Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-11-26
ON BOARD A pAY.c4s

'f'NF'H MAkra ~
Every First class railroad /. J.
cluntry keeps one or more nav e.a ~
commission, and even -tba ~
roads are beginning TO ind !, pnallet
not do without them. The 10y ca
and sometimes even fortnighslv rsa,
off of large bodies Of men psins
the transportation of heavy 'lag
specie for hundreds of miles ~ .aas Y
have suggested this method y W.
ment at very early stage II -. ny.
tory OF railroading. But 4 ~ az
times it was generally accomn,, ss'!
by a trustworthy messenger leari n'lea
the hands OF each station agsD. w y
the route such sums as might ~ aoag
in his district; and it was NJ, 1.'a "
comparatively late times that a. anal
set apart and specially devoted : u, ~
purpose. 'uh
The interior OF one of these moa.
pay-cars bears striking resemh,s
TO the Office OF a purser an h.' eas
crack Atlantic liner. The SAM y
of argus-eyed official presides oys s' !.
destinies, and its fittings, in thu. -. y
the standing cot and appara,,.
washing, etc. for even pavmas,s e
must sleep occasionally, If onlv III
one eye shut--serye to make tha ~, s1'a
ness still more marked. Even vh,.
en- route the motion Of the car ~
come analogy to the humping Of u.
screw, and the illusion would ~ - y
plete lion looking through the heavs
barred window one were not reward.a
by glimpses OF field and forest inst..s
of the restless surface of the ocean
The novice in the business i.
however. generally starts as an assi,t
ant, finds it almost impossible At s,s.
to make up his balance sheets a. n Il
swiftly-moving car. His figures lo0s
AS though they had been struck H.
lightning, and his writing is totalls
illegible, however he may plume him.
self upon its plainness when written ~
terra iirma. After a little practios
however. he becomes used to tho M
ton of the car, and will write as pood
a hand at fifty miles an hour AZ h.
would at his desk at the Office IN.
figuring on many pay-rolls, done while
travelling at high speed and under prea,
stress of short time, would do credit N
its appearance to many a first-class ac.
cOuntant establishment.
But it requires something more than
mere good business qualifications 4
make good paymaster. He must r.
a man quick to act on an emergency
and of undoubted personal courage
and nerve.
Every rutfian and train-robber alons
the lines knows that an immens,
amount of cash lies within his grasu
if he can once get the best of its cool
headed guardian; and numerous an
the schemes which have been put I'D il
order to obtain possession of so muc(
tempting wealth. The engineer VIII,
runs the pay-car's special engine ha
to keep a very sharp lookout for tie
and other distractions. the almost in
variable precursor of an attack upo
the train.
A whole armory of weapons is with
in the reach OF the paymaster, day All
night, so arranged THAI, while no
obtrusively apparent, he can place hi
hands upon them instantly and with
out leaving his seat. The safe il
which he keeps his cash is an un
usually strong one, and his assistant
a man generally chosen with some re
gard to his physique and pluck as vel
as his ability as an accountant
The great roads are paid off in sec
tions. Each section boss is notified il
due time of the hour at which the ca
will reach his station. and he notife
his men men, so that no delay oc
ours. Each man, as as he enter
the car. steps up to his desk
gives his name, is identified b.
the section boss, gets his cash and re
ceipts his voucher. The same thin
occurs at the next station. and so o
all down the road. An appeal againi
"dockage" or short time" lies froI
the section boss to the main Office
During the construction of new road
the advent of the pay-car at the term
nus of the line is welcomed with onl
less hilarity and rejoicing than thesuI
ply train. The construction camps
such times often present scenes OF th
widest excitement. Gambling is
evil hard to check in camp. Frequent
a man will be paid off with month
wages in the morning. and have not
cent by nightfall. Then if he has
name for being ''good pay" he runs
line of credit at the numerous chea
stores, which invariably spring up 0
the line of construction, the proprl'
tors of which are sharp enough to
on hand next payday and get thel
accounts settled while their debtor
in funds. The paymaster is frequent
besieged by these people, to all
whom he must turn deaf ear. In
popular paymaster is he who attenu
strictly to his own business, and trlt
to please nobody. Chicago journal
Fruit Preserved In Alcohol.