The enterprise-recorder. (Madison, Fla.) 1908-1933, 1908-10-15


ing to an engineer of repute who has
analysed their methods. In the stop
ming Of these'leaks this engineer sees
the solution of the present problem,
and he declares that there need be
no question of cutting wages or rails
ing freight rates If the railroads
would only attend to the ceaseless
drain Of petty unnecessary waste on
their resources. Moreover he asserts
that there is no need of the talk OF
car famines.
Harrington Emerson, until recently
Standardizing Engineer Of the Amer
lean Locomotive Works, who says
these things, told a New York Times
reporter, that there were more than
enough freight cars and locomotives
in existence in America, and that
their apparent scarcity at times is
caused by the lack of a system which
will keep them properly moving, and
BY the innumerable delays to which
they are subjected,
Mr.. Emerson has had many years
experience on some of the largest rail-
road systems of the country, and has
specialized in the production of the
greatest efficiency in men and ma
terlal. He has been engaged to give
a course of lectures next fall in the
engineering department of Columbia
University on this very subject.
Railroad officials" he said ear
nestly, have no conception of the re-
suits they could achieve by endeavor-
ing to bring their STATS to the highest
average of efficiency, and the use only
of equipment up to the highest pos
sible standard,
They have been handling their
problems with the telescope. They
need now the microscope. Many Of
the most brilliant organizing and OPP
Grating minds of the last two genera
lions have been attracted to railroad
ing, but for that very reason these
men have been of supreme ability as
to the chief problem, Tath ar than of
all-around excellence as to the lesser
problems.
Small Leaks Ignored.
up to the present the chief officials
have been engaged in getting the
traffic and moving It within the limits
laid down by the law. Enough at
tention has not been given to stopping
small leakages. which in great sys-
TEN run into the millions"
As an illustration of what he meant
Mr.. Emerson took the grease cup on
a locomotive. 1t is a trifling part Of
the engine. To the automobilst, who
uses but one machine, it matters very
little whether he pays 81 or fifty cents
for it, But to the railI0ad, which !
needs 10000 a year, a saving of ten
cents a cup means $4,000 more for its
net earnings. In the same way small |
economies in the manufacture and |
use Of thousands of parts which |
railroad needs in its daily business |
mount up to enormou sums.
The shops" said Mr.. Emerson,
always come Off worst in the coun-
ellis Of a railroad. They are looked |
upon as necessary evils, and there is |
not nearly as much consideration |
given to the best way of effecting |
repairs OF, of maintaining the rolling |
stock and the track as there should /
be- There is no standard of efficiency |
set up for the minor operations, and, |
in consequence, the results achieved |
are expensive and unsatisfactory"
Mr.. Emerson is an authority on this |
Standardization OF work, and has
given years of study to working out |
exactly how much a man can accom-
plish on a particular Job, and pre-
cisely how much such Job should
cost, He asserts that the organiza-
uon which reaches the highest known
eHlciency is travelling circus There
certain definite operations have 10 be
performed each day in a certain def
mite time, and every single part OF the
work has been reduced to a system.
1T has been discovered" said Mr..
Emerson, that to drive in tent pegs
IN the shortest possible time five men
should work in a gang. II four go
around together there Is an interval
When the peg is not being struck by
siedge' II six men are employed, one
VIII have to wait few seconds to get
IN his blow. But II FIVE form the
gang regular rhythm can be kept
up and the sledge of the man who
mas struck has Just time to slide from
.ne peg before the next descends. It
Is this marvellous organization which
caused military authorities before
\ oW to send their transport officers
Gus