The herald., 1898-05-12
STRICT DISCIPLINE
ON RAILROADS.
BouS WHO Are Ambitious 10 Become Trainner
Must Prepare for a Severe Examination

No class Of men deal more con-
stantly with the public than the con-
ductors and brakemen of a great rail-
way system, yet not one in a thousand
of those who come in daily contact
with them realize the stringent rules
and iron clad discipline under which
they perform their allotted tasks.
1t is a practical civil service to
great extent, and the railroad man who
rises to a position of authority, as
rule has earned his promotion by daily
exhibitions of faitnfulness and intel
ligence. II have filled every position
in railroad work UP to my present
place." said Superintendent D. B. Nc
Coy of the New York Central, in
speaking of this matter the other day.
land l would not consider myself q fit
superintendent If it were otherwise"
The superintendent. however. Is one
of thousand, for the vast majority
Of toilers in the railroad ranks have
not won the smiles of fortune in such
degree. 1t is the ambition Of every
railway man to win promotion, but the
task that confronts him Is arduous
enough to be discouraging. How good
d
sonably expect to get?" said recent
applicant for a railroad position. "Oh,
don't know" said the trainmaster to
whom he spoke. Perhaps If you stay
in the service 90 or 80 years you may
be division superintendent"
Every man must begin at the be-
ginning" Is the motto of all great rail-
roads, and one fairly well observed.
so n
days the railroads prefer, as they say,
to make their own men. A likely posi-
ton for a beginner Of tender years Is
that of messenger. From there he
may gravitate to almost anywhere that
his inclination and ability may indi-
cate. Something more than an appli-
cation for position Is necessary. AS
a rule there must be character behind
it. When young man asks to be en-
ployed, his name and address are taken
and If he is considered a likely young
fellow a thorough investigation of his
character. his habits, 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 he
Will De tOku lHdL tLeIS ID ilo VACANCY
Wealth of family is no recommenda-
ton, railroad officials say; it is char
acter that counts.
Naturally, it is not always possible
to select employees in this way. The
company needs men In certain places,
those places must be filled at once, and
therefore the only method is to put the
applicant through an examination. 1t
10, hot ha hno on,
ployed by another railroad, and in that
case particularly 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 your car should
spring leak and you would have to
do something without consulting any
body. What would you do to prevent
the car filling with steam and the pas
sengers being alarmed?" The young
man thought for moment and then
said: "well, guess I'd wrap my coat
around the pipe"
Here are some more of the questions
that the applicant for a brakeman's
position would have to answer, these
being 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
to 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 that one of
the signal flags or lanterns was miss
ing what would you do?"
would you report the violation Of
the company's rules by fellow brake
man or a conductor?"
"What in your opinion constitutes
neat personal appearance?"
would you think it part of your
duty to call the attention of the con-
ductor to the fact If the train seemed
to be making too fast time?"