The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-01-26
FAT CONDUCTORS.
Doctors Say They Have Fresh Air,
Exercise and Regular Hours.
SAY JOITIEG IS HEALTHY.
Many Heavy weights Among Com
ductors On All Roads They Get
Exercise, Fresh Air and Are Not
Attacked by Disease Germs

conductors get IHt 7 = anu 4AV0iN eAsS
be discharged merely on account of.
their excessive weight" are Two ques-
lions which have been agitatlng heavy
weight railroad men about Chicago
ever since II was reported that the
baltimore q Ohio intended to em-,
ploy no more conductors who
weigh more than $50 pounds. AS a
matter OF fact ali railroad men ex--
press little concern over the reported
plan Of the Baltimore & Ohio, and ofi-
Gals OF the latter line denied the ru-
NOR. but the suggestion has at least
served to call general attention to the
fact that the majority Of conductors
and brakemen grow portly after years
of service.
Physicians gave a reporter for the
Daily News some interesting facts re-
garding the eftect of active railroad
service on. the. weight and general
health. They agree that there are few
occupations more healthful. Fresh air,
light but almost constant exercise ana
regular hours scare away consumption
and chronic diseases, say the doctors.
one physician attributed the proveFblal
good health and Btoutness Of veteran
railroad conductors to the perpetual
jarring and motion Of the trains.
Says Fat Is Due to Jolang.
said Or. j. j. Davis: "There is no
doubt that the jar has somewhat sim
liar eject to that of electricity or mas
sage on the muscles. There is fric-
tlon caused, and although It Is not vio-
lent exercise riding on a train is GER
tainly exercise. That, I believe. is one
of the chief reasons for the uniform
stoutness to be found among conduc-
ODrs. OF course the fresh air mas
great deal to do with II. 1t Will be mo-
ticed that these men, although heavy,
are active. That is because the tat is
what the lay people call healthy tat.
VI IL not likely to lead to fatty degener-
alton OF the heart, and one or two of
these conductors who carry over 800
pounds would surprise you In a rum
ming contest for short distance.
"The percentage of mortality from
consumption or other diseases among
railroad conductors, brakemen and
switchmen" said DR.. Francis w. Nc
Namara, county physician, 'ls about as
small as TINT Of the members OF any
other class. The reason for this Is
probably the fresh air they get and the
excellent sort OF exercise. 1t need sur
prise no one that conductors grow
heavy. They may have dangerous
occupation, but they rarely have to
battle with the bRcilll Of chronic dis
eases and that Is an exemption devout-
ly to be wished for"
More Than One Fat Conductor.
At the various railroad stations
where questions were asked regarding
that fat conductor who runs on this
division" the Interrogation was almost
invariably met with the question:
(which one?" II was found that stout
ness WIS quite general and that the
conductor who does not weigh more
than 200 pounds is not considered big
one. s.t
II guess we have the champion heavy
weight OF other western roads said an
official of the Lake Shore & Michigan
Southern road. His name Is Martir
Stark and he Is known all along the
line. although his regular run Is be-
tween Chicago and whiting and the
stOckyurds. Martin weighs $40 pounds
and ne doesn't care who knows 1t. He
has been employed by the company for
over twenty-five years. he may take
up considerable space when strolling
along the aisle gathering tickets, but
he has no dlfflculty In hopping on and
of the platform"
Conductor Stark Is known as wit
and in the Lake Shore offices good
story is frequently concluded with:
That's one Of Martins latest" One
day Mr.. Stark stepped on to the plat
form of penny in-the-slot Weighing
machine, Then he deposited a penny.
The Indicator hesitated before taking
the trip around the figured dial and
then started of like the fnvorIte In a
stake race. The Indicator whirled
against the highest peg In the dial with
a jangle and jar that made the conduc-
tor open his eyes. A number OF ac-
quaintahces had witnessed the incident,
The neavy Conductor.
The heavy conductor stepped on the
platform with the remark: THAT ma
chine was apparently not made for such
ash. / am one cent loser because for
got to ask what the limit was before I
went into the game"
on another occasion a passenger who
had been compelled to pay his fare I'M
der protest that he was an empfoye,
held up the cash fare slip which Mr.
Stark had given him. He called the
conductor back from the door OF the
car with peEemptory: Come back
here!"
ger when Mr.. stark again stood beside
him.
''That Is coupon" said Mr.. Stark.
pointing to the cAsh-fare slip.
III ,,ptn Ia fRR9b ghnR1fnH
the passenger, lrritably.
"I'n tell you" said Martin Stark.
you keep that one and keep all you
get until you have ten saved up. Then
you take them into the office OF the
company and the president Will give
you a picture Of the brakeman"
There are two conductors on the Chi
cagO & Northwestern road who weigh
more than 900 pounds. and a number Of
others who weigh between $50 and 800
pounds Barney KnvanauEh, on the
Chicago Milwaukee run, and Simon
Crowley. who has charge Of the Har-
Ward train. are the henviest They
have both been In the service for n
quarter Of century and more.
Among the middle weights on the
Northwestern are Patrick Davis who
weighs more than $40 pounds; Frank
Carney. 2ib pounds. and Conductor Nc
Caftery, 22h pounds.
Other roads arc almost ny we'll sup
piled with heavy men. and H. has been
estimated that II rule making the
maximum weight for conductors 1870
pounds should BIZ established large
per cent Of the conductors now in SER
Vice would have to ind other employ
ment.