The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-06-12
RAILROAD NEWS.
Other Side to Santa FeDiyisional
CONCENTRATIONS.
Capitalization of Power in OPP
Grating Department.
MANY ADVANTAGES.
ADVANTAGES.
Much More Power With the Di.
vision Superintendent.
Other Items of General Interest
i'm Traffic World.

There is another side to this diVis-
ional talk in the mechanical depart
ment of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa
Fe. In the State Journal last Saturday
evening it was related that the divis-
ionaI methods probably would not be
installed on the Santa Fee on account
of the effect it might have on the
Capitalization Cf the shop work of the
system.
In other words the article Saturday
evening gave the mechanical side of the
question.
Now comes the operating side.
1t has developed that in case the
divisional mechanical methods are
adopted it means that the operating
men on the Santa Fe will be the kings
of the realm" 1t means that the me-
chanical officials instead of making
their reports to higher mechanical men
as in the past will report to the OPP
Grating heads.
For instance:
Now the master mechanic reports to
the mechanical superintendent. The
mechanical superintendent reports TO
the superintendent of motive power
and the superintendent of motive power
reports to the vice president.
Under the divisional methods the
master mechanics would report to the
division superintendent and the d1Vis-
ion superintendent to the operating Of
ficiaIs above him-the general superin-
tendent. the general manager the vice
president, etc.
This it will be seen, snatches from
the mechanical superintendent ana the
superintendent of motive power a part
of their old responsibilities. 1t would
take much of the work off from their
hands-and eventually, much of the
authority.
OF course, in strictly mechanical!
matters the master mechanic would
be directly under the mechanical su-
perintendent There are many duties
and actions in the mechanical depart
ment that the division superintendent
knows nothing of-and they have MOTH
ing to do with the regular operation or
trains. This work would come under
the old head of mechanical reports
Under the new system the superln-
tendent of motive power reports TO the
general manager instead or the vice
president. This is a new power over
the motive power superintendent:
The secret of the entire DIVISIONAL
system. then is this: The power OF the
railroad is centralized in the operating
department. That tells the story.
w. B. Storey, Jr., now vice president
of the santa Fee. is a firm believer in
the divisional system. 1t is one OF
his favorite ideas-sof railroading. He
has put the matter up TO PRESIDENT
Ripley. The president VIII decide.
From the operating stanopolnt tne
divisional methods will not erect the
shou work of the system. 1t viii not
interfere with shop headquarters for
all heavy construction ana repair WORK;
From the mechanical standpoint 1t Will
divide the work among the shops over
the system.
President Nudge, Of the Rock Is
land Lines, is a great believer In al
yisional methods. When ne was WIN
the santa Fe he advocated it. In the
Rock island he has adopted it. The
HEADQUARTERS of the second district OF
the Rock Island in Topeka is an 'ex-
ample of the new methods. The Union
Pacific uses it also. What Will San'd
Fe do?