Newark post., 1910-07-20
Good Work Done By Railroads
Influence Of Y. N. {. A.

ViiegeS OF tHt Club.
Between the clubhouse and the y.
NJ c. a. is the rest house, properly
a modest building situated at points on
|, the road not large enough or central
enough to warrant the establishment
OF anything more pretentious. Where
formerly they had to hunt lodging and
meals in the town or bunk in some old
freight cars in the yard, they now
have their clean. comfortable cottages,
where the men coming in from long
and dusty run can get plenty OF hot
water for bath. enjoy wholesome
food. a clean bed, and refreshing sleep
before their next run. The standard
charge to the men is one dime, which
OF course. does not cover the cost, nor
does the company have anv expecta-
ton OF making it do so. The Phila-
delphia and Reading has an emergency
hospital connected with one rest house
The companies endeayor to increase
their corps OF skilled workmen by
providing many opportunities and in
centives along educational lines. In
the Railroad High School" at Al
toona. Pa, $1,000 employees OF the
Pennsylvania lines are at work in the
shops. Offices and yards. The Pennsyl-
vai1ia company has equipned this
school with the most modern appli-
ances, placing it on a par with the
foremost technical institutions in the
United States. The aim OF the COM
pany is to Cooperate with the pub
lie school system in graduating men
competent to earn a living The four
years course begins with mechanical
drawing and ends with machine de-
sign A draughting-room, carpen-
ter's shop, forging room and depart
ments OF woodworking and metl-
up-to-date tools are DIT the service of
the pupils. Interest on the company s
, investment will cone in the form OF
well-trained employees. although none
OF the graduates of the school is
obliged to tnter the Pennsylvania S
service"
Another notable feature connected
with the same company is the Frank
Thompson scholarships, established in
May, 1907, by the children of the late
President Thomson. 1t provides for
the technical education of the sons OF
living or deceased employees OF the
lines OF the road. There are eight
| scholarships valued at 5000 year each.
They are subject to competitive exam-
| nation, two being awarded each year
The Pennsylvania has established a
school for telegraphers at Bedford. Pa.
Here the student studies telegraphy
and receives instructions in the duties
| common to the station agent The
kind of work handled over the railway
wires becomes familiar to these opera
| tors before they attempt the actual
| work OF the roads. Other companies
| have made provision for similar work
| along this line.
The Southern Pacific conducts "a
system of working scholarships. These
| are usually awarded young men taken
| from colleges and technical schools
| Alter three years OF work well done,
| he is pronounced fit for immediate pro-
motion to an official position
Courses of study for apprentices
have now become permanent The
| Union Pacific has now mapped out a
| course OF study which embraces three
years work, including, arithmetic, ele-
| mentary mechanics and mechanical
| drawing. Other schools OF this kind
! are maintained by the Oregon Short
Line and bv the Grand Trunk In
| New York Centra's scheme OF edu-
cation the 'pay-while. earning is a
| feature. The Illinois Central and the
| Chicago and Alton companies provide
| for scholarships in the railway course
connected with the University OF Chi
cago. The Boston & Maine. Erie. D.
| l.. w. and many others provide for
the education OF their employees.
There is hardly company OF import
ance that is not doing something along
! these lines.
| The practice of rensioning. the or
ganization OF Relief Funds, the Hos
pital and Medical Service are on,,
| headings which merely suggest the
! interesting material which could be
collected to prove that there is a
humanitarian idea somewhere in the
vast plan OF the corporations.
The b. & O. Loan Fund to enable
| their men to become owners of their
| homes, the building OF a whole towr
| to make homes for their men by the
Pennsylvania Company, represent an,
other phase of work.
These are helps toward keep;nn
company and men in touch. when the
concern Is SO large as to make that
seem impossible The companies re-
gard the sums spent in these wavs a,
among the wisest investments anc
the expense is charged to bettermen
and safety appliances
these are certainly means, If indi
rect, toward striking the evils which
exist IN the present systems. 1t Ger.
talnly indicates that there are head,
OF departments who are not entrel,
indifferent nor ignorant of the prob
lens which face them
recent illustration Of the effort o
the railroad company in our own local
ity was the examination OF all railroad
employees on the revised book o.
rules. There are many things in thi,
book regarding the prevention of ac
cldents and the general safety of til,
travelling public. Several men have
been reduced in rank and others dis
charged for failure to pass the re-
CURED examinations
In view OF a strike in the presen,
controversy between the Pennsylvanif
railroad and their employees, the off
| of tbn 4.