Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-03-21

n telegraph
and have had, like most railroad MEN, plenty
Of experiences some of which have not been of the
most agreeable nature. There is which l clearly
recall and shall probably continue to recall SO long as
| remain on this trick - in this world - and
| believe it is certainly typical one.
| was in the year IS, trick dispatcher on one OF
our great transcontncnal roads and working on the
second trick. We working with short force and
long hours, as the management was making one OF
their spasmodic efforts to economic.
On the particular day to which shall refer We had
been having very hard time on account OF Sc
we're snow and wind storm, a "blizzard, which had
blocked some parts OF the line and had kept out extras
in the shape OF snowplows against which trains had to
to be protected.
The man relieved was nearly worn out, and observed
as | .ook charge: Goodnight Charlie. | going
to he I'd in for a good nights rest and if any flags
me before l am rested III them into the siding"
felt very nervous for some reason, and had Consli
cradle trouble getting the lay Of my work. new
in the office and in Of this kind where there
extras scattered all over the DIVISION it required my
undivided attention to keep myself perfectly straight.
More than once stumbled something, and had to
pull myself together; but on the whole got on very
well until ! so busy that | forgot my nervousness
and work went on very we'll
I was to be relieved by the chief dispatcher after
nine hours work, and soon began to long for his APP
pearance. He was past due was tired and hungry,
and minutes heightened into hours. | grew impatient,
and felt like beratlng operators who were little slow
in responding to my calls.
Finally the chief arrived, and it did not take me long
to get out as had my transfer all prepared 'Noure
late, | remarked he took off his ovcrCoat "a
little he replied, chow is everything" l .nade
hurried explanation OF the situation and left the office
As plowcd my way through the snowdr1ts to the
hotel where boarded l labored under the impression
that had forgotten something what, could not recol-
ect try as l might and finally shook the feeling of,
had supper, and went to my room, where I pulled
chair before the stove lighted my pipe, and tried TO COM
pose myself and convince myself that everything was
running smoothly and that l had every reason to be
happy The endeavor was not very successful, how
ever and soon felt feeling OF dissatisfaction gaining
control of me- well, the whole my lot medtated
is not the happest in the world. Here | am working
like a slave and worrying like Spectator all for one
hundred dollars month"; while employees in other de
partments are working regular easy hours, with little
or no responsibility and drawing much larger salaries"
l recalled the time when had been telegraph oper
ator and had imagined that it would be T meet salts
faction to hold down a trick as dispatcher / had
gained it and found it not what had supposed
it to be OF course it was not bad if everything went
we'll but suppose l should make mistake, bring two
trains together ditch something and kill lot of people