The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1906-01-27

1S1!12
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 Of 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
fy 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 so
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 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 a few years ago occupied humble
positions at small wages.
A large percentage comes from the
country. 1t has indeed been the expe-
rience of the elevated management
that the lads from the smaller places
are apt to pass very creditable phys
ical examinations and to develop into
high-grade employees.
Remarkable diversity as to former
occupations exists among the men
whom the visitor to Boston notes as
polite conductors or mOtormen in we'll
cut uniforms. Many, of course, report
simply that they have all their lives
been farming or helping their parents
on the farm, but among the hundreds
Of new ones taken on each year are to
be found the names of men who must
have been through stirring adventures
before they undertook the useful task
of collecting nickels. From the United
States army and navy there is notice
able a regular drift to the service Of
the Boston company. Several score of
former soldiers or sailors pass their
examinations every year and enter the
industrial ranks under the leadership
of that veteran Of the Spanish war,
Major General William A. Bancroft,
president Of the elevated company.
Those, too, who have been good serv-
ants of Uncle Sam are likely to con-
tinue to be good soldiers. They find
In their new occupation opportunities
for advancement which are impossible
In army and navy, for there exists in
1t no impossible barrier between COM
missioned and non-commissioned off,
GERS. The most efficient men may 20
right from the bottom to the top, as
indeed every division superintendent
of the road has.
II men from the government service
turn up often at the elevated COM
pany's famous training school in the
Sullivan square terminal, hardly less
frequently do people from tcallings
which would not seem exactly to pre-
pare for street railroading present pa
pers of application and recdnmenda-
ten. School-teachers and superintend-
ents, weary of the deadening grind OF
the schoolroOm, have lately been ap-
pearing in considerable numbers. They
know that In the chosen vocation the
same devotion that was shown in
teaching will eventually reward them
much better. College students, too, en-
ter the service, some for a few months
in the summer and others-those OF the
type that the company most approves
for permanent work.
It would be hard to say Just how
many ex-clergymen are taking up nick
els instead Of presenting contribution
boxes on the lines running in and out
81 the New England metropolis. There
IL, at any rate, considerable num-
Der OF them. Some are men who he
came discouraged In the disheartenine
task of maintaining congregation In
. town Of diminishing population ana
lsssening regard for religious tradl-
lions. and they turn to the conductors
calling a. one which gives outdoor life.
exercise Of Intelligent and abundant
opportunity to practice the Christian
virtues. Occasionally minister takes
the examinations because Re has some
A<sat trouble Which prsvsnts ~ -