New-York tribune., 1903-02-01
CAREERS FOR THE COMING MEN,
Practical and 4uthoHate Discussions Of tile Professions and Call
ings Open Young llmrican&
R4ILRO4DING.


by GEORGE III. DANIELS. General Passens'
nr what IS the best preparation and what its aV-
erage time and cost, for young man intending to
prepare himself for railway service as a profes-
sion; also to state what the various departments
10 which a young Of good ability and educa-
ton might reasonably expect to devote himself.
The term profession of railroadng" covers a
very wide field. and may properly be divided into
nine general departments. viz: The executive,
financial operating, accounting traffic (subdlVldeu
into freight and passenger legal engineering. mo-
tive power and rolling stock and purchasing de-
partments.
I will undertake TO speak at length CT only one
Of these. presuming that later some president
chairman Of the board Of directors Will write
about the executive department, some treasurer
viii enlighten you the details Of the financial
department. some superintendent will explain the
iutricacies of handling trains upon modern rail-
way. controller may tell you OF the mys-
teries OF the accounting department, some freight
traffic manager about freight rates and classical
tons and the why higher rate should
be charged on feathers than lead; some general
counsel may explain why the greatest lawyers ol
the age are the service OF the transportation
Lines. some chief engineer may write of how mill
ions are spent each year to keep the tracks and
bridges in order. that the Empire State ex-
presses and Twentieth Century trains may be kept
going: some superintendent OF motive power and
rolling stock may give you details in regard to the
locomotives and equipment Of all kinds and some
purchasing agent may tell you how millions OF
dollars are spent TO furnish each Of the other de-
partrnents with the machinery for the conduct OF
the business OF the company, in accordance with
the most approved methods of railway construction
snd operation.
will devote the time and space allotted 10 me to
explain points in regard TO the opportunities
offered by service in the passenger department
The position of this department may be best under
stood when you consider the fact that OF the
great American railways are now being advertised
ylpha aoaT that IS
ceded by those who have investigated the subject
most thoroughly THAT the advertising done by the
general passenger agents OF American railways has
been potent force in the Introduction Of American
manufactures and the adoption of American meth
DDS in the principal countries of the world. and
that American railway advertising has been the
advance agent of American commerce
Every well organized passenger department con-
slsts OF a general passenger agent and more
assistant general passenger agents. among whom
divided the various duties deyolving upon the
managers of the passenger traffic of the company
There nine separate and distinct sub-depart-
ments Of the passenger department, viz:
Advertising.
Ticket
Rate and division.
Excursior.
Baggage.
Dining department.
General and passenger agents.
Ticket redemption.
Information and recreation.
name the advertising department first not that
Il is absolutely the most important sub-departmeni
but because nearly every made by the pas
senger department must be advertised. if the COM
pany is 10 receive the greatest value frcm the
transaction, and the advertising be ready in
advance Of whatever action is taken. The prepara-
ton OF advertising is important factor and the
man who is able 10 prepare attractive and telling
advertisements is a Ealua bic man who will sooner
OF later secure his reward.
The young who is fitting for
ton IN the advertising department OF a railroad
must have d fair education-the more complete the
better He should cultivate the habit of observing
closely what others doing in the advertising
held, and keep closely in touch with current
events possible. He should cultivate clear con-
else and truthful statement that the public will
understand when they one of his advertisements
that what he states is true. He be willing
10 work early and late, for often the thing TO be
advertised is not known until late in the afternoon
and it must be in the papers the next morning.
aud sometimes this means that it must be in every
important newspaper Office from the Atlantic the
Pacific within six hours from the time he gets the
Information.
There is another feature of the advertising de-
partrent that is nearly important the prep
aration OF advertising and that is its distribution
A man may produce advertising that would charm
angel but if he has means Of getting it
the angel il does not charm. To get advertising
into the hands Of the people for whom it is pre-
pared is one of the problems OF every advertising
man. and the space for this article is small
undertake elaborate this part of the subject.
Each man viii have his idea to how best to
get his advertising matter into the hands Of those
he wants 10 have read it,
In our advertising department young men begin
IS Office boys and junior clerks. and work gradu
ally into good positions in the course OF a few
years. This depends upon their ability and adapt
ability this particular work Most. of them are
graduates from the public schools Of New-York.
The ticket department is the sub-department
charged with the preparation and issue Of all tick
els L requires great and accuracy. and in
large railroads this sub-department Will consist
of from six dozen The head OF this de-
partnent becomes expert forms and routes
OF tickets. He should have extended knowl-
edge Of geography and the junction and terminal
points OF all transportation lines which tickets
are sold This department receives the tickets from
The railroad ticket printers and distributes them 10
every agent the line. In this, In other sub
departments Of the passenger department, IL Is
customary to have young men begin as office boys
and junior clerks and work up by promotion and
advancement 10 the head of the office
The making Of passenger fares and the division
ot the through rates that each company over
whose lines the passenger travels may receive its
IS an intricate operation. and requires especial SKIN
and experience in it's accomplishment The chlet
rate and division clerk. with his numerous assist