Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-08-22
"DOTAN|zING'
RAILROAD|NG
New York University Has Novel
Method of Teaching This
Profession.

The increase In numbers and import
nnee of the public utilities. transit, and
railroad commissions throughout the
United States has led the school of
commerce Of New York university to
lay special stress for the coming season
on it's courses in railroad traffic and
accounts, in order to provide special
training to equip men for positions on
such boards. The field for such posi-
tions Is now a large one, as most OF the
states have active railroad commits
sions; the larger cities have shown a
disposition to- establish special boards
to have jurisdiction over traffic prob
lens, and the new government rate law
has necessltated a large increase In the
force of the interstate commerce com.
mission These various official organi-
cations have created a large demand
for the services of young men with a
knowledge of railroad and traffic prob
lens.
METHOD OF STUDY.
What tho school aims to turn out is
the man who can study n railroad as a
botanist would study plant, who, by
taking as 81 whole its accounts. mileage
rate system. capitalization, agreements
with other roads, etc, can get a simple
and comprehensive understanding OF its
business, discover If there is waste, and
IL the delicate balance OF the interests
OF stockholders and patrons is being
preserved.
''RAIJRoAD" COURSES.
Courses In railroad traffic and ac-
counts have been given at Now York
university since 1905. They are held In
,4,.r- -. \ g,.er
building. so hs TO be accessible to men
who are employed during the day. Dur
ing the past terms the students have
been for the most part clerks in ac-
counting office and other departments,
who wished TO make study OF railroad
operations as presented through the
form of accounts. and young men in
railroad offices who desired to get an
insight into the larger problems which
their superiors have to consider. 1t is
believed that students will continue TO
be drawn largely from these classes of
men, and many will come with the
broader idea OF acquiring the speciu
knowledge for use on an official board.
OFFICIALS APPROVE COURSES.
The university does not pretend that
the course win serve as a substitute for
practical experience or provide practise
work for men without previous train
ing. A railroad man, members OF the
faculty say cannot be made from lee
lures or books, but must serve a hard
apprenticeship in railroad shops and
offices. The courses, four In number,
are, however, essentially practical, and |
have met with the approval of expert |
enced railroad men. The course In |
railroad accounts, for instance, not only |
takes up the bookkeeping and account |
ing machinery of a railroad, but ana
lyzes the interreation of departments |
on an accounting basis, and makes |
study of freight and passenger earn |
ings, operating expenses, fixed charges, |
auditing methods. accounts of allied |
conpan MES. and statistical helps in rail- |
road operation.
FOUR IN NUMBER.
A course in corporation securities and |
makes a thorough study of rail- |
road securities of all kinds, as well as |
methods. Incidentally. the |
student learns how to analyze railroad |
reports. Railroad transportation in the |
United States is the title OF another OF
the courses In which the principal rail-
road systems of the United States are
studied with reference to their loca-
ton. terminals, traffic policy, and the
sources and character OF their traffic.
The fourth course IL in railroad traffic
problems. In which specific rate prob
lens that have come before the inter-
state commerce commission and the
United states courts are studied.
The enlarged courses Will, 1t Is be-
l,eved open a new field for the scienti-
nc study OF the railroad business.
flc study of the railroad business.--New
York Evening Post.