The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-08-08

tired. On the Baltimore & Ohio. for
example, $50 employees are carried ON
the pension roll today. and the con-
tribctions by the company To the
fund have already run up TO $3.50
400.
Railroad men have been encouraged
TO form relief associations TO care
for sick and injured members and TO
relieve widows and orphans The
companies contribute heavily TO the
relief funds, furnishing Offices. sta
tionery and clerical forces. The Balu-
more d Ohio started of its relief as
soc.ation with n gilt of 100000 and
has since borne all expenses OF adj
ministration. The Philadelphia &
Reading contributed a like sum for
the relief fund OF It's employees. and
has given annually per cent OF the
amount contributed by the members
of the fund. In this case. also, the
company bears the expense Of man
agement.
The encouragement OF thrift
among their men is part of the policy
OF the modern railroad. The com
pnny volunteers to take care OF the
savings OF its employees. and guaran-
4
deposIts earn more than per cent,
OF course. the employees get the bene-
fl of the excess. Savings deposits
entrusted TO one large railroad ag
greeate 81 500, 900. Since the system
was inaugurated. loans to employees
for the building of houses, have ag-
gregated $S.O00,000
In 1885 to 1907. employees savings
taken care of by the Pennsylvania
railroad amounted To more than sll.-
600 900. The interest on the savings
came to total OF Sl,226.o00-
The educational work Of the rail-
roads has grown until every large
company Is practically technical col
lege. Apprentice systems have been
adopted. The company gets men as
Young as IL can, and trains tham
thoroughly to be competent railroad
workers. Often the men who have
been working for one road. for sew
eral wears. apprentice their sons. so
that the youths may be well trained
to serve the same road.
On one large western road boys
are indenturcd at 16 years OF age ior
four years. While they are under
instructors they receive liberal wages.
AL least four hours a week they spend
in school Studying problems con-
nected with daily work. In addition.
the company provides night schools
at which the apprentices may I'M
prove their general education. Bonuses
arc paid to apprentices who do eN-
ceptIonally good work.
This company does not conhne II
self 10 teaching trades to the young
men. IL seeks to exercise some con
trol over the habits while off duty,
fixing a standard for their conduct
Cigarette smokers. for example. can
not be apprentices.
When a boy has finished his ap-
premiership he has an opportunity TO
take a regular job Eighty per cent
OF the boys stay with the company
after their time is up. and one-hali oil
the others return within year
One OF the eastern roads, which
has an elaborate apprentice system,
has contributed s55O.O0o to the high
school in the town where Its principal
shops are located, This company mas
technical department which, Tor It's
particular purpose, is rot surpassed
anywhere The so-called Hartman
lines not only produce Ilaiheu' 'Ni
ed mechanics. but they have a sort
of higher education to qualify men
to become general officers. In l9o9
there were 25 students taking
course of 80 months study. that they
might ill high Jobs.
The tendency of all these various
"outside" activities Of the railroad
companies is TO produce a STEADY
trained army-an army composed oil
men who enter it young and stay IN
il. not of men who enroll for tenn
porarv stay. premium Is put upon
permanencc of employment Pen
sions and the full benefits from the
relief funds and insurance funds
come only to the men who stay AT
their posts.
If tho action OF the companies is
philanthropy, 1t is wise. business-ltRe
philanthropy Moreover. il is not
only beneficial to the companies and
the men. but 10 the public; for 1t
tends to produce skilled pJblic ser
wants able 10 carry on the transports
ton business OF the country with the
minimum OF delay and accidents.