Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1901-11-22
STORIES OF SECTION MEN.

One Of the oldest section men on an
the master mechanic for a place for
his boy Jimmy. He said he wanted
Jimmy put on an engine, so that in due
time he could become an engineman.
well" said the master mechanic, with
a smile, how does it happen that you
want Jimmy in the mechanical depart
ment. l should think you would put
him on the section and educate him to
be road master" The section man
studied for minute and then said.
sober as judge: "The fact is" and
he lowered his voice to whisper,
Jimmy is not any too bright" What
the master mechanic said is not re-
corded, but Jimmy did not get on an
engine.
Sullivan had served his term as sec
ton foreman and had been promoted
to the position of supervisor. In tie
line of his duty he went over the diff
ferent sections and to every foreman
he announced that economy was the
word, and every cent that could be
saved must be saved. He further
served notice to each foreman that If
he did not live up to the word there
would be vacancy. After making one
trip he concluded he would do little
gum-shoe work, so he slipped over the
district when no one was looking.
Down in a gutter he found new spike
nd a. VIC Ixy'c nd he
called Kelly in about it. kelly" said
Sullivan, didn't Dye tell yez that eek
onomy waz to be the wurrd" "Shure,
yez did, Mishter Sullivan" Thin
how does it coome that Dye found
this spoik on yer siction?" Kelly's face
frightened and he pulled his hat again.
"Mishter Sullivan, yez all roight. Shure
OWE had two min looken fer that
spoik for thray days and domned
wan could find it," Kelly's idea of
economy got him lay-off of thirty
days.
A section foreman on the Cincinnati,
Hamilton & Dayton several years ago,
while cleaning up the right of way, set
fire to rail fence and the owner of
the rails demanded damages from the
company and claim agent was sent
to settle with him. Danny, the sec
ton boss, was on hand and insisted
that the rail owner was not damaged.
Il don't know why am not damaged
he exclaimed; you set fire to my
fence and destroyed it, "Shure | sit
foire to yer fence, explained Danny,
but livery rail waz burned in two in
the middle and now yez have more
rails by double than you had befoore
the fire." Danny's logic, however, did
not save the company from settling the
bill.
Down near Flat Rock, in the early
history Of the road, the Pennsylvania
had two section gangs one composed
of lovely young fellows and the other
of rather staid chaps, who did not try
to cut any fancy capers. The young
fellows secured the enmity of several
Flat Rock people, and they hoped for
revenge. Generally the young fell
lows loaded up their handcar and got |
away from the JOB first, but one night |
the old fellows beat them. A Flat
Rockian had driven spike in switch,
in the hope OF wrecking the young
fellows handcar, but it was the old
fellows who went over the bank, and
one Of them was painfully hurt. The
section boss had to make out report.
One Of the questions was: State the
character and extent of the injury"
And this is the way he answered it:
His character is all right, but he
broke his collarbone."
When person is injured on the
section the business Of the boss is to
get statement from him If possible.
A freight train was blocking a cross
ing at town near Indianapolis and
one of the inhabitants attempted to
cross. AS he was between the cars the
train suddenly started and the man