Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-04-13
A ROMANTIC LIFE.
THE PRIVATE RAILWAY CAR OF THE
GENERAL MANAGER.
How He Puts Ina His Time In u and tho
Duties lie Has to Perform.
fchlcnca Ionrnal.l


Life in private railway-car is romantic;
q railway Uiiicial Is many times criticised
ior riding around the country IN an 0ihciSi
car and putting on style bus sGeh
eritlcisln usually comes from an ignorant
person who perhaps never rode loot any,
whefe but in the day coach, aad
knows nothing about the necessities o.
the, railroad man. 10 the manager or
large railroad system the private
car j. as much necessity "a Is
hls office at neadquartera. In fact It % his
once when on the line. and great deal OF
pHsiness IS transacted therein. WIN tne
ald or MS stenographer,. who always ac-
companies hlm, he Is able 70 transact the
routine business almost as cioan as II ne
were IN his Office. Tho ear IS equipped for
WORKS much so as the Office. In the OBJ
serlat'on end is the desk, the lcttor-preSs.
c'py-books, typewriter, and everything
deVn 10 tne waste paper basket.
ilia rail Is sent 60 hlm daily.
or addressed to him "Or line west, ~
or on line eest,' and the bag
cageman who carries IL by" i eligible 10
q tllrtr-dty lar OF. The secretary keeps
track OF ai. letters and documents, and IS
supposed to have them on tap when called
Tor. Inc du'ieso the secretary aro nU1ler-
Ons' an . sJcc SITUATION is not siueoufe.
as people -c"m o. think. He must know
the read. keep his eyes peeled tor
kilograms. send answers to them and
keep the car supplied with the daiy
papers. Just when and where TO get
them he must know. The secretary
often has half dozen officials II serve
when they go out together on an lnspec-
ton tour. lD sucA cases ms duties are
multiplied tsually the secretary has q
good knowledge OF tciegraphy-in fact. IT
}. almost % Necessity % Pc able 20 handle
the key. for IL often happens that the ope-
rator is ont and the secretary must send
important messages over the wire. II X
Las the general Manager signal on t that
VIII secure him the circuit over all except
the danger-signsi, which outranks all 9TH
ers. VI Is amusing when stubborn opera
tor Is fighting % keep The circuit TO see
row be will drop 1t and Close his key
when he gets "uinety-seyen.' But very
few secretaries are lntrustcd with
The Discretionary power to Use the
signal More often than otherN ise
he must obtain permission go use the
prvata signal. These young mcn some
times do q Great amount of travelling.
knes one on the S9uta Fo road 40 travel
over $50 mikes hin thirty DAYS. But
he Is well treated toth by he officials. who
ere usually COuside sta. and oy fne 'faln-
men, who always admire Nun because be- Is
sort uf "-hsrk's wiotn ~ haruacle ot
the high official. -ully he knows every
mile of the road. and 1t me avekeus m the
nighttime hc ean tel n less l.u tVomin-
utcs. almost 30 q certainty. what part Of
the line he IS on by tae motion ot The rain
or he action of thc rnc.ne. 10 hold such q
position one must De an expert steuO-
grnpbcr and hc able 20 writ" lnwble short
hand notes 9ni op'rftc Typewriter while
che train d. running fifty or sixty miles an
hour. ln fact. his head must be a. clcar 3
a bell. anG be must be equipped with an
accurate pair Of ears. g QUICK motion. and
the beet of Judgment. HE mueC scout
around citations wbcn thc trail makes
thirtv-ee cuud tops and not &c. lett be-
bind =" must bc WI qualified to take
care Of himself. tie is. us a rule, we'll paid.
b. must know how ~ order car
riaccs. buy theatre tickets end Sc
lect rhc best ~eais in the uouee.
Railroad oMc'ais are generally nod
est. and Fl, .lOu Vant boxes. H. must have
nerve. but exhibit Only bis modesty. 81 is
often necessary to ride sixty miles an hour.
The official Usually wants 60 rdc fat. |
know cue official who Mil cover i've hum
drcd riia, ? day aud transact bu-ues- a.
gDriOue stations .s no goes along. ilemdt -
te educated mp to chat point which 10 J.
( him u-. Whel iis presence is de 'rah!'
aud Vlcu ais room l5 preferable o. MS
rOmpaue Above aii h. must hnpe Il iauit-
less memory. lie must get weather and
train reports at division headquarters,
post The tr1inmeu whore stops are 90 lee
.aale ,rrcu travelling " p-cial, and Keep
% tine engine.