Semi-weekly herald., 1909-12-20
TRY HEADQUARTERS THIS TIME.

TRY HEADQUARTERS THIS TIME.
O.
Every one, who has had any deal
ings with the government service, or
with any OF the large corporations,
knows that these bodies move slowly
and individuals are often annoyed at
the delay either In service or In the
redress of grievances. In common Ian
guage, we express the process as red
tape.' and at this the public complains
loud and long. Where the systems
are so large, n small business trans.
action passes through many hands,
and each individual must be careful
not to exceed his authority or a repri.
nand from those above him will re-
suit. For instance, we know OF Z
case that happened on this division,
OF an engineer who was stalled with
freight train, at a station without
telegraphic connection with Durango,
on account of his oil running out
His orders read Durango. and he could
not get there without oil. and could
not wire for authority to purchase Il.
so he bought pint to oil up HIS en-
gine. The official next above him
reprimanded him for buying the oil
without authority. What would you
have done-risked wreck. or pint
OF oil2
The broken window. which was
boarded up at the depot. was doubt.
less an instance OF this sort. The
railroad does not usually give its
agents authority to make repairs, how
ever badly they are needed, without
permission from some one higher up
For some years three members OF the
writer's family we're employees OF the
d. & r. G. and for this reason we
speak from knowledge Of matters
that have come under personal OBJ
servation.
We are all agreed that there are
many things In the service OF the d.
X. G., which, for the good OF the
road. as well as for the people gem
orally, should be corrected Both In
efficient and insufficient equipment In
passenger and freight service, works Z
great hardship on the employees OF the
road, and on the travelling and ship
ping public. II would not seem that
economy which necessitates poor serv.
Ice Is sound policy, for poor service
must result in the end. In poor bust.
ness, and poor business Is an expen.
sive luxury. few will care to afford.
We understand that Superintendent
Deans recent visit was for the pur-
pose OF increasing the efficiency Of
the service. and we trust that his trip
Will bear fruit. The general superin-
tendent Is one Of the persons who may
be expected to aid In correcting the
shortcomings mentioned above. We
trust he will recommend improve
ments and hat his suggestions viii be
carried out. We wish that General
Manager Clark would also visit us
we think he would find IL worth while.
A word Or two In regard to the at
titude of the railroads employees in
and around Durango will not be out
of place. We have found the opera.
tor. agent and superintendent always
courteous and we have known them
under serious and harassing conditions
in floods. snow blockades, mud
slides, rains, trains arriving at all
hours, and no trains at all, and no
word To know where they were held
up. or when they would arrive.
We know Of personal knowledge that
Assistant Superintendent John Deuel.,
and Operator II. Moore and Agent
Fred James have put In many hours
| overtime in accommodating the pub
lie. The operator is supposed to quit
at p. m. and Agent James at 6, but
they have put in many night at the
depot tracing freight and looking up
other matters for persons whom delay
would Inconvenience. AS FOR MIR. Deu
| ell, It would probably be easier to
count the hours he doesn't work
since they are SO few. Superintendent
/ McAtee is here SO often that we feel
I he belongs here. although his head
quarters are In Alamosa. DURANGO Poo
pie are well aware how Messrs. No
Atee and deuel. worked the past year,
and what almost superhuman dif6cul
ties they had to face.
The fault is not with the employees.
Of the D. Z R. @. or with the dfvisicnl
superintendent--it Ia higher up. Thea
put the blame whore Y bsloAsn.