Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1899-05-11
LOCOMOTIVE ENolNEERe.
Instructive Statistics Gathered By . 81.
Paul Writer.

xAetfuctivo bsAt9tioo 0eSAsfoo ~ ~
Paul Writer.
j. H. Goodyear, Of the Chicago Great
Westerns mechanical department. st.
Paul, has compiled some statistics af-
fecting locomotive engineers, which
will be read with great interest by all
railroad men and many others. They
are embodied in an article entitled
1.-THE Locomotive Engineer" written
by Mr.. Goodyear and published in
late issue Of the Railway Age. The ar
t1cle follows:
In a recent article by the writer on
the subject OF the operating depart
ment of American railways reference
was made to the condition under which
locomotive engineers work. and the
question raised regarding the advisa-
bility Of dischargins without good and
sufficient cause men with several years
service and fairly good record, re-
placing them by men discharged from
other roads for similar or more serious
cause. While personally convinced OF
the truth Of my statement, It occurred
to me that readers of the article IN
question might reasonably think the
statement overdrawn. consequently
few facts regarding locomotive en-
gineers, as told by themselves, would
bear out by statement and at the same
time be of general interest.
With this object in view have taken
the personal records or applications OF
two hundred men seeking employment
as locomotive engineers and therefrom
collected the data necessary to present
the following information: OF the two
hundred 81 per cent. gave their nation
ality as American. 4 per cent. English.
1 per cent. Irish, 8 per cent. Scotch. 4
per cent. German, per cent. Nor
wuegian.
Thea average age worked out thirty
sdx years flve~ months, average height 3
feet inches, sewerage weight 173
pounds. Eighty per eespt. stated they
were married; average nunsc Der Of chill
dren 8; average railway sei~yice II
years months; average numbNN OF
railways for which the 200 men haod
worked =; average length Of time en-
ployed by flrst railway 8 years and
months. .ry -.-
Forty-seven per cent. had worked for
one railway only. with an average SER
vice OF 10 years s months.
Twenty-six per cent. worked for two
railways, with an average service OF
years 10 months for the first and
years 3 months for the second railway.
Fifteen per cent. worked for three
railways, with an average service OF
years 2 months for the first. 8 years 10
months for the second and years
months for the third railway.
Eight per cent. worked for four rail-
ways, with an average Of years for
the first, 8 years for the second, 8M
years for the third and years the
fourth railway.
-Four per cent. worked for five rail-
ways, with an average OF years for
the first, 2 years months the second,
1 years 8 months the third. 2 years
months the fourth and years
months the fifth.
These figures demonstrate the fol-
lowing:
Firstly the percentage OF Ameri-
cans, that the men tramping the coun-
try are not foreigners.
second-The average age, that they
are not men who have outlived their
usefulness as locomotive engineers.
Third-The average height and
weight, that they are physically fit.
Fourth-Percentage Of those mar
ried, that they are not tramp engineers
from choice.
Fifth-The general average showing
length of service with the first railway,
also the great percentageo OF men having
worked for but one road with such
good average service as ten years and
eight months, that there is something
radically wrong with the present sys-
tom of handling enginemen.