Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1900-10-11
C0NISOLIlA7iHC ROADS
ASSISTS TIVE EMPLOYEES.
Better Chance for Railt DAD Men
than Ever Before.
A Return to the Old System Of Higt
Freishts, High Fares and Jerk.
water Railroads Is an lE..
possibility.
by William II. Baldwin. ,Jr.. President
OF the .ong Island Ruiirouu,

by Nitlia:, II. Baldwin. ,Jr President
OF the Long Island Railroads,
To appreciate the Significance of the
value Of railroad consolidation TO the pub
lie, it is only necessary To attempt to
conceive Of Il return to former conditions.
The small independent railroads. with
their relatively small number of en-
ploycs, each road with its own standards
of equipment dependent upon the idiosyn-
cra>ies of its principal officers or direc-
tors: each road with Responsibilities to
the public as a carrier only To the extent
of its own short inc-all these liuiita-
lions suggest Il local independence which
would permit to the railroad the employ
uent of labor on the basis of "Slpply"
for It's small demands.
On the other hand. the gradual growth.
Of large systems composed of many such
small lines produces Il new and constant
Is growing responsibility to the public.
until finally a point is reached where the
law of supply and demand affects but
remotely the skilled labor necessary in
transportation service The function per
formed hy railroads has become too ,,,-
portan; to the body polite To permit OF
any solution OF these serious labor ana
wage questions. except 10y intelligent cuit-
sheraton on the Part OF the Representa-
tivcs both of the management and of the
employees.
The effect of consolidation has brought
many good results to the employers: VA
Increased ability on the part Of the rail
roads 70 lay higher Wages: ~ employ
more men; an Improvement in s;a;l!srd>
of tracks and equipment. which has re-
'.Uced tn" hours TO" Il day work and
has made I'll" service less lan."roas It
has also made the employment of lMt,,.
N the service more regular throu!Auut
thr year and thu, kept together a rr-uilr
force. and has developed a code of stand
ard rules, governing the arlay of rul-
royes. which have di-niticd their en,-
,lloyncnt ard made more permanent t!.cir
positions.
Tae saving by consolidation is due to
hp ability to develop business ccuuom-
jcally
line to-day could not lc handl"d 10y !,
series of independent lines With wary in=
standards. at the present rates whic!, are
profitable to the larger lines. With he
improved efficiency and economy of trans
poita,lon. rates have constantly d, cincd
and traffic has been continually l"vrlop-
ed. With Increased density of traffic,
the number of employees has been inrre.s-
..I nd h.,,
higher wage. The improved facilities
and higher speed of trains have made the
days work for a t"ainlnau, not one hun
drcd miles as Il maximum. but as a min
inum. that TODAY, with high speed
trains. the trninn!am may earn in two
hours time q wage higher than he earn
cd in earlier days in five hours time.
Even though the wage per mile r,.,i were
the same to-day as in past years tho ac-
tilal work which the traimman can ply
s!caily do within reasonable hou's is;
oft"mtiines ion yer cent greater Tic To-
connective engineer of to-day NAV average
easily ne hundred and scventy-tive miles
yer day. and at an increased rit,- of pay
over the onc-hunarcd- mile day OF tie
past.
In railroads. more than in any class oe
results of wise leadership OF the par; of
the trade unions. Both capital AND !ahor
aim Il, monopoly; tn" hr>. result i OBJ
tanned only when ilt"!ii-"n conMSr, pre-
walls The railroads are moving on to-
ward greater consultations and with CON
Stantly increasing benefit 10 their million
employees and t" the public. More and
more each year the nan&sn:nrnts of "a!
roads acknowledge their public lH.:,s,
more and NOR" each wear the o,,el;lti,Gl
Of railroads is becoming a governmental
function. so that. as see it. the best
condition viii he reached when TIE re-
lationS between the government ;nl tile
railroads are inte!ligrn;ly defined With
the mana cement and operation lief. in
the hands Of private persons. Tho idcai
condition is TO 50 operate the railroads
rs to approach an ideal governmental
operation and yet to retain the ownership
in private capital.
The history Of railroad wages has
shown that the public has been willing
always to recognize the responsibilities
Of railroad men, and has given it's sym
patty to them in their reasonable de-
mandS. The employees. as a ru!r. have
shown an intelligent understanding OF
the reasonable wage, and when they
have not acted fairly and wisely they
have not been supported By the public.
have been refused their demands by the
railroads and have learned that l.easou
must prevail.
WM. II. BALDWIN, JIs.
New York