times often present scenes OF tn
: widest excitement Gambling is a
y evil hard TO check in camp. Freluentl
i man will be paid of with month
). wages In the morning. aud have not
II cent by nightfall. Then II he has
y name for being good pay" he runs
% line OF credit at the numerous chea
d stores. which invariably spring up o
N the line OF construction. the proprie
Al tors OF which are sharp enough to b
d on hand next payday and get thel
,r accounts settled while their debtor
is In funds. The paymaster Is freqnentl
II besieged by these people, 10 all G
whom he must turn deaf ear. Tn
NJ popular paymaster is he who attend
a. strictly to his own business. and trie
u TO please nobody. Chicago journal.
Il a