Las Vegas optic., 1913-08-14

LAS I
used to be. The eastern md western
lines of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa
Fe railways are in the states of Hi
nois, Iowa, Missouri. Kansas, Nebras
ka, Oklahoma, Colorado, New Mexico
and the Panhandle of Texas. In these
nine states only 121 damage suits
were filed against the Santa Fe dur
ing the fiscal year ending June 80
1913, according to a statement made
by j. D. M. Hamilton, general claims
attorney for the company. OF these
suits Mr.. Hamilton says, SO were for
personal injury, 10 for livestock kill
ed, six for fire damage, and seven of
miscellaneous nature.
Asked how he accounted for the
small amount Of litigation Mr. Ham
ilton said it was because the company
tried to tote fair. with its employees
and patrons, The Santa Fe,' he
said, docs not hesitate about settl-
ing just claim, and generally it does
not pay to start lawsuit on a bogus
claim
Santa re to Boost Park
The PIatt national park, near Sui
phur, Okla, as health and pleasure
resort, is the subject of a handsomely
illustrated booklet with color cover,
to be used by the Santa Fe in a few
days. The curative powers of the
mineral waters, scenery, rowing, fish
ing, swimming, hotel accommodations
and social pleasures of the resort are
elaborated on in manner to lure the
health and pleasure sseeker. Platt
national park is attractive at any time
Of the year, and is growing in popu-
larity as it is becoming better known
Engineers Not Always Cool
did you ever think Of the heat an
engineman must stand when the mer-
curry goes up above 100 asked a
Burlington engineer. can engineer
sits near the boiler head, and his
work keeps him there The radiation
from the boiler is really something
terrific ON hot days. When the en-
gine is running there is fair draft
through the cab, although at times an
engineers face may be cool while the
lower half of his body is blistering
1t is hot work, and so strenuous is il
that the man in the cab must forget
physical discomfort and attend to his
duties without a thought of the more
comfortable and trusting patrons OF
the road behind him.
"The lot of the fireman is even
worse, although he is permitted the
comfort of changing positions oftener
When he opens the firebox door a
/ blast of heat comes out upon him that
almost sets fire to his clothing. Oh
course all of his work is not with the
! firebox open, but the radiation from
the boiler is continuous and fiercely
hot. The number of MINOR prostra-
tions from heat on locomtives is not
recorded. One engineer has died from
it on the Burlington within a month
and on the Union Pacific in Nebraska
another serious prostration is record
ed. That case may yet prove fatal.
Orders are to make time whenever
possible and to avord selays where
possible. In two serious prostration
cases, one on the Burlington and the
other on the Union Pacific, the men
were working under their engines
when they became overheated. 1t is
hot enough in the cab but when any
thing goes wrong with the engine and
| it is necessary to work underneath 1t
in the hot sun the effect is doubly Sc
rious. Further, it will be noted that
it is the hard working, conscientious,
ready-to-do employees who are most
affected by the heat Nothing stops
them when work is to be done but the
master stopping force-death.
when you hear people in cool Of
flee rooms fitted with electric fans
complaining about the heat, just ask
them how they would like to work
under absolute orders, with human
life depending on their following these
orders, within few inches Of giant
boiler charged with 21O pounds of
steam heated to blush tint. Men do
hNmhA A-su