The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1892-06-23
OHAUTAUQUA.
RAILROAD CAR DEPARTMENT
(Report OF Glass D.by K. L.)

(Report of Glass D.by X. ~
query that is often made. as we'll AS thought
of, by vast number of people who more or
less in transit railroads. Show do rail-
road companies keep track of their cars2" One
may enter any of our large cities and by observa-
ton see the quantity of cars in various yards,
bearing different initials, representing the prop
erty of various roads whose lines may be many
miles away from where these cars are SEEN
Railroad companies have what they call Car
Service" department, whose duty it is to keep
track of their rolling stock as well as other COM
panies cars they may have their line. This
department is also responsible for the accurate
number of miles made by all cars, both local and
foreign and is instructed to keep sharp lookout
and see if foreign roads do not divert them to
other than their proper course. This department
is divided into four divisions Q) The local divis
ion, whose duty it is to keep an account of local
that moving between stations on their
own line; it must note the movement of every car
from station to station, as well as to render an
account Of the number of miles made by it
during each month; the material for this division
is taken from the tranmen's report of trains they
run during each day. which shows where they
hav taken and left cars, loaded or empty. (2)
The foreign division, whose duty it is to keep An
account of local cars off their line. that is on
for eign roads. This division is supposed to know
each day the location Of each car what line of
road it may be on. and whether the same is being
properly handled. The material for this work is
taken from reports received from foreign lines
furnished daily showing what disposition has been
made of cars owned by other companies. 50 The
foreign Interchange division, which looks after
other companies cars their line and that
they are moving in their proper course and keep
track of the number of miles made by same. The
mate rial for this work is taken from the train
mems daily report and from interchange
port received daily from agents at functional
poin is which shows what cars they have received
and delivered during the day. (D The mileage
division. whose duty is to render account of
the number OF miles made during the month by
the local and foreign cars. both loaded and empty.
an report to foreign lines the number of miles
and the revenue they credited with for the
mon thly settlements. The material for this wis
ion is taken from the first and third divisions after
all their books have been balanced for the month.
Railroad companies derive a rate of p cent per
car per mile their common rolling stock and
cent per per mile on certain line cars. such
refrigerators and patent cattle or horse cars.
They also paid rate of 2, ~ and 3 cents on
baggage, mail and coaches respectively. In order
to give you idea Of the working of this depart
ment. will take for instance P. r. R. car
(whose line is in the easO loaded for Portland
Ore, via Chicago & st. Paul. We find the car in
the Fit. Wayne yards at Chicago ready for deiv
cry to the c. NJ. & st. P. Ry. for St. Paul. The
agent of the Fit Wayne makes the delivery, takes
receipt from the receiving agent for same and
makes report of the fact to the main Office of
his line, who likewise makes a similar report to
the owners of said where it is entered upon
their records charged up to the c. NJ. g. ST. P.
Ry., and credited to the Fl. Wayne. The con-
tinues its and on arriving in st. Paul is
handled in Chicago by giving it to the Northern
Pacific for its destination. The delivering agent
making known the fact in the same manner as
heretofore mentioned. We then find this car in
Portland having made 1928 miles from Philadel.
phia, the original point of shipment, and has
earned S24.73 of which each road handling said
derives its proportion on q cent per per
mile basis. This should be returned over the
same route that it has travelled.
Thus the vast Importance of this
department to railroad companies. l consider it
as hard a branch of railroading to get acquainted
with any, account of the complicated meth
DDS that one has got to familiarize himself with.
The Pennsylvania road equipment of
about $4,000 cars and have an Office force of sc
to do the car accounting. The records are
mostly kept by ciphers. very little word writing
being done. Every line in the United States
bears a number, likewise every station. The sta.
ton number signifies the number of miles from
some terminal point which is used to compute the
mileage on cars as they move from station to sta.
ton. One man is capable of handling about 1000
cars which may seem great quantity, but like
everything else it is nothing when you are use