The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1905-11-16
Z is surprising how. ma

car IN Denver, but what is
NEl fT5l still more surprising is the
SS-aa----saaJ very small per cent. of the
hundreds of applicants who stand the
tests employed in the making of q
motorman, says the Denver Republic
can. OF every fifteen applicants only
about three survive the preliminaries,
then about fifteen per cent. of the as
pirants fail to pass the physical ex-
animation, while about five per cent.
of those who get thus far never be-
come 0. K. and receive positions.
The school of the motorman is hard
one. The tests are severe and the all
prevailing rule is that Of the survival
of the fittest. The candidate for the
front end realizes that he is in the
sitter from the moment that he makes
application to the superintendent, S.
w. Cantril, who employs and dis
charges all trainmen. He Immediately
learns that all motormen in the service
of the Denver Tramway Company
must not be less than $50 pounds in
weight, nor less than five feet five and
One-half inches tall, sound in eyesight
and hearing and free from all physical
defects. They must be of good moral
character, temperate and between
twenty-one and thirty-five years of age
on entering the service.
All possible information is obtained
from the applicant by means Of blanks,
which he fills out, answering questions
going closely into his personal history.
His first blank shows his name, age,
height, weight, place of birth, whether
his parents are alive and if so where
living. 1t also shows all persons de-
pendent upon him for support; wheth-
er. if married, he is living with his
wife, number of children, if any, and
their ages. He also gives his previous
profession or trade, tells whether he
uses intoxicating liquors and to what
extent, or INDUCES in games of chance
He tells where he wa7 last employed
and the cause of his leaving.
Next the applicant states whether he
is in debt and to what amount. If he
was ever employed on a steam or street
railway, he tells in what capacity and
gives the reasons for his leaving. His
acquaintance with employees of the
Denver company is detailed. and he
tells whether he has any relatives in
the service. This blank concludes with
list of the mans employers for the
last five years and the names of any
references whom he desires to be con-
suited.
If satisfactory returns are received
on private blanks sent to these people
Superintendent Cantril has a personal
talk with the applicant regarding the
duties of the position sought, the re-
cessity for certain rules and their Oh
servance. If the candidate makes
favorable impression he is given
blank for his medical examination and
sent to the company surgeon. There
he meets with more severe examina-
ton than is given by most Of the life
insurance companies. especially re-
garding his sight and hearing. 1t is at
this stage that many fall by the way
side.
Having been o. KID by the surgeon,
the superintendent starts the appli-
cant on his way to the shops with a
blank requesting that he be given full
instructions in this department. He
has entered the school of the motorman
and has his first view Of the ''instruc
ton carr After mastering the mys
teries of the motors, brakes, etc., he
enters the shops where repairs are be-
ing made, and there he works daily I'M
fill he learns all parts of q car. When
familiar with the construction Of con-
troIlers, motors and all car equipment,
his foreman recommends him to Super
intendent Cantril for further instruc-
tons. and the latter assigns him to one
of the divisions. On reporting to the
day foreman he is instructed regarding
the movement of cars and the duties Of
motormen, then he is turned over to
the division superintendent, who places
him in charge of an experienced
teacher.
Then come exciting times for the
new man. For few days he rides on
the front of the car merely to become
accustomed to conditions. He learns
not to lose his nerve under trying cir
cumstances, and becomes accustomed
to judging distances, unconsciously alb
sorbing knowledge and gaining self
confidence from his environment. Then
comes the day when he is permitted to
handle the controller and brake. IN
der the tutelage of the old motorman
he works from five to eight or ten days,
according to his aptitude to master
the machine in his care.
Next the embryo goes to the night
foreman of his division car house,
where he learns to make all small re-
pairs, such as might b erequired on the
road, and he is taught his duties in
taking out or bringing in car. While
at this work he must remember all that
his old friend on the front end taught
him about ringing the gong, full stops
speed, slow two miles and slow four
miles an hour, rounding curves, taking
switches and other details needful fol
e. <1f fo~ Of ~