The sun., 1899-07-14
Railroad Of1cials Harmonious.

There ls now in session here the Western
Passenger Agents Association, the men,
bers present representing the chief trans
continental and southwestern lines. Re-
Gently the National Association OF Local
Freight Agents. which held its meeting in
Norfolk, Va, selected Boston for the place
Of holding the next national convention.
The train despatchers held this year their
convention in Milwaukee, and the general
baggage agents are to hold theirs on July
10. The annual meeting Of the Travelling
Passenger Agents Association will be
held at Denver on Sept. 10. On Oct.
II the general passenger and ticket agents
will hold in Boston their convention, and
the railway telegraph superintendents
are to have their convention in Whining
ton, n. c., on July 8. The Railway Sur
geons Association has already held the
convention of its members in Richmond,
Va, and this has been lively summer for
railroad officials generally, lively in the
volume Of business done and in the main
tenance Of harmonious methods for hand
ling It, without the friction of strikes, rate
wars and underwriting.
The extent Of the losses from such rate
wars in the past is almost incalculable, and
an injury alike to the roads and their own
ers and creditors, to the travelling public
and to freight shippers The highest eff
cheney and the greatest safety in operation
are not compatible in American railroading
with ruinous and spasmodic reductions in
rates below the standard OF reasonable
charges for the service furnished. In recent
years there has been visible and salutary
change in the relations between the officials
representing the various railroad systems
OF the country which these summer confer
doing much to promote. There Is business
enough in the United States for all its rail-
roads. and through economies in service
and by funding operations to diminish the
interest charges, there has been possible a
normal reduction in the rates charged for
the public interest.
There are nearly, II not quite. one million
persons in the United States either en-
lloyed directly or indirectly by railroad
companies. On July /, 1896. the number Of
such employees was given by the Inter
State Commerce Commission as s26, ,625,
OF whom there were in the general ad-
| ministration 81 1892; in the maintenance OF
way and structures, 243, ,627; in the main
tenanco of equipment, 167,S5o; in con-
Quoting transportation, 973,747, and un-
classified. e.6o9. The annual increase in
the number Of such employees incident
to the growth and extension Of the railroad
system Of the country Is from 40, 900 to
$4,000. For the three years succeeding
July /, 1896, the total increase has prob
ably been 12o,O bringing up the total
number OF employees two weeks ago to
$50. 900, and $4,000 additional for those
engaged by the transportation, transfer
and express companies connected with the
railroads brings up the total number OF en-
ployees to 1 100000.
The railroad employees Of the country. in
every grade Of service, are now not only in
more harmonious relations with each other
| and with the companies they serve, as illus
trated recently in several conferences as to
pay and hours, but the relations OF the
| various companies. too, are moro harmon-
Gus than heretofore even in the case OF
competing lines and those in the same ter
rtOry.