Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1902-06-21

attendants, and yet these latter may
attend dances and lectures.
In the use of the books, the figures
show not only the books drawn and
taken away, but also those read i'm the
reading room.
About 10 per cent of the books are
in use all the time. At Needles some
months as high as forty books have
been taken in a day. The new novels
are in use all the time. There has
been a decided improvement in the
choice of the men for books. There is
a question on the monthly report as
follows: What books are inquired
for?' The kind, quality and high or
der of the books asked for surprise
one. Not in one instance have they
asked for a book which did not pass
the inspection of the superintendent
men are diligent readers of the books.
With the short time at their disposal
the men take.to magazines rather than
to books. One thing is certain from
these reports, the number of readers
among the employees is increasing. and
judging from books inquired for we
need al present 1000 new books to
supply the demand. We have lost very
few books. the men have been very
honorable in the use of them and have
often assisted to locate a lost or stolen
book.
First-It recognizes them as factors
in the prosperity and success of the
road. 1t is an appeal to their intellect
and conscience, and puts a premium
on manhood, eliminating the idea that
they are only machines. 1t therefore
gives to each man a future built on his
proper use of the present. II develops
a true ambition to excel, each in his
department, and places a rich master
motive under each days work. 1t can
not be questioned that a bath, a sleep
and a book will make the trainmen
more careful in reading orders and
carrying them out.
Second-While it stimulates a man
to make himself worthy of promotion,
1t also develops contentment of mind,
of which hope Is the handspring, A
man usually mixes to do what his wife
wishes him to do. If she is %contented,
he will be. A coteted workman is a
better workman for the company. BY
surrounding the families of our EN-.
ployes with every opportunity of self
development, sthe men are willing to
live and work anywhere, and do rot
ache all the time for a change.
OF the man who works to hear the
whistle blow and go to meals. as
against the man who works to finish
his JOB. and contribute something OF
advantage to the world, the latter is
the unit of value out of which can be
figured the success of the company.
If an employees would rather work for
the Santa Fe company than any other
corporation; If he is on the qui vive
for business; if he stands for economy,
ca~refuiness and fidelity, the board of
directors won't need to meet but once
a year, and the stockholders will get
sound asleep.
Third-As a most noticeable result
these reading rooms are gradually
closing the gap between the executive
official and the employee. 1t is a rare
. thing now on the Santa Fe to hear an
employee condemn any of the officials.
They act as a bond of sympathy and
!, good will between the official and the
employe. The latter realizes more and
more what the former must do to hold
the road together and get business
and he has dropped a spirit of criti
cism for one of interest and concern
: The employees are proud to show and
explain these reading rooms to ouI
patrons; that is, they are proud OF
themselves, which is a splendid result
of this work.
The Expense of Operating Reading
/, Rooms.
The amount paid out for operating
, the reading rooms on the Atchisor
proper for the month of March, 1889
2 was 1897. This includes the interest
: on investment for the property, salary
| of superintendent of reading rooms
| and of librarians, magazines, papers
/ books, fuel, light and all supplies.
: So far as the writer of this article
operating the reading Don on the
2 Santa Re system, including all eX
I penses, will not exceed SIS, ZOO per an
| mum. AS we build new reading rooms
: and more fully equip them, this cost
/ will be increased, but if with an in
crease of expense we can add to the
; efficiency and happiness of our EN-
, ployes, and can handle u business
) more safely and with a diminution OF
: losses, the positive returns In good
l will be far greater than the invest
2 ment. The writer of this has a thou
sand instances and experiences al
| command to sustain the propositions
: herein advanced, and will be pleased
? to assist any one in investigating this
! grandest work of the age.-lnterna
: tional Railway Journal.
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