The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1906-02-17

Although less than twenty years
have passed since it was first proved
in Richmond, Va, that there were COM
mercial possibilities in the overhead
trolley, the profession Of electric rail-
reading has already become so well es-
tablished that all sorts of young men
are getting into it. 1t Is again reported
this fall from several districts or the
Middle West that male school-teachers
can hardly be secured because the
young fellows who formerly taught in
the rural schools are now all in service
as conductors or motormen. From the
country towns in the East, too, there Is
all the time going on an exodus among
the most capable men to the offices OF
the transportation companies In the
cities. Such are the opportunities
which the extension Of urban and In
terurban lines have made that even |
women in some cases, as recently In
Indianapolis, have attempted to quail
fly as conductors, and though in this
instance they proved unsuccessful, no
body dares to predict that five or fif-
teen years hence the patrons Of some
American road may not be handing
over their nickels to uniformed con-
ductors in petticoats.
A large proportion, certainly, of
those who thus join the ranks do 80
with the expectation Of rising from
the car platform to the higher paid
positions Of responsibility. Although
the wages paid employees by the cleo
trio roads are good for the class of
work, the opportunities for advance
ment are what are especially attract
ing a superior class of men. Thou
sands. undoubtedly of the ambitious
: have been melted by the example of
street railway kings Of to-day, who
only few years ago occupied humble
positions at small wages.
A large percentage comes from the
country. 1t has indeed been the expe-
I rience Of the elevated management
. that the lads from the smaller places
t are apt to pass very creditable phys
= ical examinations and to develop into
/ high grade employees.
Remarkable diversity as to former
u occupations exists among the men
/ whom the visitor to Boston notes as
q polite conductors or motormen in we'll
e cut uniforms. Many, of course, report
II simply that they have all their lives
II been farming or helping their parents
rt ON the farm, but among the hundreds
II Of new ones taken on each year are to
y be found the names of men who must
le have been through stirring adventures
ts before they undertook the useful task
IL Of collecting nickels. From the United
10 States army and navy there Is notice
n, able a regular drift to the service Of
c the Boston company. Several score Of
Ut former soldiers or sailors pass theil
d. examinations every year and enter thu
re industrial ranks under the Leadership
~ of that veteran Of the Spanish war
1t Major General william A. Bancroft
ne president Of the elevated company.
w Those, too, who have been good serv
e. ants of Uncle Sam are likely to con
ny tinue to be good soldiers. They fin,
ce In their new occupation opportunitie
In for advancement which are impossible
ne In army and navy, for there exists i
&C. 1t no impossible barrier between CON
lst missioned and non-commlssioned off
lot GERS. The most efficient men may g
lal right from the bottom to the top, q
indeed every division superintendent
of the road has.
100 II men from the government servlc
loo turn up often at the elevated con
,or pany's famous training school in I'll
C,,lli fnrDnino1 ha rHlv los
oil frequently do people from calling
which would not seem exactly to pr
,us pare for street rallroading present p
FOR pers of application and recommend
,+r ton. School-teachers and superinten
In ents, weary of the deadenlng grind
=. the schoolroom, have lately been a
90 pearlng in considerable numbers. Tn,
~ know that in the chosen vocation Il
=. same devotion that was shown
A. teaching will eventually reward the
IN much better. College students, too, e
49,. ter the service, some for few mont
-, In the summer and others-those OF t
w.. type that the company most approx
for permanent work.
1t would be hard to say just he
. many ex-clergymen are taxing up MIC
VI els instead of presenting contribute
80 boxes on the lines running in and Q
'ne of the New England metropolis. The
10, at any rate, considerable nu
~ Der of them. Some are men who
,, came discouraged in the dishearteni
task of maintaining a congregation
town Of diminishing population a
lessening regard for religious ira
,nee tons, and they turn to the conducto
n calling as one which gives outdoor Il
exercise Of intelligent and abundi
IN opportunity to practice the Christ
- virtues. Occasionally a minister tai
the examinations because he has 30
throat trouble which prevents bis