The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1910-01-24

/ cpFnH"rclai ana financial conditions as
a whole with which tn. railroads were
called upon to deal.
Next came the era of internal ad-
iustment on the physical and mechan-
zeal side--perfection of the machinery
cutting down grades. strengthening
bridges. increasing the train unit. And
now has come the era of sociological
adjustment The human part Of the
machine is quite as vital as the steel
and wooden part in producing eff
cheney and i'm increasing the in
CONS.
The most practical and efficient
railroad manager today is now square
~ up against the problem which he
~ attacking in one form or another.
of education. Of himself. his staff. the
individuals in the rank and file. and
the rank and file as n whole. This IS
, the last and highest and most COM
! rrehensivc stage of the function OF
: administration. IL implies. for in
stance. the eager. resourceful. self-re-
speeding individualism throughout the
working forces. co-ordinated with n
keen appreciation OF the social char
acter of the work. which expresses
itself in a loyalty not to a person or a
local group. but to the income ac-
count Of the raiiroad-nor yet to one
Income account. but to the aggregate
of the income accounts Of several
years. These income accounts show
ing steady. healthy growth over sew
eral years. become at the same time
the terms of largest service to the
hn IL N . a..
individual employe.
A note of warning may at this
time seem II be premature. but GER
tain tendencies are already foreshad-
owed which should not go unchecked
When the railroad manager comes
fully In realize how his new-found tool
of education enables him to shape al
most absolutely To his purposes the
working body. there may arts. the
danger that railroad specialization in
education he carried too far.
E'it the railroads, when they come
very generally to instruct their en-
ployes, turn their back upon the pro-
fessional teacher. severely diVorcing
their work in subiect-matter and in
method form and at the same time
substituting agencies of the grammar
school and high school grades. the re-
suit can only be what the psycholo-
gist calls arrested development for
the learner.
Railroads as a whole. through a
representative" body such as the Ameri-
can Railway dissertation. should in a
comprehensive way take up the mat
ter of the education of railroad en-
ployes- As they now have committees
devoted 10 standards of constructions
maintenance. and operating practice.
they should also have a standing COM
mittee of a character 10 command
confidence, Yho should sedulously
foster closer relation between the
railroad and educational agencies"
Mr.. Eaton draws these conclusions:
Railroad financial engagements
should incorporate an educational
scheme as definite part of their
policy. on the ground of business
prudence. Such policies should be in
augurated for periods of not less than
five years, preferably ten. otherwise
the money appropriated will be large
~ wasted
Railroads should extend the prin-
ctples "f definite apprenticeship to
every department of the service and
should provide for two or more grades
of apprentices in order to take ac-
count of differences in capacity and
work done elsewhere. either in prop
erly accredited schools or by expert
ences. and leading to different. grades
of service.
There should be formal provision
for movement among departments UNI
der proper conditions. and the comfy
Of railroads should be 81 far extended
as 10 formally provide for some in
tsrchanee nj officials under special re-
Strictinns.
I'm executing the policy of educa-
ton announced by the directors. there
should be a superintendent Of educa-
ton reporting directly to higher Of
fetal. such superintendent IN be thor
oughlN informed of the educational
policy of the railroad and the board
considerations on which il rests His
department should Systematically re-
crutt the employees throughout the
service and certify. on request. To their
records and general efficiency i'm the
early stages nf promotion
Efficiency should he recognized by
an efficiency wage. stated distinctly
apart from the seniority wage
Employees should be encouraged to
tax" "utsid, courses Of instruction or
experience" without forfeiting. their
tenure. and. so far as possible. the
educational department should syste-
inatcaiiy turn 10 account every out
SIDE educational agency by suggesting
courses. uniting in cooperative
courses. ana recognizing the work
done in those courses. 10 the end that
theory ami practice be Joined,
The educational opportunities of the
STrfle" should be utilized Ia the ut
Most by encouragement OF perfect
freedom nj study and criticism and
lNterehanS" of ideas concerning acct
dents bad work. and all the details
M praruc" Annual and semi-annual
meetings - employees by classes OF
work ana the preparation and circular
iz3tion ri papers and discussions
should h" a feature