Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-06-07
MUST BE A DIPLOMAT.
The Duties OF a Private Secretary to
Railroad Magnate.

The Duties OF Private Secretary to
Railroad Magnate.
Life in a private railway car is 70
mantle. Arailway official is many tlme
criticised for riding around the countr,
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 day
coach, and knows nothing about the
necessities of the railroad man. To the
manager of a large raiload system tn,
private car is as much necessity as il
his office at headquarters. In fact, it is
his office when on the line and greal
deal of business is transacted therein
With the aid of his stenographer, Wht
always accompanies him, he is able t
transact his routine business almost a.
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 lin,
east and the baggageman who car.
riers it by, is eligible to thirty-day
lay of. The secretary keeps track OF
ali letters and documents and is sup
posed to have them on tap when called
for. The duties of the secretary are
numerous and such situation is not
Sinecure, as people seem to think. He
must know the road, keep his eye peeled
for kilograms, send answers to them anG
keep the car supplied with the daily
papers. just when ami where to rcl
them he must know. The secretary
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, ir
fact, it is almost necessity to be able
tohandle the key, for it often happen.
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. tits amusing when
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 t.
use the private signal. These young
men sometimes do a great amount OF
travelling. 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 -~ain-men, who always
admire him because il. is sort OF
sharks pilot or barnacle of tie 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 certainty, what
part of the line he is on, by the motion
of the train or the action of the engine.
TO hold such position, one must be
an expert stenographer and be able t.
write legible shorthand notes and
operate a typewriter while the train
is running fifty or sixty miles an hour.
In fact. his head must be as clear as a
bell, and he must be equipped with ar
accurate pair Of ears, a quick motion
and the best of Judgment. He must
scout around stations when the train
makes thirty-second stops and not get
left behind. lie 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 &c
ride fast. | know one official who viii
cover SEQ miles a day and transact bust
ness a5 various stations as he goes
alou- 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 headq quarters, post the train
men where stops are to be made when
travelling special" and keep off the
engine. Chicago Journal