The silver state news. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1907-1909, 1908-07-14
SUPERINTENDENT MANSON rs
AUTHORITY FOR STATEMENT
Railroad Business Rapidly Approach
ing Normal Condition-Scarcity of
Men for Track Work and
Shortage in Skilled Labor

f. c. Manson, superintendent of the
Salt Lake division of the Southern Pa
cifc, came in on No. 3 Friday in his
private car, and left for Salt Lake
on No. 10 Seen at the station by
representative of the Silver State
of business, on his division Mr. Man
son said:
Business is picking up and will
soon reach its normal condition. There
have not been quite so many freight
trains running this week as usual, but
that is owing to the fact that the
Fourth of July and Sunday came to-
gether this year. When the hard
times struck us we had just put on
new large engines, which reduced the
number of freight trains from three
to two, so you see that the services of
quite number of men were dispensed
with on that one account. But through
it all we have not reduced wages. The
shops at Sparks started up the other
day full time and full-handed, and all
the old men who were there were put
back to work. In fact we had a hard
time to secure enough skilled labor.
as that class of help, as rule, does
not wait around a great while afttr
being laid off It would seem as
though all the idle men had left this
section of the country. We need 20a
additional men Immediately for track
work, but they cannot be had for the
reason that they are not in the
state.
"All over the system business is
rapidly improving. and | think we may
safely say that there will be no more
layoffs this year, but that on the cor.
trary our working force viii be con
stantly augmented. [ have Just re-
turned from trip to the Sound coun-
try and ! find conditions much inn
proved there.
BY the way, the company has
adopted a new system. There are 10
lfN1sfoH duu tdtn Dut
is required to take ffteen-days'
trip each year. with as many heads of
departments as his ear will aeeommo-
date, and go out over the line and ex-
change ideas with and observe the
methods of the other employees. In run
ming up and down the same division
year in and year out, we get into rut,
and this new scheme will prove of
great benefit. + returned on the 18th
Of June from my trip. The only man
! had with me from my own division
was B. A. Campbell, the trainmasree
here at Winnemucca We went 1,
Portland and the Sound country and
learned great many things that Will
prove of practical benefit. Two of our
men from this division, Messrs. T. F.
Rowlands, assistant superintendent
and J. f. Toombs, trainmaster on the
west end, are out now with w. II.
Jones, superintendent of the Montana
division. They will visit st. Louis,
Kansas City and Omaha, returning
home by way of Denver
"What truth is there in this talk
of moving the division from Winna-
mucca to Inlay, Mr.. Mansone'' in
quired the reporter.
81 do not know was the answer.
"That is not within my jurisdiction,
as it belongs to the construction de-
partment. But if this is to be done.
il is a long way off, as at present there
is not man working there, not even
Waterman. ] will qualify that state
ment by saying that there is just one.
who lives in ear and attends to the
coal.
g Now what | have said you may
depend upon as being the exact truth.
The newspaper boys are our friends,
and it is poor kind of man that
would lie to his friends In fact, it is
the policy of the company to deal
frankly and fairly with the news
papers. A railroad is quasi
public institution, and there are many
things connected with its policy and
management that the public, through
the newspapers, have right to know.
Any time you want any informa-
ton, come and see me, and you will
get it. But come around about meal
time, and we will endeavor to show
you good dinner" was the parting
injunction of the genial "super."