Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-07-11

are hiehfy friEeu anu treated Like
Princes by the Companies.
Butte, Mont, Inter-Mountain.
Gene Of the greatest difficulties OF
the real mountain roads, like the
Colorado Midland, the Rio Grande
Western and the Denver l. Rio Grande
is In getting engineers, said Charles
A. Davidson, City Passenger Agent OF
the Rio Gfande Western road, this
morning Mr.. Davidson is familiar
with all the inter.mo lntain reads.
where the trains have TO all but fly TO
reach some Of their destinations.
'Ore might suppose that all roads
would Look alike to the experienced
engineer, but they don't. Along some
OF the prairie roads. an engineer can
take run on any new track almost as
well as 90 enc be has Travelled for years
and knows with bis eyes shut. But
hsre in the West il is different. Down
10 Colorado, where are some of the
greatest monuments to the railroad
builder that have ever been erected,
an engineer has to travel over the roads
sometimes for weeks with old, eG-
perienced engineers, who know the
track, before ne will be trusted with q
train. Ii isn't a question OF engineer
ing ability; merely one of experience.
1t Is enough 10 take a fellows
nerve to sweep around some OF those
mountain curves and passes for the first
time. Some good men never take more
than their fret ride. ] have seen
engineers come from the East, men Of
gilt edge character ard ability, who
lost their nerve with the first trip and
took the first train for tlat,er country.
Dizzy reverse curves, trestes that seem
10 tutter 10 the wind. precipices that
seem TO yawn for fellow s life, and
grades that are a revelation Of horror
to the new conner. crowd in bewilder-
log confusion on the view, and unless
fellow is stolid as an OK, or pervy as
the devil, be Is apt 10 lose his head.
You would be surprised at the
number OF young engineers who are on
the mountain roads. For one thing, q
man does not last there as be does on a
less picturesque, more prosaic ran. 1t
taxes youth and strength and courage
OF rare order to stand 1t at all. The
companies are the most appreciatire in
the world, Tor they realize now hard
it is to get goud man, and they treat
a good man right royalty. But even
| this does not attract surplus OF the
right sort
"Fhe principal dangers are in the
heavy grades and in the sharp curves,
though lanttslides are far from un.
known. One must know his train and
his road like a book to get through
with his life on the Marshall Pass, for
instance, where you seem to plunge
headlorg down the mighty hill. A
rock on the track, broken wheel, a
runaway car, OF failure OF the brakes
10 work would end In smash up that
would startIe the whole country. The
| hill might be glare OF ice or frost; il
might be wet or snowy, and IL you set
the airbrake too hard, so as to start
the wheels 10 Sliding, down the hill
you go likea gigantic tobogRan, with
death and destruction at the end Of she
ride. The management OF the airbrake
and knowing where the curves and
dangerous places are is the greatest
part of an engineers education in the
| mountains.
For my own part, knowing the
dangers as ! do, | feel nervous after
riding hundred miles over the widest
| parts Of the roads, even as a passenger.
l rode through the Royal Gorge on the
engine a few weeks ago and was glad
when the ride was over. 1t makes a
fellow fell trembly like to think what
might be, though the worst rarely
happens. Such is the care taken in
equipment and in getting the best mel
tbat the mountain roads have ae small
a proportion Of losses as the dtad level
roads of ths plains. But it takes a
man OF nerve to pilot a train through
some OF the wilder regions.
| = A fTRip MT train ia tho uofaf IN RI, .
it is much heavier than a passenger.
and is expected 10 make almost the
same time. All the heavy stock trains
going east 20 to 80 cars, make pas
senger schedule. A freight is 50 loosely
coupled as to be very unmanageable at
critical points. The stock trains arc
the terror of the enIgne drivers and all
the train men.
A fellow isn't necessarily a coward
when he throws up bis job as engineer
over the mountain roads, after seeing
whRt the dangers are. Not one ras
senger 10 ten thousand would assume
the same danger. The position calls for
absolutely steady nerve, and one who
feels that he is likely TO get ratified il
dangerous to himself, to the company.
and to all who ride behind him. A
mau must think and act like liehtpioe
In the face OF SO many dangers that he
must be sure of his ability, to stand
the strain. No one stays any great
number Of years. 1t is beyond ones
power to do SO. and be safe. A man
may be brave and willing and all that,
but these are not enough. He must be
sure, and proof against stampede. such
man is worth everything to the CON
panles, and they treat him as u prince. -