The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-18

with the train dispatcher: He talked.
too. with station agents. with switch
men. with the roadma ster with the
brakeman and even with the sec
tion foreman and the section hands
Each and every one was made to
realize he was a cog .in,the great wheel
and that upon each cog depended the
smooth and successful working OF the
big machine.
Once he had aroused them he made
an apps to the ambition OF each and
all First he made proposition to
the engineers. They could do a great
deal to make the division the adj
i I.,a OF the whole system. There
was a lot OF waste in material and In
time TO wipe It out he would es-
tablish an order OF merit He would
nave records kept of the performance
OF each and every locomotive The en-
Sineer who made tho best record for a
month In consumption OF coal, amount
OF repairs and ton per mile OF service
would be recognized by having the
shield at the front OF the boiler de-
corated with red circle Each en-
Gineere earning a red circle would be
eligible 10 membership in the Red Spot
Club. The engineer who won the cir
Gle three times would have the honor
OF having his name painted on the cab
OF his, locomotive In letters of gold
Thereafter the locomotive would lose
It's number and would take the name Of
the engineer. There after the locomo-
tive would be IN the possession of the
engineer. SO long as he remained in
the service ofthe company No other
man could pull the throttle No other
man could guide II along the railE
Engineers who were Il bit careless
engineers who were Inclined TO be
wastcful suddenly became deeply sole.
itous as to the performances Of he'll
locomotives. Delays began to be look ed
upon as serious matters, coal began to
assume different value. TO be late
meant demerit. To sQuander fuel
might mean loss of recognition. Men
who had given little thought TO the
coal question because conl was SO plen.
itiful and seemed so chenp now watch
ed the firemen With careful eye. The
hremen. TOO. eager for the success OF
the engineer under whom they work.
ed. eager. too. for the locomotive they
loved, paid attention to fire building.
IRE trimming and steam making such
as they never displayed before" II was
the same. too, in regard to lubrIcatine
oil The engine men knew account was
being kept OF cvery gallon, and that
the record would show to their credit
or otherwise at the months end.
Conductors and brakemen, anxious
TO aid the engine men, did their part
In keeping to the schedule. Agents
suddenly displayed Il deep interest In
the contest Passengers, too, showed
concern Many of the regulars knew
many of the engineers by sight IL not
by name, and were eager to know IL
their favorite engineer was the one to
win.
[ In that little world OF the Parsons
that contest of the first month marked
an epoch. for then and there the re-
demption OF the Yellow Dog began. No,
In many years did the trains make such
good time. The engineer who won the
hrst red circle was greeted at every
station by admirinB railroaders. Pas.
sengers. too. came forward to congrat-
ulate HIM. The engineer, proud of the
victory he had won. determined to
strive for the honor of having the To-
connective named for him. and other en-
gtnecrs, seeing how highly the success
ful man had been regarded, and know
Ing by how little they had failed 10
win. determined to Guido him the fol-
lowing months. Two men won the
honor that first month. one in the
passenger department. one In the
freight. Each month since then the
contest has been just as keen
The Parson, looking over the fuel
account of that first month, had reason
for rejoicing. He had expected a saw
ing. but nothing approaching what the
ngures showed. Like n wise man he
said little. but thought a great deal
Economy and regularity In trkan
handling are all very we'll in them
selves. but they are not possible unless
the roadbed is kept in the best of
condition. The, Parson, as a good rail-
road man, knew This. SO he turned his
attention next to those humble and
seldom considered men, the section
hands. Whoever pays attention to the
comm workmen who lamp ties. tighten
bolts and examine rails and fshplates?
The Parson spread the news from sec :
ton gang to section gang that each
month there would be an inspection OF
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