The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-06-13

The Duties of a Private Secretary to
Railroad Ma gnate.


Railroad BIagnate.
Life in a private railway car is 70
mantle. A railway official is many tlme
criticised for riding around the country
In an official car and putting on style,
but such criticism usually comes from
an ignorant person who perhaps never
rode foot anywhere but in the da,
coach. and knows nothing about the
necessities of the railroad man. To tht
manager of large raiload system the
private car is as much necessity as il
his office It headquarters. In fact, it il
his office hen on the line and a grea,
deal of b,; ,iness is transacted therein
With the a ID Of his stenographer, who
always accompanies him, he is able tx
transact his routine business almost as
clean as If he were in his office. The
car is equipped for wOrk-as much so a,
the office. In the observation end il.
the desk, the letter press, copy
books, typewriter and every thing
down to the waste-paper basket. Hi
mail is sent to him daily, or addressed
to him ION line west" or ION linz
east" and the baggageman who ''car
riers it by is eligible to a thirty-day
lay off. The secretary keeps track OF
all letters and documents and is sun
posed to have them on tap when called
Tor. The duties of the secretary are
numerous and such situation is not
slnecure, as people seem to think. He
must know the road, keep his eye peeled
Tor kilograms, send answers to them and
keep the car supplied with the daily
papers. Just when and where to ge,
them he must know. The secretar,
often has half dozen officials to serve
when they go out together on an in.
spection tour; in such cases his duties
are multiplied. Usually the secretary
has good knowledge of telegraphy, in
fact, 1T is almost necessity to be able
to handle the key, for it often happens
that the operator is out and the
secretary must send important
messages over the wire. If il
has the general managers signal
on it that will secure him the circuit
over all except the danger signal, which
outranks all others. It is amusing wher
a stubborn operator Is fighting to kesr
the circuit, to see how he will drop il
and close his key when he gets ninety.
seven" But very few secretaries are
entrusted with the discretionary power
to use the signal. More often thar
otherwise he must obtain Permission te
use the private signal These young
men sometimes do great amount OF
travelling. l knew one On the Santa Fe
road to travel 1000 miles within thirty
days. But he is well-treated both by
the officials, who are usually consider.
ate, and by the train-men, who always
admire him because he is sort OF
sharks pilot" or barnacle of the high
official. Usually he knows every mile
of the road, and if he awakens in the
night time he can tell in less than two
minutes, almost to a certainty. VIVA,
part OF the line he is on, by the motion
OF the train or the action of the engine.
10 hold such position. one must be
an expert stenographer and be able t
write leglble shorthand notes and
operate typewriter while the train
is running fifty or sixty miles an hour.
In fact, his head must be as clear as
bell, and he must be equipped with an
accurate pair of ears. quick motion
and the best of judgment He must
scout around stations when the train
makes thirty-second stops and not get
left behind. He must be we'll qualified
to take care of himself. He is, as
rule, we'll paid. He must know how tc
order carriages, buy theater tickets and
select the best seats in the house.
Railroad officials are generally modest
and seldom want boxes. He must have
nerve, but exhibit only his modesty.
1t Is often necessary to ride sixty miles
an hour. The official usually wants to
ride fast know one official who will
cover 500 miles day and transact bust
ness at various stations as he goes
along. He must be educated up to that
point which tells him just when his
presence is desirable and when his room
is preferable to his company. Above
all he must have faultless memory.
He must get weather and train reports
at division headquarters, post the train.
men where stops are to be made when
travelling special" and keep off the
engine. journal.