The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-12-30

HE IOF ETA DA4
freight from point to point the neces-
sity of maintaining large clerical forces
to handle this traffic and the auditors
force to see that the correct rate and
classification has been made, results
That is why the large office forces
are maintained by every railroad sys-
tenn and why the large force and at
tractive office building is maintain = In
Topeka by the Santa Fe system.
The ninth floor is occupied by the
department of freight claim auditor
with Harry c. Pribble in charge. The
force IN this office receives the COM
munications concerning claims against
the railroad company for loss or dam
age, failure to deliver or claims ac-
cruing for any other reason to freight
while in transit or while under the
possession of the company on the ship
ping docks or in the warehouses Of the
company.
The top floor is unfinished but will
be fitted UP as a record room TO &C
comm odate the files of the various de-
partments which are held for frequent
reference.
Even though this new building is
completed and every available bit or
space is being utilized, one must not
think that the old building is deserted
The same activity is noticed in this
in this building has been greatly re-
duced because of the removal to the
new building, but even at that the old
place is practically as active as far as
vision will indicate. Every available
bit of space is or will be utilized and
there is reason to believe that the need
of additional office room will be felt
within a short whi1e-perhaps within
five years.
Up to Date Heating Plant.
The basement of this structure is
occupied by the old heating plant
which was formerly used in heating
the building but which has been de-
serted since the mains of the Edison
company have been connected with the
mains in these buildings. However,
this heating plant is maintained and
held in readiness to be used in emer-
gency should the Edison company be
unable to furnish the necessary heat
for any reason whatever. In addition
to this is the other mechanical ar
engagements and machinery which is
necessary in a building of this char
acter. All the other available space
in this basement is devoted to filing
rooms and this is in such demand that
filing cases even are to be found in the
corridors.
The first floor. or that above the
basement is occupied by the offices
of f. L. Copeland, the secretary and
cludes that of James Moore, the vet
eran paymaster These departm ents
combined employ thirty persons regu-
larIy and about fifteen others during
two weeks out of each month.
One of the greatest duties of this
department, especially the one which
pleases the employees of the system, is
that of writing out the pay checks of
the employees of the entire system and
checks or drafts for all other expendi-
-Tr--~~ l17f
thirty persons regularly, a force OF
fifteen other persons are employed two
weeks out of each month to write out
these checks. The pay rolls are made
out and certified. After the officers OF
the several departments are convinced
that these pay rolls are correct, the
rolls are forwarded to this department
and the force begins the two weeks
duty of making out the checks. The
employees of the general office receive
their checks on the first day of each
month and the others on the fifteenth
day.
One could hardly conceive the work
of fifteen persons constantly employed
at writing out checks for money for
two weeks and there is no occasion for
wonder why the expense of a gigantic
system of this character is great.
The offices of J. D. NJ Hamilton, the
claims attorney, also are on this floor.
This force numbers ten persons who
are engaged in settling claims against
the company of numerous characters.
This does not include the work which
is involved in the department of
freight claims but consist mostly of
claims for personal damages.
The Law Department.
The law department, which is under
the charge of William r. Smith as So
licitor for Kansas is also located on
this floor and mum bers eight persons.
Legal counsel and lots of it is necessary
in the operation of a system of such
and the numbe represent
ing the legal department in this office
is only a small part of the force that
is retained on this proposition.
This Office must attend to all BUSH
ness of the company which pertains to
practically every subject that is en-
countered by persons in civil life and
probably more.