The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-09-02

l0roucnys reserves ut the crucial mo-
| mout and Waterloo would have a
different meaning. and the map OF the
world be greatly changed.
Nothing approximating the practi-
cal prohctancy and wondrous efficien-
cy Of the mighty railroad army was
ever attained before on earth. so far
a. any record shows.
Yet in numbers and organization
In mastery Of details, In individual
education and training. in team
WORK.. whether OF squad, section, d.
vision or department., more rapidly
than ever before are its strides In pro-
hcfency, efficiency. and splendid
achievement faAt turning savagery and
barbarian into civilization, and civil
lzation into culture and refinem ent.
while cenentinK the brotherhood Of
man and necessitating the federation
I of the world.
II IN q mere matter OF time. perhaps.
when Behring Straights will be tun-
neisd. and the long distance submarine
railroad Will be even more safe and
eIncient than much OF the surface
transportation OF To-day.
All this and much more--since the
importation TO this country Of those
three crude locomotives from Eng
land. and their first trial in Anaor.
lea at Honesdaie. Pennsylvania, on
tnat memorable sth day OF August.
1879. Quite q number OF people are
living who witnessed the wonder
But the honor of being the first
railway constructed to be worked by
locomotives belongs to the South
Carolina Railroad--1S26-1S3 Prevf-
outs trials had been made on the Bal
tiYnore and Ohio Railroad, which, how
ever. continued to be worked by horse
power till 1882.
At the end Of the year 1870, the
whole American railroad mileage was
just forty miles.
In 1895. at the close OF our Civii
War, the mileage was Increased to
$4,000: and in 1871 It amounts to about
100000 miles more or less, not In
Guiding elevated railroads throughout
the country.
Yet President Theirs, OF France,
said that the railroad might do very
well for suburba small freight and pas
senger traffic. but would never affect
transportation In any large way. SUCH
nation which deais largely with the
past and has not yet learned the NM
port OF keeping its mirror turned To
the future.
Time was when, excepting In high
official positions, railroad man was
considered lacking in social standing;
his employment itself raised sus-
picion of moral laxity. especially along
lines Of intemperance. But all that is
changed The necessities Of his EN-
ployment, the standards OF efficiency
now required demand degrees Of clear
thinking. clean doing, and all around
temperate living. which are raising the
railroad man to high standard among
excellent men.
It IL found that even for the least
desirable positions in the great rail-
road army Of workers the better edlS-
Gated and the more thoughtful the
man the more likely he IL to do his
own Job % well that he sooner takes
the job next above him till ne reaches
the limit OF promotion along that par
ticniar line. Even when promotion
beyond that poind ID not customary.
true merritt widely enough mant-
fested---is certain, soon or later. of
better opportunity to express itself
The unfailing law OF supply and de-
mand promotes really efficient men ~
about fast M they are made.
But In the race Tor official posi-
tion It II authoritatively stated that,
AZ . rule, there are Just two classes
who. having q public school educa !
ton or IL equivalent. enter the rail-
road service ~ an early 40 without
college training. Second. thOse who
have had such training.
ii u admitted that the college man
has y dIetincx &tfcxhtARe, xhOukh tltxt
advantage n frequently oyercomA BY
the hard student ~ home who n i
faithful worker on his job.
The noncoslege man has one adyAn-
ta&s Ia NOT being compelled to for
kSaE