The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1910-09-26

can reach the point where he can take
charge of train as a conductor or en-
gineer. conductor must start into the
service either a switchman or brake
man. He must serve his time in that
position, learning all of the technical
details of the work and becoming thor
oughIy familiar with every part of the
duties which devolve on a man in the
train service. This requires several
years and is in the nature of an ap-
premiership from which a competent
man graduates into the more important
position that of conductor. Many men
work as brakemen or switchmen for
years before they are promoted to con-
ductors. Now and then a man who
shows exceptional adaptability to the
work is promoted rapidly, but these
cases are exceptional.
When a brakeman or switchman is
promoted in the train service it is then
that he becomes an extra freight con-
ductor. And he has TO serve as a mex
ira freight conductor until an oppor-
tunity opens for promotion to a regu-
lar run. The passenger conductors arc
promoted from the ranks of the freight
conductors. and these choice positions
are filed through careful selection by
the officials. Only the best men in the
train service are given the passenger
runs,
The same course is pursued in the
making OF engine men, A new man is
first an extra fireman on a freight
engine or a switch engine, and he IS
kept in that position until he gets a
thorough knowledge of steam and its
uses and limitations. and a full know1-
edge. also. of the great machine which
he homes some day TO control
Then he is promoted to a regular
freight run, and there he stays until
he shows exceptional ability or until ar
opening occurs into which he can be
placed in his regular turn. From regu
lar freight fireman he becomes an extra
passenger fireman and finally an extra
freight engineer. In due course of time
he is promoted to regular freight en-
gineer and from that to passenger en-
gineer. When a man becomes a passen
| ger engineer he has proven himself
| master of his profession or trade, al
you may be pleased to call it. and tn.
public feels reasonably sure that it i
safe on a train when he is at the throt
| tie.
| The steam roads have learned thi
/ lesson through many years of expert
4 ence and at great cost. but they hav
| learned ii well. They know that it i
I unsafe to the public and a menace t
Il the company to put an mex perienee
i man in a position of such tremendou
, responsibility as that OF engineer o
| conductor of passenger train.
/ But the public believes, and the In
! diana railroad commission believes, tina
the same degree of care which IS exer
cfsed by the steam roads in this direc
/ ton is not exercised by the interurbans
7 and it is this belief that appears TO b
growing into a demand on the coming
: Legislature for more stringent laws 70
! the regulation Of the tnterurbans TIL
| comment is frequently heard that in
experienced men are hired and in
/ short time given positions as motor
/ men or conductors on interurban cars
! The motorman's responsibilities are jus
! as great and as important as the re
/ sponsibflities of a railroad engineer
/ for he has the lives of his passeng
! in his hands. The reason assigned b
the public for the policy of the inter
H urbans in hiring inexperienced men
that the roads do not pay suffcien
i wages to attract men of experience t
Il the work. Interurban railroad wage
! in Indiana, as we'll as in other states
i are far below the wages of employee
of steam roads This to some extent