The National tribune., 1903-03-19

fast time by half the width of State.
Nothing is further from the truth than the
assertion that the fast mail trains serve
only special interests. They are of uni
versal advantage in small towns as well
as large, to country as well as city, and
they have become Indispensable.
eRGANizATIoN OF THE HALLWAY MAIL
SERVICE.
This branch, as now organized, consti-
tUtes a very important division of the
bureau presided over by Hon. w. 8.
ShaIlenberger, Second Assistant Post
master-General. in the DEPARTMENT at
rade Of the G.. A. r., who has been in the
harness since the close of the war for the
Union, is General Superintendent. with
Alexander Grant as Assistant and John
". H0llyday as Chief Clerk.
There were in operation on the Both of
June, 1902 146 full railway post-ofiice
lines. manned by 1911 crews, aggregating
1852 clerks Gncluding Al acting clerks;
!, 132 apartment railway pOst-oflice lines;
manned by 2,S3o crews, aggregating 3, 1873
clerks Gncluding 81 acting clerks: %
electric car lines, with 80 crews and 81
clerks Including two acting clerks; 40
steamboat lines, with 81 crews and 50
clerks Gncluding "a acting clerks; MAX
ing total of 1850 lines Of all kinds,
manned by 1898 clerks. which only covers
the working force of the lines. In addi-
ton, there were Al officials, 81 chief clerks.
394 transfer clerks employed in handling
the mails at important junction points, and
262 clerks detailed to clerical duty in the
various offices of the service, making a
grand total of 9.731 employees
But it is not the aim of this article to
be statistical. We think. the general pub
lie will be interested to know something
Of the inside workings of this great official
organization, especially as relates to the
risks encountered and disabilities incurred
in the line Of duty by its worthy EN-
ployees.
SERIo-CoMIC sIDE-LIGHTs.
There are humorous as well as tragic
features connected even with the '.disa-
bility" column. Disabled railway mail
clerks get no pension, but they have a
fund contributed by themselves. Their
benefit society makes a pecuniary allow
ance for all physical injuries which inca
pacitate for labor, whether received in
line of duty or not. The Secretary re-
ports that railroad wrecks easily lead,
but the game of baseball also causes
many accidents. Bicycles are dangerous
in the hands of postal clerks, and it would
seem that clerks should avoid putting up
stovepipe. Some cut their hands on glass;
several have been victims of assault:
treacherOus ice has claimed its share; one
was victim while playing Santa Claus:
one cut in shaving: one was accidentally
shot by friend; several were hurt while
fishing, and one real hero was badly man.
gled by an explosion of dynamite while
trying to save the lives of some children
playing with explosives. One was as
saulted by train robbers and beaten to in
seDsibiity; one fell down stairs: one was
severely burned with carbolic acid. One
was Injured in runaway; one fell out of
a tree; another cut his head diving, and
the deadly fre-cracker got in its work on
one. Hot cinders were the cause of sew
eral claims; car doors were shut on many
fingers: catching mail was source of CON
siderable danger, and the post-marking
stamp disabled one, while the Irvine knife
was always ready 10 work against the
benefit fund. The official who decides on
the validity of these injury claims has an
embarrassing function-the quality of his
spinal column must sometimes be severely
strained
A HAZARDOUS AND HARD LIFE.
The life of a Railway Mail Clerk at the
best is not easy. He travels under a con-
slant strain and is subject to unremitting
mental and physical hardship. He is al
ways Overworked, but he must be ever
alert, expert and accurate. The business
VI Continent uepehus OH tHe correctness
of his instantaneous mental processes and
his rapid manipulations-a letter ''mis-
thrown" may break a heart or burst a
bank or ruin railway corporation.
line lurchins of cars going at a ire
mendous speed around sharp curves, the
continued succession of efforts to MAIN
tain equilibrium, the monotonous yibra-
tions terribly destructive TO nerve tissue.
to spinal column and to brain texture.
are the daily and hourly concomitants
Of his ordinary work. Practitioners often
relent and go back to their former duties.
One aspirant for employment in this
field was assigned to a notably vigorous
route. He never finished his first trip:
he went halfway, bought ticket home,