Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1901-10-17
HAZARDOUS OCCUPATIONS.
An OmcinI TELLS why Men from the
Country Flock 20 the Railroads
for Employment.

"There is a fascination about rail-
reading which makes the waiting list
of applicants a long one, and verifes
the known fact that where one man
is killed there are dozen others
eager for his place." said railroad
official to a Washington Star reporter
the other morning.
"Our men are employed by the diff
ferent division superintendents. On
our road I should say that for every
vacancy there are ten applicants on
the list, to say nothing of those
who would be glad to accept the
place IL they knew of it or it were
offered TO them. 1 am not referring
Go clerical positions, but TO those
of trainmen.
"There arc several considerations
which prompt men to so readily ac-
cept positions on railroads which are
hazardous TO life and health. Men
must have employment. Most OF our
employees arc married men, and the
necessity to provide food and shelter
for the family will cause men TO take
places they know TO be dangerous,
and which they otherwise would de-
cline.
"But the great, main reason why
railroads have so many applications
for these places is because their lines
penetrate the rural districts, and pass
through small cities and towns. Six
~ dollars q month on n railroad beats
SIG a month as farm hnad, even II
every daily run may be the last
The trainman, whether n conductor
or a brakeman, I'm his neat blue uni
form, IS a comparatively big man TO
this class OF workers, and also to the
men who live in n small way in the
towns and villages. When Jake gets
on the railroad nc i5 somebody.
"Thc worker in the fields sees the
train fly by day after day, and he
catches n momentary glimpse Of the
trainmen, sitting or standing in the
open door Of the baggage car or pass
ing from car TO car. They ore an
object OF envy to him. He feels the
restraint of his own life. When the
impulse becomes strong enough he
goes to town, sees the division su-
perintendent, gets on the eligible
list, in due time becomes enrolled as
a brakeman on a freight, and his ca
reer as n railroad man has begun.
"On our road, and the same policy
holds good on most roads, we make
it a point TO give preference TO men
who live along IFS line, rather than
n man who comes from another state.
The reason is obvious. The resident
IS identified with his locality and its
people. IL is TO his interest and tive
interest Of his people TO help the
road all they can. He becomes a part
Of the system for his particular di-
vision. II he is a married man, so
much the better, Married men are
no better workers than unmarried
men, but they are inclined to be
steadier, and it is steOdiness and mat
ter-of-fact attention 20 business that
makes a man Of service TO his road,
OF value TO both himself and his COM
pany, and also 10 the travelling pub
lie.
"While accidents are frequent along
the line OF q road, and especially in
what are known as railroad towns,
among the employees they in nowise,
as far as we can Judge, influence
other men from taking the places of
the dead and the MANNED or Of inn
pelling old men TO get out of the
service. The life OF q trainman is the
last / would adopt, and l am an Of.
fetal of the road, as l have pea
sonal dread OF having my hesh
crushed between iron. A railroad
man, however, appears TO look upon
his calling as does n soldier in tho
regular army'-he takes his chan ces
that perhaps he will be the lucky
one who will escape, and IL he is
killed, well, a man can die but on ce.
II he is injured he can go to the
railroad hospital. If he can be
patched up sufficiently he goes back
20 his old place; II not, we endSavor
20 find a suitable place for him-a
fnRman, bridge tender or the like
and II this can't be done he Is obliged
10 take his chances with the rest Of
the cripples in the world to get
along"