The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-16
Betterment Work OF Santa Fe
Shops Attracts Attention.
Reviewed by American Engineer
and Railroad journal.
HAS MANY ADVANTAGES
Affects BeneficiaIly All From
Wage Garner to Shareholder.
Gossip and Matters of Interes t
i'm Railroad Circles.

l. AA A&0AAAO0A OAA NAOos
The American Engineer and Rail-
road Journal desotes twenty-seven
pages of it's December number to de-
scribe the work that has been carried
on by the Atchison, Topeka and San
ia Fee railroad company during the
past two or three years by what has
come to be known as the betterment
department.
In explanation the editor states
THE fact that so much space is devot-
ed to one article in one issue is justi-
fed by its importance and the fact that
it touches intimately on practically
| every interest on the mechanical de-
partment.
1t is true that other roads have
realized the need of betterment work
and some instances have made cor
siderable progress, but nowhere do we
find such radical treatment or such
| striking results as on the Santa Fe.''
"Betterment work means the high
| est efficiency at the right time and
| place at the lowest cost. Economy is
never the aim sought for, but results
indirectly and in fullest measure from
the same methods which secure eff
cheney.
''Betterment work affects beneficial
| ~ everyone connected with railroad
work. from the wage Garner to the
| shareholder.
Usually the shareholder expects
| and demands certain results, which
! through a long series of dilutions final
| ly affect, and often unfavorably, the
worker; hence reductions of force, re-
duction of pay and resulting enmity
and strikes The newer methods begin
at the bottom, with the elementary
| operations, benefiting each man, and,
as these are perfected, efficiency grows
from item to part, from part to whole,
| from whole to operation; and, econ
omy, beginning in fractions of a cent
saved on minutes time, swells
| through all the number of all the en-
ployes. benef1ting each employe as it
covers his work, until in the end it
millions OF dollars.
1.-The direct results of shop better
ment and individual effort are:
For tho EmpIoyc
ITO shorten the hours OF labor;
"To enable each man to determine
his own earning capacity;
ITO increase earnings;
ITO do away with overtime;
ITO make him self reliant;
ITO addsato his value as he grows
''To add to his comfort and safety in
the shop;
ITO harmonic relations with the
employer.
''To decrease the cost of production:
ITO lessen the delays on each job:
ITO lessen careless wastes and
breakages;
ITO increase the output for the same
investment of capital;
ITO secure a higher class of en-
ployes;
ITO harmonic relations with en-
ployes.
Effect Of Betterrnent.
workman it brings the square deal
recognition of his individual ability and
skill, increased pay, greater security of
position.
"(2) OF the foreman, no longer slave
driver, it makes a planner, an Inspector
an administrator, thus developing him
responsibilities, and the better he plans
the higher his pay, not as a favor for
which he must forever be subsequently
grateful, but as a natural right, due,
not to personality, but to his perform
ance.
''(3) To the superintendent of shops
or master mechanic it gives a body of
loyal and efficient employees who are
constantly helping, instead of hinderfng
and he is thus freed from time and en-
ergy absorbing detail. 1t gives him the
sonal bias or feeling, of the efficiency
of every man, foreman, machine or OPP
Grafton.
30 To the higher official it will show
a
shop in any given month. or at a glance
show the eficiencies of any division as
to all it's important operations It de-
termines the relative economy of one
engine type as against another. 1t is
safe to say that with properly collated
records in graphical form, each based
on long intervals, the high official can
in one hour a month ascertain, better
what is going on than he could for
merly in days of surmise and uncer-
tainty.
"(5) BY means of the records boards
of directors can intelligently approve of
recommendations, and, when a choice
is forced, act on what is essentially of
greatest Importance. the most import
ant betterment rarely being the most
obvious.
'-(6) Finally, shareholders, as we'll as
workers, will benefit, the latter through
their more intelligent and less waste |
full efforts, the former through the ag-
gregated and harmonized efficiencies |
and resultant economies of all opera |
tions."
Million Pounds of Ice for Santa Fe |
F. a. Riddle of the lola Ice con1-lanv |