The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-28
cit IS NOTHING BUT A BRAKEMAN"
Ono OF the fraternity Examines the
Models and Gives the Result, Based
or, Hia RrnnrInnnn

Models and Gives the Result, Based
on His Experience.
/ have been much interested in reading
a couple OF articles in TnE APPEAL on a
new car coupler, and enticed thereby have
looked into the affair, aud while capital
lists and officials are giving their opinions |
would like TO say few words as the ideas
OF one who has come up from plain
brakeman and on the way has learned
from experience TO know car coupling
when he sees it. There is, has been and
always will DO more trash and foolishness
talked about railrond matters than OF any
other business. Men who have not one
moment OF experience or could tell the
difference between smokestack aud a
rear brakeman consider themselves per-
fectly competent 10 advise concerning the
management OF n railroad, and as rule IL
has ever been such men who have in
vented car couplers, of which there have
beon more useless ones patented than
OF any other piece Of simple ma
chinery. As was most truly said in
yesterdays APrEAL, there isan abundance
OF money in any car-coupler that will do
practical work. A friend and former fell
low brakeman OF mine and concluded 10
90 to the Merchants Exchange, where the
Layman coupler wan being exhibited, and
be amused or convinced us il showed up
TO us. We went to sec Il for business aud
TO invest little II Il proved to DO what
IL claimed. We proposed TO examine and
decide for ourselves, for we had perhaps
conceited idea that an old Trademarks
opinion OF a car coupler was as good as
that OF superintendent, who had never
lost finger or tested the comparative re-
sistance OF human flesh aud plank in
coupling freight cars. No one can be more
Interested In the success OF n coupler than
an old brakeman. Tho "link and pin"
coupling has caused the death or manning
OF many a good fellow, and popular
opinion must soon demand tho use
OF some less destructive mode OF
making couplings Reports show that
5000 brakcmen are manned or killed each
year In doing this work. In one Northern
state the Railroad Commissioners report
for 1855 shows that In that year there were
carried by the railroads OF that State
30,0OO,0OO passengers, and not one was
burned or injured by a fire heating car
stove, while 800 men were killed or fatally
injured coupling cars. These heating
stoves are lcgislated against and the fatal
car-coupler ~ left 90 get In lis deadly work
because the victim is 'only brakeman"
Some time this will be changed and then
the ownership OF a good and successful
car-coupler will be worth many dollar
When the life OF an employe h Of more
value than the comfort OF passenger, then
practical car-coupler IL fortune. When
We went in there were number OF gentle
men suroundingthem model and discussing
the plan, aud we learned that the idea was
to place In Memphis 1000 shares Of stock
at S25 each, which were 10 be issued as
full paid stock on the payment Of 20 per
cent, or 1925 a share. My friend said:
al have heard enough, lets go" "what ia
the matter with your II the coupler Il rs
good and sound as that proposition. will
take stock; Il IL perfectly square for those
who frst put IN their money and take all
the chances 10 have percentage over those
who come In after Il becomes an assured
success. They can come in now II they
want TO; II they choose 10 stay out, let US
take all the risks and then come in. they
should pay for their assurance and lack Of
faith. Paying the eleventh hour fellows
as much as these who had borne the
burthen and heat Of the day Ia good for
Sunday schools. but II isn't sound bust.
ness proposition" We waited until the
models were left alone aud no one around,
and then we carefully examined them,
trying them In every way we could. We
found that the addition OF this
safe and partially automatic link and
pin in no way inioriercd with the u.c Of
the old style II that were desired, or In any
way this one became disanangcd; there
were some trifling deficiencies that have
probably been rcnicdiod since this model
was made, nj any rate any practical rail.
road man can easily remedy them, and
then this coupler will do all that IL
claimed for Il by anyone. After satisfying
ourselves fully, We waited until Mr.. lay.
man returned, and learned that the mod.
els had been on exhibition three weeks,
during which time investigations had been
made by prominent business men and
railroad men Of Memphis, and that Mr.
layman expects 10 return 10 Little Rock
tomorrow, and wishes 10 complete tho
desired arrangements here today and
tomorrow morning. We decided TO put a
little Of our hard-carncd savings In on tho
% per cent basis, and We know that II Il
Is managed with any sort Of business an
gaciiy II will be the bosl paying concern Ia
Shelly Counfv