Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1910-02-02
PHONE MAY WEAKEN
TRAIN OPERATION
OLD MEN AND INEXPERIENCED
YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN
GIVEN POSITIONS.
FEDERAL COMMISSION MAY DE-
MAND THAT RAILWAYS
CHANGE METHODS.

| There has been some sentiment
stirred up over the country because
the railroads which have recehtiy
adopted the telephone system oi
train dispatching are employing young
and Inexperienced men for their oper'
ators, and thus it is alleged by agitat-
ors. endangering the lives the traVef
ing public.
The interstate commerce commits
sion through it's block signal and
train control board has taken up the
matter in an official manner and it is
understood by railroad officials that
something will be done to investigate
all of the telephone operation systems
and see if the fears of the public are
warranted.
The telephone system of train dis
patching has grown popular with the
American railroads during the past
year and some of the largest systems
in the United states have adopted the
new plan. In Kansas the Rock Island
and the Santa Fe use the telephone
dispatching systems with notlceaple
success-in fact, the results have been
so gratifying that the installations
are ordered as fast as the work can
be accomplished.
The one criticism that is made by
the interstate commission, it is de-
clared, is that, by the adoption of the
telephone system the railroads rapid
ly work into their employ large
number of young and inexperienced
men and women who have had little
or no railroad work and in whose
trust is given the receiving and dis
patching of trains and hundreds of
human lives.
1t has been contended that in the
telephone Offices on the railroads the
companies, naturally studying econ
omy, fail to install the high-priced
skilled men who are usually given
the positions as telegraphers. 1t is
we'll known fact that before man
is given key he is raised for GER
tain length of time in the railroad
age railroad telegrapher was well
trained in the railway methods and
the customs of the roads before he.
took his key at station somewhere
along the line.
The practice lasts for months and
during that time the average man
learns the Office work, the many lit
tie tricks and turns of the trade and
if by no other means, he learns by
observation and by environment the
duties connected with the operation
of trains and the train service.
In the telephone operation the usu-
al apprentice work is not necessarily
a feature OF their application and
their position. A young man or wo-
man may take responsible position,
it is claimed, when he Or she has little
or none of the training that comes
with actual work. To this end the
commission believes that the railroad
officials should use little more care
in their selection of operators and
those connected with the responsible
duties of guarding the running of
trains.
Then it is said that the railroads
are given another valuable opportun-
1ty in their adoption of the telephone
service. With the average raiload
which pays particular attention to its
old and disabled employees and men
that they have injured and disabled
during active service for the road.
the established custom exists which
makes it an unwritten rule that these
men shall be employed whenever nos.
sible on the road
Easy office jobs, Partnerships. sta.
ton and reading room superintend.
ents, ETC., are always open to these
veterans. 1t is asserted that since the
telephone dispatching system has
been installed the positions of oper.
ators have appealed to the old men
and the companies have given them
Whatever positions possible. 1t is ar
gued, perhaps falsely, that these men
are not capable of handling the train
times and operations in and out of
the stations and they should not he
placed on the Job unless they are
thoroughly competent.
In its Investigations over the conn.
try the interstate commission found
IN some cases that young BOYS and
inexperienced girls were found in the
oInces. AS result it has been ono.
gested that the companies fret he
informed concerning the class of en-
pioyes and second that the govern
ment take up the matter of making
II necessary for the railroads TO esta.
i,sn the block signal systems over
their lines.
With the block signals and the ta,e.
phone systems the railroads of this
country would be, it is declared.
without par.