Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1906-11-10

poiua 90 carry % into one VI n series
OF tracks laid out gridlr0n fashion
where fHre arc located according to
destinations TIE polling system in
turn is now being superseded hy the
gravity method in France ne grav-
ity yards we're constructed With two
series OF tracks. laid ONT gridlron
shape. attached Do each other dihron.
any $50 ihat cars would run from one
series 90 Che other The modern
American idea % 40 have two sets OF
tracks in the form Of grldirona coup
icd together by two tracks forming
Ia hump which II laid between the
two yards on q grade of 3 per cent
Cars arriving in one yard are run pap
,he hump and drop down onto the
tracks ou the other side. holnf sorted
"uu The wing" ns Il were. according
in contents and destination
IN theso large gravity Yards, unriic
ulariy. ehr swilchman must ho q man
of quick eye. neof of foot. and Of
sound end steady nerves NJ o. hts
duty to seize ihe cars by the corner
as they drop down 90 the rate of ~
or 10 miles an hour, mount them 10 D
trlce. and set iho brake sufficiently tD
reduce the speed materially within a
ieW hundred feet Tho occupation o..
therefore. the most hazardous IN the
railway scrYice although modern
safety appliances have done great
deal 10 reduce the peril ID the old
days when ink end PIN couplings
were in nse The swlichman was re-
mired 90 30 la between the cars io
couple and unc1upie them, and many
fatal accidents occnred through his
( iaiiHro % unsorve precautions n You
ASK the ODD grlSkled gentleman in tao
/ blue uniform. a. ho cniiecis your rail-
way ticket. what became of ihe nneor
m.ssine from his right hand ho VIII
PROBABLY say. Sir ! lcfi thar finger Ia
/ q draWlar when Has FWiirhlug cars
af kansas City away BACK in the
( NHf
J fhg switrhman 0f today 81 not ro-
I quired to gn between cnfs. except ~
| nnconple air hose. and Ia many ui inr
large railway yards hls duty D. now
peinE delegated tp car inaporturs
\ There gilll. nf course. remaina many
( dangers necessarily attendant nn tnc
/ work 1f boarding cars on the iiv. slid
iHg ATOMS tho running boards on a
dark winter night. and riding on the
! iuuiupafd of an engine in slippery
weather On account of these periis
a Is only The more daring and reckless
IaplrliH Bmongsi the railway employees
who engaged iu yard work aud ihoy
have oatnDd ihe reputation of being
the most unsteady. interchangeable and
iurlHiNNl hQdy Qf meu in tho husi-
ness. There % No sympathy between
the road irnlnmen and fha HWlfchmfn
aud iur several years Toe l1hor organ
nations representing fhc Two h0diog
have been "a vanance the sWltchmen
Hf an LARGE ceniers being subjected %
what might be termed 3 social boy
poli hy ne other Glasses 0f railway
men. A. rule the yafdmot are no.
married. are prone 500 wander from
one place of employment 10 another
ana usually end either br drlfiing into
regular train service and riaiuF al
NE position az conductor. or succumh
% their resnlar habits OF iho haSardl
lnf thclf occupation. They are paid
ir0m g5 to a5 cents an hour and
usually can earn onoueh 90 konu
themselves and family 90 deconoy and
lc0miorl. bot "a real Htcady.Eplnr 90
mcaflratei sNlichmau a novelty
lIhey tafo tbo virtues which ro with
"a stout heart and nn independent
spir0 n all ages and under all condi
lions and o. q class are remarkable
leyen amongst ie mehearltd rail-
rnldrfn Tor ihrIr nNnorosiiF, rhafilg
ana lofaiy 90 each other