The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-03-15
TREAT THE MEN WELL.
Railroad Officials Agree That Train
men VIII Render better Service

A paper on the Selection and Treat
ment Of Men in the Engine and Train
Service which was read before the
Northwestern Railway association at the
Ryan last night provoked very interest
ing discussion.
Inc author of the paper was F. T.
Slayton trainmaster of the Chicago Great
western. Mr.. Slayton advocated engag-
ing only good and competent engineers
and f1remen, conductors and brakemen.
and then encouraging them to give good
service by considerate treatment. He
SAID 1t was mistake to dismiss men for
Trivial oHenSeS, as men who had COM
mtted mistake We're not likely to re-
peat the error. They were often the best
men who had made blunders, for thew
were more careful than ever, especially
II they were not dismissed from a com
pany's service. He believed in giving the
men a chance to show their best quail
ties, and he thought it good plan to es-
tabl1Sh clubs where they could spend
their leisure hours. tt removed them
from temptations and allowed them to
exchange notes and ideas on the subjects
connected with their work, which result
ed in broadening their usefulness and
making them more valuable to their en-
ployers.
During the discussion Of the paper
Secretary T. A. Foque agreed with the
opinions expressed in the paper and
said 1t was his experience that the best
men were liable to make mistakes, but
their usefulness was not necessarily i'm
paired thereby.
H. 3 Bryan, of the Duluth & Iron
Range, said conditions differed so much
on different roads that it was impossible
to prescribe for one road rules for the
guidance of another He thought it was
well TO secure good class of men and
make them proficient in their business.
so they might look for promotion He
said his road had not had occasion in six
years to hire an engineer, yet had occa-
slonaHy been deceived as to the compe-
ta&cy of men. Men whose faults had
heen overlooked he had found were gen
orally better men afterwards
f. 81 Farmer, of the Western Air Brake
company asked if those present who had
ulSchafged a man for an Offense of slight
Importance would recommend him to an
other road.
PRESIDENT Lyons replied emphatieally In
the Affirmative. He thought discipline
sometimes required the discharge Of 4
man Tor an offense OF minor Importance.
and he had frequently, under such cir
cumStances, taken special pains to find
employment elsewhere for them. He re-
sarded club house a matter of the first
Importance, and strongly recommended
them
Mr.. Foque said he knew of a club room
winch the men for whom. it was establish
ed had wrecked. rs
Other opinions We're expressed on the
subject, but all seemed to agree that the
men who were well treated were appreci-
alive, and gave their employers a full re-
turn for their consideration.
Secretary Foque read paper written
by George W. Gould on fuel economy
In locomotives. He said the best fuel
economizer was intelligence. The engi-
heef and fireman OF locomotive should
work In harmony, otherwise there was
pound to be wastee offfueL
l.. T. Adams, of theu Great Northern.
READ paper on the same subject, in
which he gave some useful information
regarding the quantity of coal required
TO run locomotive various distances.
President Lyons said in his office there
are two clerks employed to keep track
OF every ton of coal consumed by every
engine on the road, and the records are,
at the end ofNeach month posted In the
round house
Inc question was raised that often men
We're not given the quantity of coal enter
cd against them, and that in consequence
such records could not be correct, but Mr..
Lyons said his experience was that the
dlHerence was not more than per cent.