New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-14
PUNCHED WITH CARE.
THERE IS METHOD N THE RAILROAD
CONDUCTORS TREATMENT or
TICKETS
EACH ONE HAS \ PUNCH-MARK OF HIS OWN ID
THAT HIS WORK CAN BE TRACED.

EACH ONE HAS \ PUNcH-MARK OF HIS OWN 70
THAT HIS WORK cAN BE TRACED
Oh railroad mon can remember whom conductors
carried punc1cs whica were clumsy and heavy ana
useful only 10 cut Ike round pieces from ne uchets
These primitive instruments were foNo"ed ~
punches which had stars and oroscentS and squares
ana other simple designs The first ~ these were
manufactured by maker Of surgical instruments IN
Albany and tho Ncw-York Central Railroad con-
duot0rs used to make il point 20 call on Herman
Spapgonberg A. his uttle shop every few weeks 10
have thei, punches -harpenod For several years
Spaucenbers ala al mo punch business BY ne time
they came into genera. tho article was patented
and not by the first make~-and improvements nave
been made from time to time untA the punch mas
become neat liftir instrument
The avcrae, passenger on railway train does NOT
know the value OF the conductors punch ana among
those who have any appreciation ~ inc Atte IT.
sirlmont. only a Few know that the punch Is used
for any other purpose than 20 destroy m" ValIe o.
the railroad tickets THAI Is one Of s chief func-
lions, bur by means rho only one. I'y the time a
passenger IS seated m ear his ticket has alreahY
! been slightly mutaJel with punch marks. Inc
| doormin has shipped ont P-saaped piece Vhcn
shows that the icket-holIer has passed through me
| door In some Instances Rher. there are gates be-
voud tho door ana before the train is ro1ched an al
| dronal = is cut out and au j. indicate, that me
ticket has been punched for the ferry The letters
| y & on some roads and p only on others sho"
| that baggage has been checked. and large IL
sometimes used 10 indicate that me ucKe' Is OF
| the cIt-rlte or excursion KIND.
| Punches for use on the trains by conductors are
issued rom the Office Of the auditor - passenger a'
| counts and j. f. Fairamb. who H. Al the head OF
| that department OF The NoN-lork central system,
has on de in his Office hundreds OF designs OF
punch-cuts which are in constant use along the sys
| tenn
| The conductor could not get along without tho
| punch" said J. F. Pulen. chief rlork OF the Office.
because It is a protection FOR him. for me com
| pany and for the passenger Every conductor mas
| a punch. with special design 81 DIS OWL ana a
| duplicate The clerks whose business brings them
into contact with the conductors know their punch
marks as well as a bank-eller knows the signatures
| of the depostors A. 20 the methods Of using
| them" Mr. Pullen said. conductors do not a'
work their trains in the same WY, ana DO noi to.o"
| the same methods ass to punching the tickets hHt
there are certain rules which are laid down by this
department as 10 the position az the punch-marks.
| which all conductor. must follow. We can tell by
| looking at a ticket how far il WIS used and by
viii conductor the punch marks were made
| The record made by tho ticket punch Is % much
| value 20 the department. I'm cases where tickets are
| sent for REDEMPTION a man will send as an Al
bany ticket" said Mr. Pulen and Wr;H that he
had To l,aye the train at PoUchkoopse. and wanted
the proper rebate. Such okets are sent here ard
| before the auditor signs voucher for redemption
we can tou by the puuch-marks how far The ticket
re- instances also where ion legal affairs for the
| purpose of settling dispute a passenger wants 10
hcre is no surer way to ma right man than
Ind ticket bearing his punch-cut 10 this Office
! Railroad officials say that the kicking passenger
| j. usually most positive person. ana th- punch
| has been the means Of showing how readily one
may be- mistake as 70 TIM" and place only a rev
days ago man sent punched 'nelK 10 IN, 10y
ns Office OF large railroad coFp9Ittloi and WIN u
ii violent protest against some fanci,d abuse lie
gave the number Of his ticket ana the time wnen
was on d train which LETT the station an hour ,ater