The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-10-05
A GRAND IDEA.

iCongressrlan E. J. Hill, in address ing the banquet of Railroad Track Foremen in this. city Tuesday night, opened up an excellent line of thought, and-it might be added. evolved an idea worthy of the genial co1kressman. /My
 Addressing the men sMhose duty it 2 is to watch and repair the rail and roadbed of the vast lines, and on whom depends the safety of the travelling public, Congressman Hilf declared:
 If I were a track foreman, I would learn gardenins. e..
 H further elucida4hgR hifs senti- m9nt, Congressman Hill explained: '.I would learn the raising of flowers around the railroad stations and I assure you the .time will come when the management of the railroads of the country will learn to appreciate thh jartistic as we'll as the useful. give this as a good tip for you men of the railroad"
 What splendid and profitable field is brought to light by Congressman Hill's discovery.
 In their spare time the railroad track foremen could have lots of fun in gardening around the railroad sta- tions. And in these days of the high cost of living, why not raise potatoes and onions and carrots and beets. about the railroad property?
 But why confine this to the track foremen? The locomotive engineers might take spade in hand in their idles moments, and cultivate. little garden plots between the ties. The teiegraphers and towermen. too. could win; lots of fun and profit by doing a market garden business in their leisure moments. Railroad f1remen, having a natural training in handling tfre spade,e would make excellent faffnhands Freight brakemen, when not lodging low bridges and taking flying switches, could steal spare moment or two and raise nasturtiums and geraniums> Lots of waste >land, between ties, between tracks and along the line could thus be utilized and sturned into beauty spots as well as<- affording profitable work and pleasant amusement for the idle hours of the railroad employees. This would save them from the ennui and bore dom which must otherwise overtake men who have so much time on their hands What an excellent idea Con- gressman Hill has put forward, and how fruitful of results.
 AS MT. Hill rightly stated, 'The tir{ie will come when thes manage ments of the railroads will learn ,ol appreciate the artistic as well as the useful" Here is tip that all rall- way employees should grasp. The locoinotixe engineer who sneaks out aftsr-his-day.&- ,an--aIada paints a few daintyrg ssrfpesr arsrrdy the other wise grimy monster will get his re- ward in the end. And while he is busy during the day his wife athome may put up a few little ribbons and odds and ends. to make the locomo- tive look cosier and brighter. Freight cars, too! What chance there Is for Improvements here.s. How much pleasanter it would be for the people at a crossing, waiting for a freight train to pass by, to watch series or beautiful pictures painted on the sides of the cars, flashing by them, instead of the present hideous ex- panse of dull red board and railroad monograms. Here is tip for rail- road employees with an inclination for the mahistick.
 Congressman Hills idea ! is too grand and extensive to be confined to this section of the country. It should be heralded around the United States. Let each man acquaint himself with a useful or artistic occupation for his idle moments. Congressman Hill himself practices what he breaches. During his idle moments he culti- yates beautiful flowers-of oratory.