Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-01-31
NORTHWESTERN INAuoURATEs
conMENpAeLE SYSTEM FOR
neNeF,r OF EMPLOYEES.
FiRsr TRIP 10 MADE
OVER IOWA DIVISION
Plan Embraces Series Of Safety Com.
nfttsss on Various Divisions Of
Read. Fer esttsrmsnt Of Employer
Condition and Enhancing Their
eassty-Empieyss Have Authority.
to Times-Repubncan.

Special to T1meS.RepUo0c3n.
Boone, Jan. efficiently there was
Organized by the Northwestern Railway
Company a series Of safety committees
ON che various divisions OF the road,
looking toward tho lettering OF the
conditions in general, with an especial
eye to the enhancing Of the safety Of
the employees. r. c. Richards. the gen.
eral claim agent Of the company, was
the man who inaugurated these COM
mtttees> and he meets with them at the
various important towns along the di-
visions. The first Of these trips has
vision from Clinton to Boone, including
Des Moines. where the meeting was
brought to q close at the Chamberlain
hotel with banquet, attended by the
members Of the committee. the legal
members Of the company in Des Modnes
and q few specially invited guests.
With the committee sis. E. W. Pratt,
the assistant superintendent Of motive
yower, travelled and gave valuable sug-
geStioES.
10 . New Feature.
This feature Of railroad life was
and has already proven Of interest to
the employees. The employees on the
committee are recognized as authority,
and their word to trainmen. switch
man. shopman, or any other employe,
carries just as much weight as IL given
by the superintendent or other high Of
.ficial. 1t is the duty Of the member
Of the committee to always be on the
watch for making the business of rail-
reading more safe. not only for the
employe but for the passenger as we'll
The members OF the committee wear
little gold buttons. enameled, bearing
the words Safety First" The per-
sonnet Of the committee changes prob
ably every six months. some times not
for a year.
The Inspection Trip.
The committee started out from
Clinton, inspected the plant in that
city and proceeded to Cedar Rapids,
making inspections along the line UNI
til that city was reached. There a
thorough inspection was given the sta
ton. yards, etc. Dinner was served at
the Allison hotel in Cedar Rapids, dur
ing which time a thorough discussion
OF the work took place. suggestions
were made and recommendations given
for the lettering Of this or that condi-
ton. Mr.. Richards gave q very inter-
esting talk on the number and the
causes OF accidents and outlining the
results that 1t IL desired that the var
ious committee accomplish. Next morn
ing the trip was continued to Belle
Plano where thorough inspection of
the roundhouse. shops. terminals, ETC.,
was made. thence to Tama, MARSHALL
town and on to Boone. The sawmill.
q plant utilized for the working up OF
all secondhand bridge materials, etc.
and for taking care Of material gener-
ally considered Of little value. was vis-
tied by the committee. together with
the shops. terminals. yards, etc. From
Boone the committee went on to Des
Moines. ending the inspection trip in
the evening with the dinner mentiond.
Big Batch Of Recommended atoms.
Recommendations were made by the
committee which number up to nearly
$50. ana which will be cared for with
out delay. Within short time the
committee goes west from this city,
making an inspection trip Of probably
two days. The Company pays the men
their salaries. just the same as IL they
were engaged In their daily toll, and
also their expenses on the journey.
It was started as trial, but has
proven so successful during the short
timo In operation that 1t will become
q permanent fixture on the Chicago &
Northwestern system