Evening journal., 1910-12-06
PROBE ECONOMIES
in RAILROAD WORK
PennSy and Reading May
Make Great Reduction in
Operating Expenses
NOW STUDYING
THE SANTA FE PLAN

Scientific methods, involving great
reduction in operating expenses, may
be adopted by the Pennsylvania and
Philadelphia and Reading Railroads,
as the result of an investigation now
being made by T. De Witt Cuyler and
+. 4. Stotesbury. These men, who
are members on the boards of direc-
tors Of the two railroads, are in the
West probing the economic system
Of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe
road.
1t Is declared that it is the intention
of the two directors to recommend
the adoption of the Improvements
they observe if they find them to be
of value. They will return home on
Thursday and report on the conditions
they find in the shops and yards of
the Santa Fe.
In the shops Of the Santa ,Fe road
the superintendent of each knows
just how long it should take a
workman to accomplish a certain job.
The workman is shown how it is pos
sible for him to turn out the work in
the time allotted him for the purpose,
and he is given the incentive to bring
the result about by being promised
a tWtIAN pei LtllA- lnOAGdoC III bdldA
IL he does so.
The man is paid this twenty per
cent. not TO work beyond reason, but
TO use his brains as well as his
hands, to be his own foreman, to help
conditions remain as they theoreti-
cally should be, and to assist his em-
ployer in maintaining the highest
of efficiency.
At first there was considerable diff
! ficulty i'm making the workmen be-
lieve that the new system was going
to prove profitable to them. What is
to prevent the employer from arbi-
trarily reducing the standard time so
that il will be impossible for the
workman to earn the twenty per
cent. bonue?" they asked
II was not long, however, before
! they recognized that the self-interest
of the employer stood in the way. The
men in no case are forced to turn out
the jobs assigned to them in stand
ard time. II they do it they are re-
warded, but if they do not they lose
/ the bonus. II is to the employer
interest that the job be turned out
quickly. II they make the standard
time too low and the men see that
they cannot accomplish it they will
not try, and the employer loses as we'll
as the men.
Different Application.
All over the Santa Fe Railroad this
system of standard time and economy
prevails where different application OF
the system is of course necessary.
In freight yards of the Santa Fe
systems packages are not just col
lected on a platform and dumped
into a car. The freight handlers have
been instructed how to do things diff
ferently. They have been shown how
to load cars properly, so that every
inch of available space may be utiliz-
ed. Cars do not run out of Santa FL
yards with the freight just chuck
ed" in. Some headwork is used as &c
it's arrangement AS a consequence
when the time comes to unload a cal
time is saved because of the care
that has been taken beforehand.
Things Accomplished.
Here are a few of the things ac.
complished by the men who have in.
jected scientific economy into the az
fairs of the Santa Fe Railroad:
Hours of labor have been short
ened.
Each man has been enabled to learr
his earning capacity.
Workmen are more self-reliant.
Relations between employer anC
men have become harmOnized.
Cost of production has been de
creased.
Careless wastes and breakagel
have been lessened.
An increased output for the sam'
investment of capital has been ac
complished.
The road has higher class Of EN-
ployes.