Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1906-02-17


Although less than twenty years
nave passed since it was first proved
In Richmond, Va. that there We're com
merclal possibilities in the overhead
trolley, the profession OF electric rail-
roading has already become 80 well es-
tablished that all sorts OF young men
are getting into 1t. 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 Ave or IF
teen years hence the patrons OF some
American road may not be handing
over their nlckels to uniformed con-
ductors In pettlcoats.
A large proportion, certainly, Of
those who thus join the ranks do so
with the expectation of rising from
| fln p1uffnrua 10 N hft,lor .afI
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 few years ago occupied humble
positions at small wages.
A large percentage comes from the
country 1t has indeed been the expe-
Renee Of the elevated management
that the lads from the smaller places
are apt to pass very credltable phys
ical examinations and to develop into
lhigh-e -ade employees.
remarkable diversity as to former
lecgup atoms exists among the mer
WHOM the visitor to Boston notes Us
lpolite conductors or mOtormen in well
cut uniforms. Many, Of course, report
simply that they have all their live.
been farming or helping their parents
on the farm, but among the hundred,
of new ones taken on each year are tC
be found the names OF men who mus
have been through stirring adventures
before they undertook the useful tasI
Of collecting nickels. From the United
States army and navy there Is notice
able a regular drift TO the service o.
the Boston company. Several score o.
former soldiers or sailors pass theil
examinations every year and enter tn,
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
tlnue TO be good soldiers. They finC
In their new occupation opportunities
for advancement which are impossible
in army and navy, for there exists il
It no impossible barrier between com
missioned and non-commissioned Off
GERS. The most efficient men may &,
right from the bottom to the top, a
indeed every division superintendent
Of the road has.
II men from the government servic
turn up often at the elevated com
pany's famous training school in tn
Sullivan square terminal. hardly les
frequently do people from calling
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 deadening grind o
the schOOrOom, have lately been al
pearing in considerable numbers. The
know that In the chosen vocation til
same devotion that was shown 4
teaching will eventually reward ther
much better. College students, too, Ell
lAfA ALt NtA ~ SWIM ARA n AtN nOnln
/ in the summer and others-those of tn
. type that the company most approve
for permanent work.
l 1t would be hard to say Just no,
4 many ex-clergymen are taking up mel
D els instead OF presenting contribute
boxes on the lines running In and on
Of the New England metropolis. Their
Is at any rate. a considerable nun
Der OF them. Some are men who b,
came discouraged in the disheartenin
task Of maintaining a congregation
a town Of diminishing population an
lessenlng regard for religious trad
tons, and they turn to the conductor
calling as one which gives outdoor III
! exercise OF intelligent and abundaI
e opportunity to practice the Christia
virtues. Occasionally a minister TAX,
;. the examinations because he has SON
i throat trouble which prevents his <
ing on with his preaching.-Chicag
Chronicle