The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-01-24
RAILROAD MEN LOOK
FOR NEW REGIME

Washington. Jan 23-"The time
Will come when railroad employ for
every man In the service will not
mean drudgcry, nor 5inecure. nor ac-
cidental opportunity. but an enlight-
ened. stimulating. highly efficient scr
vice OF highest earning power. least
| uncertainty from accidental causes.
largest freedom for individual initia-
tive. entire self-respect and thorough.
ly democratic spirit"
With this prediction j. Shirley Eat
on, former statIstician OF the Lehigh
Valley railroad, concludes a lengthy
monograph for the United States Bu-
reau of Education on Education for
Efficiency In Railroad Service, +"
which Commissioner Elmer e. Brown
has submitted TO the Secretary OF
the Interior. In his letter OF trans
initial Commissioner Brown says the
subject OF educational preparation for
definite occupations In life, and par.
ticularly for the several trades. is
under serious consideration In the
United States. The relation of trade
education to general education is one
of the important aspects Of that ques-
ton. This relation was summed up
by President Nicholas Murray Butler.
of Columbia University, in saying:
What science and practical life alike
need Is not narrow men. but broad
men sharpened to the point"
The advance made in the present
decade in the subject Of education
for railroad service is very surpris-
ing 10 those who may not be inform
ed" says Mr.. Eaton. ideas OF prac-
tical men on the subject are now less
indefinite and conflicting. The rela-
ton between education and efficiency
in railroad service is coming to be
generally conceded. The large edu-
cational value OF the railroad service
itself Is being turned TO systematic
practical account, ard the value of ed.
ucatlonal agencies In preparing for
specific industrial efficiency Is better
understood
The railroad service in the United
States viii shortly reach a total of
100000 men 1t Is the largest md
most highly organized example of as
sociate effort In an epoch conspicuo
Gus for industrial and commercial
concentration. Education in a broad
sense must always be large factor
Railroad Eras.
I'm the course OF railroad develop
ment. there was first era. which
was the era OF railroad building
There was next an era OF co-ordna-
tlon Of the railroad service and fin
ance to the commercial and financial
conditions as whole with which the
railroads were called upon to deal
Next came the era of internal ad-
Jnstment on the physical and mechan
lcal side-perfectlon of the machinery,
cutting down grades, strengthening
bridges. increasing the train unit. And
now has come the era OF sociological
adjustment The human part of the
and wooden part in producing efilcien-
cy and so in increasing the income
The most practical and efficient
railroad manager today Is now square
ly up against the problem which he is
attacking in one form OF another, of
education, OF himself. his staff. the
individuals in the rank and fila, and
tho rank and fle as whole This
lis the last and highest and most com
prehensive stage OF the function OF
administration. II implies. for In
stance, an eager, resourceful. self-re-
specting ildiyldualism throughout the
working force, coordInated with
keen appreciation of the social charac-
ter OF the work, which expresses It.
self In a loyalty not to a person or
local group, but 10 the income ac
count Of the railroad-nor yet TO one
income account. but to the aggregate
of the Income accounts Of several
years. These income accounts, show
Ing steady, healthy growth over sew
eral years. become at the same time
the terms of largest service to the
community. the stockholder, and the
individual employee
Note Of Warning.
"A note OF warning may at this time
seem to be premature. but certain ten
dencles are already foreshadowed
which should not go unchecked. When
the railroad manager comes fully to
realize how his new-found tool OF
education enables him to shape almost
absolutely TO his purposes the work
Ing body there may arise the danger
that railroad specialization In educa-
tlon be carried too far
IF the railroads, when they come
very generally TO instruct their en-
ployees. turn their back upon the pro-
fessional teacher. severely divorcing
their work In Subject-matter and in
method from and at the same time
substituting II for the work oi the
regular established educational agen-
clos OF the grammar school and nigh
school grades, the result can only be
what the psychologist calls arrested
development for the learner.
Railroads as a whole. through
representative body such as the Am"
erlcan Railway association. should In
q comprehensive way take up the
matter OF the education OF railroad
employees. AS thoy now have com
mittees devoted TO standards OF con
struction. maintenance. and operating
practice. they should also have
standing committee of a character to
command confidence, who should sed-
ulously foster a closer relation be-
tween the railroad and educational
agencies"
Mr.. Eaton draws these conclusions;
Railroad financial management
should incorporate an educational
scheme as definite part of their
policy on the ground OF business pru-
dance. Such policies should be In