The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1905-01-19
Hurry Up.

IN THIS high pressure age, what
happened yesterday is history to-
day. Whether it may have been in
the nature of Il national calamity |
or a national benefit, or a matter of
local concern of proportionate import |
ance, as soon as the first impressions
are received and passed upon they
become questions of minor importa ance
because of the rapid pace which our
part of the world is travelling. 1t is the
natural result of the concentration of
mechanical and physical energy that
burns itself out in indeavoring to do
in a minute what should be given
much more time in performance. 1t is
an age of steam and electricity, of
quick thought and quick action and it
is a natural development of our busi-
ness system that the entire public
mind is always urging someone to
hurry everything along.
"Get there" is an American motto,
and as matters stand it would be a
waste of time to advise anything else.
The effect of this hurried manner of
doing everything is not always for the
best. 1t is true that our high pressure
capitalists, high pressure stock deals
and combinations, high pressure
mechanical appliances and high pres
sure employees have brought the COM
mercial world to the feet of America.
However, there is price paid for all
this that is seldom reckoned when the
balance is considered. The questions
of dollars and business advantage are
the only ones that are taken into ac
count; while the saitss of wast6d'
energy, that drive capitalists to the
sanitarium and employees to the poor
house, are not taken into calculation; !;
and the dead, caught in the rush, are
buried and censured for having been
in the way of progress.
This condition of affairs applies to
every form of business management,
and it's effects are now demanding
attention from observers of the
changes that are apparent in the lives
:, of officials and employees. Our busi-
ness methods demand the sacrifice, and
J, so the great public, anxious for its own
advantage, demands that all possible
3 steam be carried, and does so realizing
that the inevitable explosion will GER
: tainly cripple part of it. But every
9 man hopes to escape, altho he admits
8 the chances OF the other fellow are
Q very uncertain.
: This hurry up idea is more notice
9 able on railway systems than in any
branch of business. The public is in a
r hurry and it must be accommodated
h even tho the public be buried in sec
,, tions as result of the haste. Recent
l. ly the country has taken the time tC
7. read of several serious railway wrecks
o attended with great loss of life, anC
s. while the majority of them have faded
It completely from the public mind, the
o lessons taught by them will have to bt
s, learned over and over again as eacf
u recurring disaster, generally demanded
'1 as a sacrifice to speed, will bring th'
e question before the public. Railroad
81 corporations demand great deal from
't their employees, much more, as rule
q than they can safely give; but the pub
10 lie stands back of the corporations ant
le demands the speed, and so it has t
u have it.
j; Railroad business is now in two div
re sions, the very fast and the very slow
Dr. The men who man the fast trains bur-
~ themselves out under the high nervou
o. strain that must result from riding u
le ahead "boring holes in the night" a
sixty miles an hour; or from ridin
ID behind with every nerve on edge, realii
Is ing what any trivial occurrence ma
ne mean to the train and its living freigh
pc The men on the "drags" wear then
at selves out with the slow draggin
ae along from one passing joint to anotl
SIX er, worrying for fear time cannot b
re made, knowing that If it is not mad
there will be reprimand. They al
expected to take chances. If they d
is not come out all right they will (
punished. for time must be made an
the fast trains given 8 clean sshot
ut There is nervous strain in these lat
days Of railroading that shows mo