Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-10

| uepOt master Is the Dest
| o%ESNNSF~Jkno known railroader that
TEsst the travelling public has
! WE \E~,NN dealings with. He it is
W !: J: !: !: !:
| RwT'rEtfkn& that supervises the
/ ThfT RElEIh rangements for trains
time. He is here, there
En and everywhere at the
same time. Now in his
Office looking over the
makeup OF the many different train crows. then
listening to complaints replying to series
OF vekatious questions, then out and down the
platform he goes on the jump as his trained eve
tells him that scheduled train appears to be
slowly making up and may perhaps be DELAYED.
and then TO the yard to ascertain why special
train that has been ordered is not shifted to-
gether SO as to leave promptly at the time speci-
| fed
He has supervision over not only the depot
building and immediate grounds, but is sup
| posed to know everything about the various de-
partmeuts and what goes on in them Besides
! looking after the trains as they depart or arrive
he must listen to long com plants from and deal
out information to travellers regarding their
baggage, their tickets, where they want to go
and what particular will take them there. The
[
inspectors. in fact everybody, reports to and
| receives instructions from him.
| NOTABLE PASSENGERS HANDLED.
Haven't you handled many notable person.
| agesI' was one of the questions asked local
depot master by an EVENING STAR reporter one
day recently.
"Oh, yes" he replied. "This city is the
greatest in the United States for that They
| can be said TO come here almost in droves.
| N Drrut Il
sentatives OF the people up at the Capitol are
| common everyday affairs, but lords, dukes and
counts, while not seen so frequently, alight
from the cara in my depot almost weekly.
! They attract but little notice. and but for
| their numerous servants would be taken for
| ordinary travellers. ! never have had much
to do with the latter class. They get On and
OF the cars and go about their business like
any other people"
The position Of depot master is one Of the
prominent and responsible offices connected
| with railroad management that is not much
sought after BY those to whom the post ia
| available. The place carries considerable honor
| with it, but the responsibility and consequent
worry overcomes the desire to appear conspic-
| uous at the sacrifice of q hard-earned record
and not corresponding increase the pay
roll. The position has been looked upon by
| the conductors as one that belongs to them
| through promotion. but when the time comes
FOR them to desert the moving trains that have
| been their stamping ground for many wears
| several are known to have refused the proffered
| advancement on account of settling down to a
/ stationary routine avocation. Then. again, the
| temperament of the man selected for promotion
! must be considered, patience will be found
to be virtue in the new role. and, in fact q
surlv person would not last on. q month.
| While the position paws little more than that
or the passenger conductor. the running OF
extra trains advances the conductors salary,
while the ID. NJ at that time will be working his
hardest and solely for glory.
During the ordinary business the role Of de-
pot master does not appear to be trying one,
| but what il lacks in life and hustle is made up
| In being absolutely correct and on time Regu-
lar tracks running into the depot of which he
| Is master are assigned to regular trains but
when delay occurs it calls for a complete re-
| adjustment OF the tracks and consequent or
ders to that effect to tine different switchmen
| For instance, take the busy hours Of the after
| noon, when several trains are due to leave and
Is many to arrive. The tracks are assigned
| them, but an accident occurs ont on tie rood
! and the schedule is disarranged. 1t ia at this
time that a cool-headed individual shines with
considerable hster. He will personally super
wise the arrival of the trains and what appeared
to be an insurmountable obstacle gradually
dwlndles down to an easy problem, at least It
viii appear so to the novice in railroading, but
| in less experienced hands would have caused
considerable delay.
HAND AMI CONsIASr WORK.
The retelling Of the experiences of the travel
ing public around the depots in Washington
during presidential Inauguration would be an
old story, but bad as those experiences are they
wouid be ten fold worse we're it not for the
cool guiding hand of the master in charge II
is at such times that his worth and usefulness
| are gagged at their real worth. Their working
hours are generally twelve, from to or till
6, and to say that their breath is hardly their
1,yrty Hh<a< hx,,~ Il A.
slight exaggeration. Facilities tripled 70 what
they are now would not accommodate the crush,
and all the railroad companies ask Of them is
| TO do the very best they can under the circum-
stances, and this they do. Of course, the Amer
lean travelling public generally take the dis
comforts In good humor, and many q kind
word is youchsafed the depot master by those
people who have become veterans at railroad
travelling and comprehend the difficulties that
| surround the Office.
The one thing enjoyable about the position is
| that he Is absolutely master Of the situation
This means a great deal to many men, as to be
their own bosses is a situation deyoutly wished
| Tor, but rarely attained. The superintendent Of
the road, of course, is his superior, but as long
as the trains go out on schedule time and no
luckless traveller Is manned or killed he will
rarely hear from him. But many men are I'm
| der him aud the responsibility of his position
manifests itself through the misdoings of these
| subordinates. No matter how omall the breach
OF duty ID, be WALL hear OF II, and a satisfactory
| explanation is always expected and generelly
| given.
For the study Of the large varieties Of human
nature his position divides honors with that Of
| the ticket seller. He has dealings with the
Polish miner on his way, with his family, TO the
mines of Georgia or Virginia; the troublesome
| countryman who has come to Washington sober
| as a judge and is drifting homeward in
| troublesome state of intoxicstiou; the COM
| mutor who has lost his ticket and wants to be
| carried to his destination free, and the woman
with child who is going west or south TO join
her husband and inquiries every few minutes
when her train viii start. This list could be
| stretched out to prodigious length. but these
easily illustrate the wide range of characters be
| has TO deal with.
What class Of passengers give you the most
troubley" was asked by the reporter.
WHO GIVE THE MOST TROUBLE.
"When come to think OF it, / believe the
theatrical people cause the most worry" he re-
piled. "They appear selfish and domineering
| to every one they come in contact with, but
| suppose this can be accounted for from the con-
slant travel from city to city and the absence
| of the dear ones they lore. Nothing is good
enough for them. have given them a brand