The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-15
MUST BE QUALIFIED
HOLDERS OF GOOD POSITIONS MUST
KNOW THEIR BUSINESS.
Joint Tramc Association Ideas Spread
ing-Competition OF Lake Lines
Becoming Troublesome.

But few persons, unles they have given
the matter study" said general manager,
fare aware of the higher education which
prevails among the railroad fraternity than
fifteen or twenty years ago. In the mechan-
ical department the master mechanic OF
to-day must be well up in all ideas per-
tanning to his special branch OF service as
was the most competent then OF mechanical
engineers. Every year brings new improve
ments into the construction OF locomotives
and other machinery used IN the railroad
service and the master mechanic, to hold
his place, must keep pace with the improve
ments. The position of superintendent of
motive power has become one OF great i'm
portance. He can do more than any trans
portation man to cut down the operating
expenses by building class Of engines that
will haul the business to the best advan-
tage, and he must see that the engineer and
fireman are educated to handling the loco
motive to the best advantage. The time has
come when the conductor and his brakemen
must keep pace with the improvements in
the use of air brakes, heating trains by
steam and the proper ventilation OF passen-
ger cars. All this requires that a man shall
keep himself informed and his head clear
from intoxicating drinks. Then, with the
higher speed at which trains are moved. the
signal and interlocking switches are play
ing an important part, and there IS no longer
a place for a duI-headed man to find en-
ployment in the railroad line. FROM the
messenger boy 10 the president, for years
past, there has been a steady, progressive
education. Making rates conform TO the diff
ferent classes ana distances has been great
educator to the clerks in mathematical
way, and with the great growth Oh rail-
road interests better education In all
branches Of the service has been very pro-
nounced feature.
A Rufnous Practice Nearing It's End.
The general sentiment in railway circles is
that rate cutting in both passenger and
freight business will soon be thing of the
past. and the impression Is gaining ground
that I'm the not distant future the different
freight and passenger associations will work
together as one body, extending the Joint
Traffic Association ideas all over this coun-
try. and Canada, as it is as necessary to
have the Canadian as the United States
roads in such a compact. An Eastern paper
says: Although only in its infancy the
Joint Traffic Association has succeeded in es-
tabiishing itself so firmly in the favor OF
the lines that are members, as Well as
some that are not inclined to join 1t, that
many of the outsiders are now willing to
come into the fold. The reasons Tor this
have not been given out to the public, but
enough has been ascertained to Indicate that
some very strong arguments were used at
the recent meetings 10 cOuNlHce the
that they are only working against their
own interests by remaining aloof from the
pool. The most remarkable testimony was
that backed up by numerous figures to show
that the roads that have been cutting rates
have not with all the business they secured,
managed TO make as good a financial show
ing as the roads that have been members of
the pool. II was shown that the Pennsyl-
vania and the Lake Shore, which for two
or three months have not been carrying
nearly as much business as formerly, have
been making more money in proportion to
the tonnage carried than ever before. And
further, 1t has been shown that while in
previous years they carried twice as much
freight, owing to cut rates which prevailed
and which forced them to extraordinary
expense in securing the business, they did
not make as good a financial showing as
they have been making so far this year
with an exceedingly light business These
are convincing facts and arguments that are
bringing the disturbing lines into the fold"