The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-08-29
Four Years. Course in Railway
Work on Sunset Road.
Student Goes Through Every
Department of the Line.
A SALARY IS GIVEN
As High as $50 a MOnth-Then
a Steady Job.
Other Items of General Interest
in Traffic World.
A SALARY IS GIVEN

College Station, Tex. Aug. pa four
years course in railroad operation,
with a defined curriculum, just As is
outlined by a well conducted university
or college, for those who are enrolled
as students, is maintained by the sun
set-Central lines in Texas. the system
of railroads operated by the Hartman
interests in this state,
While preference in making appoint
snents to a scholarship in this failroa
university is given to college or tech
meal school graduates in the employ OF
the companies maintaining the system.
yet 1t has long been realized that
young man out of college is just be-
ginning to learn; that his diploma
means that he has applied himself dur
ing the time he has been at college, yet
there is a great deal of practical knoWt-
edge for him to obtain before he is III
a position to know how and what to
do
Anv Young man between the ages Of
21 and go years is eligible to appoint
ment to a studentship- Other Things
being equal preference will be gwen 10
college or technical graduates IN the
employ of the company, first; to men
with common school education IN the
employ of the company, second, ana
70 college or technical school gradUateF
not in the employ of the COMPANY
third The fact, however, that a young
man is appointed to & Studentsh1p does
not carry any obligation on the part OF
the company to appoint him to an or
fetal position on the completion OF his
course but student who has grad
uated in this railroad university VIII
be given preference in the filling Of a
vacancy. provided heis temperamertaliy
fitted to meet the peculiar conditions of
the position
Terms of Four Years Course.
The four years course is divided into
terms
which the Railroad University deslg-
mates as periods There are eight
periods, and it is interesting to note
the class of work that IS to be done.
The student must serve six months
In the first period and during that time
his salary is $50 per month he IS as
signed to station service and gets prac-
teal work in receiving, trucking, mark
ing and preparing freight for unload
ing. loading and storing freight in cars, |
etc.
Next he is student in placing cars |
for loading and unloading and is I'M |
pressed with the Importance of proper |
ARA ngement; car loads and less than /
car loads, with especial attention to
loading cars to maximum capacity and |
the assigning of cars in commercial :
switching of such capacity as to nearly |
as possible fit the shipment offered;
In the second period the student goes
into the. maintenance of way service at
S65 per month under the roadnaeter
and the resident engineer. He spencS
five months on roadbeds and questions
affecting them, including dralnase' oai-
last surfacing. ties, kinds, etc
For two months he is in the disvislon
engineers office studying the handing
of material, distribution of forces. tx
animation and study of reports, es1-
mates for repairs and new work. &C
counts and records. For two months
the student will be in actual charge q
a section gang, assume all responsible
itv ordinarily devOlving on section |
foreman and keep all records in con- |
nection Herewith. There will be a |
special course of reading outlined and
emphasis is placed on tie renewals ina I
in requiring diligent study of methods |
to be employed in emergencies, suen |
as washouts wrecks, slides, etc
He Is on Salary.
During the eight months of the third !
period the student receives a salary or |
$40 per month and is assigned % the |
office of the master mechanic. Here ne !
first takes up the care and preparation |
of passenger cars and freight insPec- |
ton of cars from safety and eco |
nomica1 stand point. etc
For five months during the fourth |
period he is a student brakeman and /
conductor at a salary of $40 per month |
and during this time he must study !
carefully train signals. time tables, /
handling of way bills and every feature I
with which the brakeman and conduc- /
tor must come in contact
Block Signal Work.
During the fifth period. which con-
sists of two months, and during which /
time the salary is SIS per month the |
class work is in the signal engineers
office. where every feature of the block
signal is taught him.
From block signals, with no advance
in salary, he passes to the sixth period
and spends three months in the store
For the seventh period, which con-
sists of six months service, his salary
at SIS per month, and he is
in the accounting department, where
he makes a close study of the system
of accounting
In the eighth period. which Is nine
months of service. he is advanced to
$50 per month. and takes instruction in /
the trainmaster's department, where nc
works with the yardmaster, the dis
patcher and the trainmaster
After the completion of this period
the student will be placed wherever III
the Judgment of the management he
should 90 in order to be in line of pro-