The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-31

ued and growing satisfaction to the
Rock Island management and the en-
ployes.
Mr.. Studer is one of the self made
men Of the western railroad world.
When he started his railroad career it
was as a machinist's apprentice. His
first work with the Rock Island road,
and rather peculiarly it was done at
Horton, was in the character of ma
chinist. That was in 1887, the year the
shops were built.
Mr.. Studer proved such a practical
machiniSt that when the construction
of the southwest line reached Pratt and
round house foreman was needed he
was sent there to take the position. A
year later he went to Goodland as round
house foreman there, and in December,
1888, returned to Horton in the same ca
paclty. In the following year he was
made general foreman at Harrington,
and in March, 1890, was transferred to
stuart Iowa, as division master me-
ehanic. From Stuart he went to Tren-
ton, Mo-, as division master mechanic,
IN 1895, and two years later, in August,
1893, was made division master me-
chanic of the Illinois division, with
Headquarters in Chicago. On the res
ignation of Mr. F'itzgibbon, in April.
1899, he was appointed assistant super
intendent of motive power and ma
chinery in charge of the mechanical
work of the lines west of the Missouri
river.
Mr.. Studer's office occupies a corner
of the second story of the planning mill.
With the sounds of mechanical actiV-
1ty in the room below shut out only par
TALLY by the floors and walls, he and
a force of several clerks. under the di-
rect supervision of Mr.. Charles Snider,
chief clerk, attend to the important du-
ties connected with the management of
the western mechanical work.
While Mr.. Studer has charge of the
Horton shops, in connection with all
round houses, repair shops etc, west
of the Missouri river, his general du-
ties take up so much of his time that
he can devote but portion of it to
personal direction of the work going
on there. For this reason there is the
position of general foreman of the
shops. and this position is now held by
Mr.. NJ. c. Conrad.
Mr.. Conrad is a late acquisition TO
the Horton shop force. He succeeded
Mr.. r. F. Kirkpatrick nine months ago,
the latter leaving Horton with Mr..
Fitzgibbon to take a position with the
Lackawanna road. Mr.. Conrad was
capacity of round house foreman when
he was appointed to the general fore
manship of the Horton shops.
On the shoulders of Mr.. Conrad rests
the direct responsibility for all shop
work. He must see that certain en-
gines are repaired and turned out of the
shops on certain days, that so many
cars are completed in a stated length
time, InaI all necessary STOCK IS on
hand, and that noNdetail of the work is
left unattended to. In this, of course,
he has the assistance of the foremen
of the various departments, who are
the following:
Mr.. John Grass, foreman of sawmill.
Mr.. M. c. Mahaffy, foreman of cabi-
net shop.
Mr.. ]. Acker, foreman Of car depart
ment.
Mr.. c. H. Williams. foreman of black
smith shop.
Mr. W. william. foreman of machine
wheel shop.
Mr.. F. T. sillito. foreman of round
house.
Mr.. H. Neuimester. foreman of ma
Mr.. ]. G. Campbell. foreman of boiler
shop.
Mr.. c. c. Gowdy. foreman of paint
Mr. E. NJ. spalding. foreman of tin
Mr.. ]. Teidt, foreman of the back
shop.
Mr.. C. Mote, foreman of the repair
yard.
Mr.. H. P. Name, night foreman of
the round house.
Each of the fourteen foremen is re-
spOnsible for the work of a large force
of men under him. They are visited
several times each day by the general
foreman, and in turn they go from
place to place in their respective de-
partments, keeping Watchful eyes on
every detail Of every job entrusted to
their care.
PIECE WORK SYSTEM USED.
All construction work in the Horton
shops is done on a piece work. basis.
The system was introduced about three
years ago, and has proven altogether
satisfactory. The men are satisfied with
the schedule, and since the Introduction
the same harmonious relations exist
between the EMPLOYEES and the COMPANY.
Men engaged in the same occupation
draw various salaries, but those who
draw less are not dissatisfied over the
fact. They feel that the schedule is
just, and that the system offers the
same opportunity to one man as it does
| to another.
A trip through the Horton shops is
interesting because it shows the prac-
| teal workings of an up-to-date shop
plant. The equipment includes the
| latest tools and appliances, and as a
| motive power compressed air is being
used to a great extent. Two big air
| congresses are now IN the course OF
| construction there, and as soon as
| these are completed, air will be utilized
as extensively as possible.
| In connection with the use of air as
| a motive power it is interesting to
| know that the Horton shops boast that
/ there is numbered among the employees
! the man who first used compressed air
| as a motive power in railroad shop
| work in the west. He is Mr. J. W. like,
] who is in charge of the tool construction
| work, and years ago he perfected a
| small air motor for, steel drill work.
| The motor was fashioned out of pipes
| and material picked up in the shop,
s&N