Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-12-16
HOW RAILROAD MEN CLIMB
Tslsgrsphy Considered a Prime Essential
to Success.
MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE LIFE
some NotabIes who Reached the
Hish Perch from the Operators
Desk-Best school in the
BusinsaH.

The great railroad men Of this country
have come up from the ranks Here and
there are a few who have entered tho rail-
way business with a university education or
through the avenue of good pos.tiLns, but q
large majority have started with q common
school education and near the bottom rung
Of the ladder. There hardly is a humble
calling connected with tho business from
which one or more men have not climbed TO
the top.
President Harris OF the Burlington began
his railway career as an ofncc boy in the
offlces at Hannibal. Mo. OF tho road OF
which he Is now head. President Winchell
OF the Rocl; Island and President Mellen
OF the New York, New Haven & Hartford
started IN minor clerkships. President Har-
ahan OF Tho Illinois Central forty-two years
ago was a svltchman In the yards at Alex
andria- Va.
But the instrument with which the larE-
est number Of railway men have unlocked
the door TO great successes has been the
telegrapher's key. Probably more Of the
prominent railroad operatives Of this oouu-
try started in the business as telsGraphers
than in all other ways combined.
Train Dispntchers Succeed.
The avenue through which the telegraph
operator generally rises to high positions Is
the train dispatcher's Office Conditions in
railway operating departments have
changed considerably in recent years. Some
reads the Pennsylvania being a consplcu-
Gus example, have been employing IN their
/ operating departments many engineers who
have graduated from the technical schools.
President Cassatt, himself a graduate OF
| the Rensselaer, Polytechnic institute, has
/ been the chief promoter Of this policy.
There also has been a rapid increase OF
double tracks and CT block signal systems
and other appliances which, by Tightening
the labors and rendering less important the
| responsibilities OF train dispatchers, re-
strict in some degrees their opportunities for
developing and proving their capacity for
higher positions,
I Il is the opinion Of those best fitted to
Judge that IN the future, as in the past, the
/ men who start at the telegrapher's key
and end In the general managers, vlce
presidents and presidents offices will be
numerous IN the land. This Is the view
taken by William A. Gardner. who, as vice
president IN charge OF the operation and
maintenance OF the Chicago s. Northwest
ern, controls the handling OF mere trains,
perhaps, than any other railroad man in
Chicago Mr.. Gardner himself began rail-
way work thirty years ago as telegrapher
for The Chicago & Alton at Lemont. III.
TeIeRraphy Is Best school.
Il don't mean 10 assert" said Mr.. Card
ner that men can't be trained for operat-
Ing officials as we'll I'm any other schcol as
in that OF the telegraph operator, but be-
lieve that in the future, as in the past that
is the school from which the greatest num-
Der Of them win be graduated. Supcrin-
tendclts constantly are on the lookout for
operators who show special alertness cool
ness and clearness Of head and application
to their duties. Such operators, no matter
where they are found. are advanced speed
sly to the train dlspatchers office as va
cancies occur.
ION every division there Is a chief dis
patcher and six assistants. The assistant
dispatchers work tricks Of eight hours
The chief dispatcher works nearer eighteen
hours than eight. He often has a telegraph
instrument IN his room, so that he can b.
called day or night. The dispatcher mus
have initiative and a Judgment that is no
hasty or impulsive. He must know how I,
handle men, for every operator and ever!
conductor and engineer Is under his orders
He must plan his campaign and stick to II
He fights q battle every hour. Every trail
represents a regiment OF soldiers, and tn
dispatcher must move them all so they vii
not meet or they will at once plunge int
deadly conflict.
Lives an Anxious Life.
THE train dispatcher has more annoy
snces and anxieties every hour than an