Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-27

opening the door and glancing in he at once
recognized it as the rendezvous of the railroad
trainmen, and commonly known as the soil
house." At this place the oil is dealt out to
the men to be used in their lamps and also to
the engineers to oil their engines. The place is
very similar to the country post Office, inasmuch
as hardly person can come into the room,
attend to his business and depart Immediately
after its conclusion. Five minutes. at least,
will be given up to little gossip, and of course
complaints and experiences and ambitions will
be discussed. As a place to secure the most
weird, blood-curdling and improbable stories it
stands out pre-eminent.
The night the reporter dropped in as a refuge
from the storm outside the men were very
willing to devote more than five minutes to an
exchange of news, and even at the expiration
of half an hour could hardly pull themselves
away from the big egg-shnped stove and its
pleasant warmth. Some fifteen men were clus-
tered around the room in various attitudes,
but all were intent upon listening to the con-
versation carried on by two or three men who
had secured the most available chairs and cap
tured the prize positions near the stove. The
reporter was known to several present sand a
hearty welcome was accorded. The men rep
resented every shade Of railroad life. from the
car inspector to the most exalted trainmen, the
conductor and engineer. As to faces and shapes
they covered the category from lean to fat and
from short to tall.
DISCUSSING GRADE CROSSINGS.
"Just in time" called out one of the men
near the stove in hearty welcoming voice to
the reporter. "we're discussing grade cross
ings, and know The STAR would like to get
some inside views on the subject"
Spreading themselves out and widening the
circle around the stove, room was made for the
reporter and comfortable but greasy chair
provided by the little Celt who is held respon-
sible for the outgoing oil. The man that had
spoken before again started in and said:
There is only one class Of railroad employees
that oppose your advocacy Of the abolition of
grade crossings. and as that class are the ones
directly affected some excuse can be put for
ward in their behalf. l refer to the crossing
watchmen who handle the flags and raise and
lower the gates at those death traps. The train
men, one and all, from the men employed to do
the shifting around the city yards to those on
the through passenger and freight service, will
bless the day when the great improvement and
innovation is at last inaugurated- The engi-
neers, l know from personal experience. will
welcome the day with sighs of relief.as they can
then come into and go out Of the city without
running the risk of being jerked up by blue
coated minion Of the law or. what il worse, dash
some unfortunate being into eternity"
The crossing watchmen," spoae up another
man IN the group. 'are the most poorly paid,
when the hours of labor and responsibilities
are considered. in the railway service, but
strange to say there are always applicants for
the positions when vacancies occur. The sala-
ries paid will not average over $50 a month
and many only reach S2S. or a dollar day. 1t
has been the universal custom OF the railroads
of this country for years past to reserve these
places for employees who have been crippled in
the train service. but the pay has been SO
meager that even they drift out of them after
year or two of service. OF course crippled
maj a n worth much ornun1 railroad hut
when they have been placed in such pitiable
condition don't think it more than right that
they should receive enough pay to make life
worth living from those who are directly re-
sponsible therefor on account of crude coup
ling and brake appliances
chorus of approving cries and mods came
from the group at this expression Of sentiment
on the wage question. and had the company
desired an uDanimity OF opinion as to its future
course in this respect they could have received
1t there.
COUNTRY AND CITY wATCHMEN.
"Out in the country" continued the first
speaker Fat the grade crossings q railroad
crippled martyr will invariably be found, no
doubt q result of the living expenses being
more on par with the salary than those of the
city. The city watchmen are usually drafted
from the gangs Of laborers who work on the
track and whose boss has also the Waterman in
ers draw monthly checks for about S35 work
hard in all kinds OF weather with pick and
shovel, and when they compare their tasks with
those of the watchmen and the money paid
there is hardly room to question the wisdom of
their applications for the position of grade
crossing watchmen. The hours Of work Of
the watchmen at the crossings are twelve. gen.
orally rom in the morning until in the
evening. The most comfortable seasons of the
year to them are spring and fall. Winter
comes next. but summer with its terrific heat
has knocked out many a hardened Waterman
and reduced his meager months pay, seasoned
as they are to all kinds of weather.
''Any one who has been called to the vicinity
of the railroad tracks in summer time and seen
the Heat waves arise from the steel rails and
hot sand and cinders can appreciate the task of
being in the midst of it day in and dav out
when the weather in the city is almost unbear-
able under the most favorable circums tances
The little houses assigned to the crossing
watchmen afford but little shelter. as the cross
ings in the main yards of the city are used
almost continually, and owing to the frequent
passage OF regular trains and yard engines
keep them constantly on the lookout for dam
ger. To lower the gates or swing the flag au-
tomaticallv-that is without any judgment-at
a grade crossing will result invariably in an
accident. rs considerable judgment must be ex-
ercised and great decision maintained To de-
lay pedestrian or driver a minute or two will
cali lOrIu an eHpuatlc protest. Dut TO permit
them to pass the tracks, and thereby gain
the same two minutes Of time, even at the risk
of being ground to pieces, will result in the
laudation of that particular Waterman 1t is
this desire to please everybody that causes, per-
haps, one-half OF the accidents recorded
monthly at the grade crossings.
Thanks to the efficient work Of THE STAR
the railroads have about concluded to remove
all the possibilities OF accidents at grade cross
ings by lowering their tracks and compelling
the passers by to cross overhead at sufficient
height to eradicate the Necessity of depending
upon any persons judgment for safety When
this great improvement is brought about mum
erous landmarks will be wiped out in the shape
of the little watch boxes scattered along the
tracks at different regular intervals and once
more the city of Washington will take a stride
forward toward the perfection of its landscape
beauty.
THE MEN WHO OBJECT.
"Not long since 1 went around and among
the watchmen to get their opinion of the change
and know whereof L speak. Not recognizing
the great good to their fellow railroad employees
and the public in general, they were, to a man
very over the expected depression of the
tracks. After sitting the substance of theiI
complaints was forced to conclude that the
largest bugaboo that confronted them was the
idea of returning to hard work. As this will
result in a larger income to their families the
improvement can be classed as a benefit to these
men and in time they will no doubt join the big
majority in blessing The STAR for bringing il
about"
There's watchman," chimed in a man
edging his way toward the stove, down