Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1906-06-30


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 fiji
teen years hence the patrons Of some
American road may not be handing
over thcir 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
tric 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-
rience Of the elevated management
that the lads from the smaller places
are apt to pass very creditabe phys
zeal examinations and to develop into
| IA 81 ouC ShlpIOJ
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 90
right from the bottom to the top. as
indeed every division superintendent
of the road has.
| f1n
J turn up often at the elevated com
. pany's famous training school in the
Sullivan square terminal, hardly less
frequently do people from callings
which would not seem exactly to pre-
pare for street railroading present pa
pers of application and recommends
ton. School-teachers and superintend-
: ents, weary of the deadenng grind of
t the schoolroom, have lately been an
pearing in considerable numbers Thev
know that In the chosen vocation tho
| same devotion that was shown in
| teaching will eventually reward them
r much better. College students. too. on
: 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.
1t 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
> Of the New England metropolis. There
l Is, at any rate, a considerable num-
0 Der of them. Some are men who he.
> came discouraged in the dlshearteninr
TASK OF maintaining a congregation in
J town OF diminishing population and
lessenlng regard for religious tradi-
: lions, and they turn to the conductors
| calling as one which gives outdoor life,
exercise of intelligent aud abundant
! opportunity to practice the Christian
l virtues, Occasionally a minister takes
the examinations because he has some