The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-29
SAFETY SMILES"
(By a Railroad MANI

| One of the most pleasant sights
| person can view is to take stroll
! through the yards and shops of the
| Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway
company at Topeka. After alighting
| from the street car one enters the
| depot, which is clean and presents an
air of healthfulness and is certainly
an inviting spot for passengers to wait
| for trains, or congregate to meet rela-
| tives or friends. Coming onto the
| platform it is noticeable that it is free
| from all distractions such as trucks,
water hose, ladders, ETC., all due to the
| watchfuI eye of William Butler depot
master, and it is just such watchful
ness on the part of employees that
necessarily makes the public sit up
and take notice and smile at the eau
| ton exercised by those in authority,
| and at the same time makes this line
one of the n oSt popular in the coun-
| public. Courtesy, politeness and care
| are three of the graces in all well
managed business enterprises. A kind
| word, a polite act, solicitude for the
| safety of the public, are all services
upon the part of the employees that
! bring about patronage and instili into
| the mind of the patron words of kind
ness, exempiifying that one good deed
always brings forth another.
It is noticeable among the employees
| of this railway company that in their
! dealing with the public, we'll as
| among themselves, they are courteous,
act is just as easily bestowed on ones
fellows, and more pleasant and accept
able than harshness or want of polite
ness. Courtesy always brings out the
better qualities of a person, and
stamps him, to say the least, a gentle
man. Such person always elevates
ones ideas of the individual or cor
poration with whom the business is to
be transacted.
It is not fiattery, put in print, but is
an every day remark, heard in depots
and on trains, from patrons of this
company, that it has in its employ
men who are considerate, and a road
way that is safe to travel So it is in
eVitab that kindness and considera-
ton beget business, all leading to the
avenues of success. 1t pays to be at
tentive to ones comforts and the care
of ones patrons. Always be on the
| lookout to be courteous, and smiles of
appreciation will at once be reflected
by those with whom you have your
business transaction. A gruff person
age is an abomination, but gentle
I man is always in evidence
My wanderings took me into the
yards adjoining the depot and shops,
and in all my travels. which have not
been wholly on the Santa Fe Lines,
am free to state publicly that 1 have
not seen its comparison anywhere.
Cleanliness predominates; a sight
worthy to be photographed and pre-
scented as a picture to other lines;
there are no distractions: the way is
! clear, material not alIOWeC TO remain
where employees might stumble over
it-until the thought enters the mind
that safety is not only preached by its
! employees, but practiced. If an en-
| ployee is so unfortunate as to be in
! jured it must certainly arise from
sone other cause than that of I'M
! cleanliness. OF course, someone has
been the moving spirit in bringing
about this picture of safety. That per-
| sonage is John Purcell, lately ele-
waited. by his valuable services, as shop
superintendent here, to the position of
| assistant to Vice President Storey. The
other is Jack Kennedy, yardmaster,
whose life was suddenly taken away
| from him few weeks ago, not by ac-
| cident, but by disease. BY his fidelity,
/ character and faithfulness in the dis
| charge of his trust with the company,
which he loved so WELL the considera-
| ton of the men in his employ, he
/ stands forth as living monument not
| only as a respected citizen, but one
\ whose aim in life was to do things
well. Our only hope is that his sue
/ ccssor will follow in his footsteps for
/ the preservation of the lives. limbs
and bodies of those employees en-
| trusted to his care and supervision.
When this is done he VIII be greeted
| with Safety Smiles"
The Santa Fee shops. as you enter
| it's portal, is certainly a busy hive OF