The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-19

| SWORDS EdQ D60n- DdIneQ IN DlOOQ ana
the lives of the fathers and sons Of
fered upon the altar of freedom and
| liberty.
These people were composed of la
borers, farmers, mechanics and pro-
/ fessional men, and sought shelter un-
+, der our temple of freedom, and the
extension in transportation facilities
became necessary to accomn1 odate
| those who would inhabit the great I'M
known interior. in order that the
products of their industry might be
| favored with market as reward
for their toil-and. quick as flash
came into existence the railway. 1t
| is true its early construction was to
US of the present day. who can look
back, rude and ancient. and we would
purpose of the times. 1t was the
| opening wedge which led to the pos
| sibilities of the future.
Railroad Progress.
you will pardon me, but time will
not permit my giving you even 8 COM
parative glance of the rapid strides of
railway progress. 1t has beer mag
astounded the Old World. No other
| Industrial pursuit has stretched it's
progressive mind with such rapidity.
Not only in our country. but alike in
| other countries, it has been the adj
vance guide of civilization. 1t has
| linked us into one commercial center,
and with the aid of the telegraph and
telephone into one people, uniting and
Welding our interests solidly together,
to the mutual advantage of not one
but ALL
with the multiplying of railways,
consolidation of small lines, into large
systems, extending to all points of the
compass; with classifying and system
atizing, dividing into divisions--oper-
ating, mechanical, traffic and numer-
other dRnarfmanfS-it has
and grown.
Railroads Beyond Comparison.
This growth has gone on
and on until no Industrial
pursuit can compare with it's
management in preciseness and
you will find your mail. express,
freight and passenger business trans
acted with dispatch, care and accur-
acy. With the interchangeable lines
of the past, a traveller passing between
the extreme portions of our country,
was obliged with his baggage to
change cars; the mail, freight and ex-
press was handled frequently; but
liken this unto a transportation scene
of today, when one can travel in lux
urious cars. with all the comforts of
firSt-class hotel without a change
all brought about by the excellent
service derived from the establish
ment of railway systems.
Perils of Pioneer Progress.
"The forging of railway construc-
ton into unsettled portions Of the
country was in the early days a pre-
carious undertaking. 1t required
pluck and energy, and notwithstand-
ing the fact that aid was granted by
the government in the nature of land
grants, still many of these undertake
ings fell by the way-side. and the
courts were obliged to take possession
of the property, through receivers and
eventually congratulations were per-
fected, much to the financial disaster
of the original investors.
But out of this chaotic condition,
through the management of able
f1nanciers, you now view with salts
faction, in this country, one of the
best railway systems of the world.
Real Cost of Construction.
1--WE have listened of late years to
arguments on the part of many pol
iticians and others that a railway only
costs a certain amount per mile, fig
uring unwittingly on the original cost
of construction, and therefore is
stocked and bonded in excess of orig
inal cost They certainly forget that
this is only a small portion of the
necessary money expended by railway
corporations. There is perpetual
maintenance, replacing and rebuilding
of road beds, bridges ties, etc. and
yearly this expense is very consider
able. Then comes the purchasing of
locomotives. cars, material and the
erection and maintenance of vast
yards and shops. Do you then Won
der that these expenditures. together
with the monthly payment of pay
is with the shrewdest management
that a surplus, if any at all, is collat-
ed.
1.-THE public in these days demands
dispatch, and the quick handling of
passengers, freight, mail etc. This
necessitates a perfect track. locomo-
tives of power and speed, cars OF large
capacity and tonnage, constructed of
the best materials. All these demands
have compelled the taking cut of
curves, reduction of grades strength
ening of embankments and bridges,
and in many instances double track
ing and leveling up of the roadway.
But this is not ALL The management
is still confronted with the wear and
tear of machinery, the blasts of win
ter. the frosts, rains. etc, causing de-
fects which must be repaired at the
speediest moment possible.
Part Played by Employees
'Now one of the essential and nee
essary adjuncts of railway operation
is its employees, composed of officers,
clerks, train and enginemen, track,
shop and numerous other employees,
anu among all the agents OF TINS gov
eminent employing labor, they are
the noblest Romans of them al.
For a number of years my duties have
called me into close business connec-
ton with these employees and 1 be-
lieve / know whereof I speak when
say that for intelligence, loyalty. hon
esty and faithfulness, the standard of
their efficiency compares very favor
ably with that of employees in other
manufacturing industries. Labor has
always been regarded an honorable
avocation. Without it our national
industrial fabric falls. With the or
CARNATIONS created within its ranks,
the past few years, it has elevated the
standard of it's fellows, broadened
their views, protected their earning
capacity, established equality of
wages. and mentally and morally ad-
vanced the laborer's standing as
man in the community.
Railway employees in discipline.
LOYALTY and truthful consideration of