The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-01-14
GOOD RAILROAD MEN
MOBILE OFFICIAL TALKS OF IM-
 PROMINENT IN CHARACTER.
John !. Flynn says EmplOyes of Med- ern Corporations Must Be In- teIligent and WilIing to
 Work Hard.
Advertiser Bureau.
 NR-Atr N. 10

John J. Flynn, general foreman or the Louisville and Nashville Railroad shops in Mobile, gave an interesting interview to a representative of The Advertiser. Mir. Flynn has been at the Mobile shops for about a year. He has been in the railroad business for twen- ty years, and all the time with the Louisville and Nashville except one year when he was master mechanic for another road.
 When went into the railroad busi- ness. starting with the Louisville and Nashville shops. in Louisville, most railroad men were illiterate and con- , sidered q very poor class of people. said Mir. Flynn. To-day the railroad man is learned and intelligent man, made so by the system of the railroads of doing business, and there must be something to him before he can get position of any kind with railroad.
 "The railroad of today takes more interest in their men than ever before for the reason that the men have been found to be responsible for the railroad. The railroad of today has a system like the regular army, and every man IS trained for his best work.
 .WI boy applies to me for po- sition I make him fill out an appiica- tion blank in my presence and deter mine from the blank what he IS prop ably best suited for. Every depart ment of railroad today Is trade: II used to be so that we would take a man out of the shops and make him a clerk.
 If the boy wants to be fireman. and is made fireman and then wants to be an engineer he has to prove him self fitted for the position. He Is ex- amined before board of three master mechanics and given list of questions that take three days to answer. The interest he took, in his engine while fireman will tell on his papers
 Tt is getting so that man must De a gentleman to make success in railroad position We will not allow our men to drink either on or off duty, if such case is brought to our no- tice, and we compel a man to treat his family right, pay his debts and the like. Of course, when man i'll our employ abuses his family the injured person hardly ever makes report tO us, but when sucn is the case, we take action right away. In other words, we make our men de right.
 The new Louisville shops can turn out an engine every day. The usual time to turn out an engine in the Mo- bile shops is thirty days. although Nr. Flynn has gotten out several in hfteen days since he has been here. Engines are only repaired at the Mobile shops, However, some Improvements are being made at the local shops. coal bin is In course of construction and will hold 100 cars of coal when 1t Is com pIeted. At present the coal is kept in cars. It is bought by the purchasing agent of the road for most anywhere With the building of coal bin, what l.. xI-~ nnn nrd0 oTn 0 improved-the ground is being raised and more switches built
 The new master mechanic. c. R. Gif- ford is getting his work well in hand Mir Clifford was recently transferred from Montgomery and is a highly com potent man. His predecessor, MT. Minto. is still in Mobile. MT. Mlnto Is largely interested in the Alabama Iron Works.
 The Mobile and ohio's big shops for the local division are located at Whis- tier, but the round house in Mobile gives employment to many expert me- chanics. Tha general foremAn at the round house is G, O. Manuel, q seourts- ous gentleman, who takes a great h. terest in the men under his employ.
 Foreman Manuel is expecting about fifteen new passenger, freight and switch engines of the larger type about the first of the month. When the new engines arrive, the smaller ones will be distributed over the different divis- ions for lighter work. A number of larger engines are now in use on the road. MT. Manuel says there may be some additions to the force when the new engines arrive.
 The offices of Superintendent of Mo- tive Power Mckee, formerly located in the old Mobile and Ohio building on North Royal Street. have been moved to the third floor of the new depot build ing The auditors offices, formerly To- cated in the Cotton Exchange building have also been moved into the new building. A modern elevator, tele- phone and many conveniences. have been installed in the new building and the work is going on rapidly.