The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-22
DISCIPLINE ON RAILWAYS.
BOYS WHO ARE AMBITIOUS MUST
BE PREPARED

NO class OF men deal more constantly
with the public than the conductors and
brakemen of a great railway system. yet
not one in thousand of those who come
in daily contact with them realize The
stringent rules and iron-clad discipline I'M
der which they perform their allotted
tasks.
Ii is practical civil service to a great
extent and the railroad man who rises
TO position Of authority as a rule has
earned his promotion by daily exhibitions
of fathfulness and intelligence Il have
filled every position in railroad work up
to my present place" said Superintendent
D. b. Mccoy of the New York Central in
speaking Of this matter the other day,
"and I would not consider myself a fit
superintendent if it were otherwise"
The superintendent, however, is one of
a thousand, for the vast majority of toll
ers in the railroad ranks have not won the
smiles of fortune in such degree. 1t is
the ambition of every railroad man to win
promotion, but the task that confronts
MIN is arduous enough to be discouraging.
How good place you suppose l could
reasonably expect to get?' said a recent
applicant for a railroad position. ooh, l
don't know" said the trainmaster, to
whom he spoke. perhaps If you stay in
the service for twenty or thirty years you
may be division superintendent"
Every man must begin at the begin
ming is the motto of all great railroads,
and one fairly well observed. But whaI
is the beginning? In these days the
railroads prefer, as they say, to make
their own men, A likely proposition for
beginner of tender years is that for
messenger. From there he may gravl-
tate to almost anywhere that his incn>
nation and ability may indicate. Some.
thing more than an application for a
position is necessary. AS a rule there
must be character behind it. When a
young man asks to be employed his name
and address are taken, and if he is con-
sidered likely young fellow a thorough
investigation of his character, his hab-
its, his surroundings, his family, etc,
is made. If, in the eyes of the employer
the report of the investigator indicates
fitness, the young man is very apt to
be given a place. If otherwise, it is
probable that he will be told that there
is no vacancy. Wealth of family is 10
recommendation. railroad officials say; it
is character that counts
Naturally, il is not always possible TO
select employees in this way. The com.
pany needs men in certain places, those
places must be filed al once, and there's
fore the only method is to put The ap-
plicant through an examination 1t often
happens that he has been employed by an
other railroad, and in that case particu-
larly some odd inquiries are made For
instance, an applicant for the position
Of passenger brakeman was asked the
other day: Suppose the steam pipe in
you car should spring a leak and yot
would have to do something without con-
sulting anybody. What would you do
TO. prevent the car filling with steam and
the passengers being alarmed?'' The
young man thought for a moment and
then said: We'll I guess I'd wrap my
coat around the pipe"
Here are some more of the questions
that the applicant for brakeman's posi-
ton would have to answer these beins
for passenger brakemen:
If a passenger who was sober used
abusive language to you, what would
you do?"
IF you knew a passenger was going
10 get off at a certain station, and you
noticed that he was asleep when you were
running into that station, what would be
your action?"
IF, after leaving the beginning of your
run you should notice thai one of the
signal flags or lanterns was missing, what
WOulQ you 90 Z!
Would you report the violation of the
company's rules by a fellow brakeman
or CONDUCTOR"
What IN your opinion, constitutes neat
personal appearance"
Would you think it part of your duty
to call the attention of the conductor to
the fact if the train seemed to be MAX
ing too fast timer"
DO you consider it necessary to Keep
I 1.
are not specially assigned to that duty?"
These are some of the questions thai
are asked the applicants for positions as
freight brakemen:
"Supposing you were tod TO open a
switch and then received a signal to dc
some thing else, would you obey that sig
nal and leave the switch open or close
it?''
"Supposing you were on the roof of a
car and that part of the train you were
on broke away from the engine, what
would you do? Would you set the brake
or first notify the CONDUCTOR"
DO you think brakeman ought to
smoke when on duty?"
Surprising the train was attacked by
tramps or a mob of any sort, what would
you conceive to be your duty?"
IF in the employ of your company
would you consider it necessary to always
when do you think you should use your
own judgment?'
Would you compare your watch every
day with the standard time even if you
knew that it would not vary for several
days from the time at which il had been
set?"
what is your idea of the way a freight
brakeman should dress?"
Are you in the habit of drinking liquor?
Do you take drink occasionally, or don't
you believe in drinking at all?"
What position do you hope to get If you
remain in the service Of this road?"
do you think man who is married
makes as good a brakeman as one who is
not?"
do you always believe in being strictly
on time?"
Perhaps at first glance these questions
may not seem particularly significant, but
if they are carefully studied it will be seen
that after they have been answered the
questioner viii have fairly good idea Of
the man whom ne has been quizzing
Some of the suggestions appear common
place. but they form part of an ingenious
whole that as a rule reveals the majority