The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1905-11-18
NORTH WESTERN
MADE A RECORD
A,Ts PENINSULA DIVISION DURING
STORM WITH ALL WIRES DOWN.
TRAINS MOVED REsuLARLY
high Grade Of Employees Enabled The
Road 70 Keep up Business though
Crippled in Wire Service.

The well known writer on railroad
subjects, NJ Frank II. Spearman. in
his book entitled. THE Strategy Of
Great Railroads. - Describes the sur
prise of the General Manager Of one Of
the eastern trunk lines. on hunting
trip in the North Woods. who suddenly
found himself on the right Of way OF
splendid. well-bnilt railway line.
apparently Of a construction and equip
Inent similar 10 thu New York Central
or Pennsylvania, along which
thundered In quick succession heavy
trains of iron ore. splendid passenger
equipment and general freight service
of surprising proportions
This was the Peninsula Division Of
the Chicago a. North Western Railway,
which covers the Upper Peninsula of
Michigan, including the hardwood
district and Lake Superior iron and
copper region, with surprisingly
efficient net work OF lines that connect
the mines and forests with important
lake ports, and with through rail ser.
vicet to ana from the outer world
Along this busy ore-carrying line a
splendid exposition OF the loyalty, i'm
telligence and general good team work
that can be expected Of the average
railroad man and the efficiency OF the
rules laid down for his guidance in an
emergency, was given a few days ago.
which 40 greatly pleased the superin
tendent and other officials tnat the
story has Hnally crept into public
PRINT, and il is well worth repetition
| IN these columns.
- was All occasioned 10y "A very heavy
- storm that zen IN the Upper
vsnula few DAYS ago, which
throw down practically every telegraph
line in the region in few hours and
left the 40l miles Of the division
absolutely without telesfapbic service
Tor no less than forty eight hours
The ore movement has been especial
~ heavy this year, more Lake Super
ior ore being. transported on the Great
Lakes than ever before ia the history
Of the iron industry, and in this en-
ergency every mine would have TO shut
down on account Of the shortage OF
railway cars 10 move their porduet
unless the road was kept open in spite
Of the storm.
There was nothing that could be done
by the Chief Train Dispatcher; both
he aud the Division Superintendent
were temporarily out Of the game. 1t
was one Of these emergencies where
the imam behind the gun must make
good or the case was hopeless one.
And make good he did. in true blue,
loyal style, with that splendid inita-
tive tnat makes the average train crew
typical Of the qualities we admire in
our American troops
There was no way in which 20 get
orders for train movements, no means
by which division headquarters could
be kept advised Of where their trains
were, and 20 the onlooker. no means
existed by which the train crew could
keep track Of the whereabouts of trains
in the opposite direction. II was an
emergency Of the gravest character.
and WAS met with splendid exhibit
tion OF goon judgement and intelligent
grasp Of the science of railroad opera
tion that IL perhaps without an equal.
They managed. on a single track line,
without telegraph lines, for two whole
days and nights, 30 keep every iron
and copper mine in the district sup
piled with equipment and moved all
trains practically on time.
4,07l cars were moved over the
division Friday and Saturday. October
Goth and 2ist. and one hundred and
twenty freight trains and no lees
than thirty -fonhsassenger trains were
.Aken care of On the division, all
4 ndied on TIM ON n single track.
Without accident. mishap. or delay
md without the help OF train dis
patcher.
Can anyone beat that record Of
loyalty 10 employers. hard work and
intelligent grasp Of conditionsf
Any man VINO has ever handled the
train movement OF busy railway
division will appreciate how very
much is involved In the work thees
trsinnsen did. hurrying 10 and fro over
sssst covered cssA hseping cool, md
rssdy 70 uset every sxDsrssncy ~ -
vsssseics oe ths opsp<sine ru,ss pscvid'
"a fos t,,sif guidsocs.