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

The duties or the swlichman today
are different from the duties OF the
awitchman OF yesterday Tho switch
man OF yesterday was a tough pran.
oaiiion Peace troubled hts mind.
Twenty years ago N there was not
switchman's strike On Buffalo. thorn
we're two Ia Pueblo. Members so 9th.
az organizations used to regard the
sMi.chman in the light OF common
disturbance Peace troubled his mind
Mingled with iirewater be would hgn.
at the drop Of hia own groaay cap
and drop "a himself Bnt the switch
man has improved With agn. Ne was
always brave and daring, llo is OK
lraYngRnt, bat never lazy. ho Is an
Indian "a that ho Is apr io grow weary
ST the monotony of llfo in any pnr.
ticular locality BE moves. often be-
fore the rent Is due. 4 want a sob.
said swlichman. az no leaned over
iho railing IN tho yardmastor's office.
What road YOU from2' asked the
yardmasier. and the swltchman an
swfred All but tbs one. and / 81
probably be- from this one In D week ="
! once heard a switchmnn, "a real
tough tramp HWltcnman. telling a
friend Of his how 10 secure employ
meni Don't blow ln Ike "A hoEgar.
said hei but sweep IN and 10 81 om
quick and fuai Don't ask for a SOB
braklns hii em Cor q passenger train
and ynull get a job a-sWiichln'. other.
wise you'll get n0ihin'"
WuAid moi have the reader infer
that al me tough railway employees
pf yesterday we're awiichmen. for
there have been great improvements
/ On enc morals of the service. and, of
COURSE, the sWltchmun has improved
and developed along with oihqr train
men. but be was handicapped IN the
beginning Perhaps tho hazard of hil
calling tended to make him reckless
Of hia own life aud limbs. and cor
/ rcsn0ndingly indifferent tn the welfare
Ui hts ielluwmeu nuf II anyone De- m
irpuhle, especially ~ the troubled 0n,
happens in Dee woman OF chic
I ihe HWitchman viii empty his pockoi
io assuage tho distress in fact. u,
tH aH generous AS hc i8 brave Sow
with improved conditions and e les
SEEMING Of danger and the growing
conviction that a good sWiichman need
nut necessarily be- iouah. the switch
/ man ls eguluilnE The old dreaded
deaihpap-lhe open frog into which
lhe HHiichmnn 90 yesterday used I'd
ma his foot caught d no more. ID
large yards ihny save special switch
engines with high platforms. leyo
with she cUaenes. FOR aWiIUhlur PAS
Hcnger cars. IN fact. the railway man
laaers are working constantly 10 ioaaof
tae danger % The yard. which ia shs
! workshop of tho swiirhmau.
When che long, aoot-siRined frclghl
irain efeWls YEARLY seto the division
nl yards, tho conductor. hoafinr hi
dianer pail and a bundle Of wayhills
uliRhiF and heiRkUs himself % ths
yardmasters Office. where 10 refistofl
the arrival 81 hIs traia and deposit.
the Hnyhills Hls responsibility fu
the train o. ai au end when these on.
lpfationa are completed Before hf
reaches the little home ~ the suburbs
where mo kids are anxioualy wait.
ms ior daddy q switch ohslne. ncr
fously responsive lo che signals OK
man Ia dirty Ororalla q tearing thai
long freight train to pieces nnd hufi
ing TIE units into various sldinFs des.
] lRnatcd by she man in iha ovefalln
The man ID mo oyolalls Is called
"swiichman
in Great Britain and Un fh0 ronfin
eat of Europe Tie aNiichiuF or sorilni
lof Trains ~ done nnrInaiY by horse.
lor by gfaFliY in fhia counfre ii has
az faie. oeee tone ty locomotive.
pushing ~ pulling the eorH in and on
lpi sidlnef AZ some of The larger ton.
icrs ihia method o. found toe slow
ana ohpensife. and lhu uollne system
Naf devised, rye ongine a0uld rnl
nionFs'ee of siyine of cars and hl
meana ~ pole projecting from Ih.
'front.' would seize each cas ln luru -
ihe corner and give o. sufficient So