The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-09-29
TELL Of HORRORS Loss And DAMAGE
Santa Fe Meeting Opened II
Pueblo, Colorado.
r. J. Parker of Topeka Gave
Talk to Employees.

Pueblo. Colo. Sept 29.-The semi-an-
nual conference of the Santa Fe Rail-
way company's loss and damage COM
mittee opened at the Congress hotel
hero with about 80 operating, traffic.
mechanical and accounting officials in
attendance. All the divisions Of the
system in thirteen states are repre-
sented. TIL program. or docket as the
railroad men call it, consists of forty
eight subjects, all having to do with
plans for greater efficiency in handling
freight, with the view Of eliminating
the causes Of loss or damaged ship
ments. F. A. Lehman of Chicago. as
sistant to Vice President w. B. Storey,
is chairman of the committee. r. Z.
Maegly OF Chicago, assistant general
freight agent, is secretary.
AT the opening OF the conference. r.
y. Parker OF Topeka, general superin-
tendent. gave the Santa Fee employees q
fine send-Off in a short talk about the
value of cooperation. Never before"
Mr.. Parker said, have 1 seen q more
loyal and res0lute spirit displayed by
employees than that which character
! ICES the endeavors of the agent and his
entire force, the conductor. brakeman.
engineer, fireman, yardmaster, switch
man and other employees concerned in
the handling of freight-yes, and even
those who have not heretofore been
reckoned in the summing up of possible
i factors. section foremen, If you please.
The response to appeals that 1 have
| made to these employees for assistance
in the prevention Of freight loss and
! damage to me has been the most COM
fortfng, the most gratifying evidence of
willingness on the part OF men to
serve their company faithfully, hon.
estly and conscientiously that I have
observed in all my railroad experience.
The reputation of the Santa Fe for
Incorporation and teamwork between en-
ployes and officials and between various
departments is getting TO be world
wide, and in the railroad world it
Identifies you to be able to say. I am
a Santa Fe employee simply because
this close cooperation of all depart
ments. employees and officials has made
Of the Santa Fe one of the most eff
GENTLY operated railroads in the
world
In conclusion Mr.. Parker said. TT
is scarcely necessary for me. am sure
in endeav0ring to prevent loss and dam
age to freight We need the close CO.
Operation Of the shipper and receiver
fof freight. and this can best be obtained
through courteous and consistent treat
ment AS we go along in our work. let
| us make friends for the company and in
doing so command the highest respect
for ourselves"
President Ripley sent the following
letter which was read at the opening
Of the loss and damage meeting here
today:
II am sending this to express my ap-
probation OF the results already OBJ
tanned through the efforts OF our loss
and damage committee. and the hope
that as much progress will be made
during the. coming year. All thest loss
and damage payments are net reduc-
tons. We paid last year q little over
seven hundred thousand dollars in such
claims, and it should be remembered
that in order to make a profit Of a like
sum We should have to add about two
and a half millions in earnings. Put
ting 1t another way the seven hundred
thousand dollars paid out Is more than
half Of one per cent Of our common
stock. When we consider that the cause
OF this payment il nearly all human
carelessness. 1t looks very large. The
encouragin feature of 1t il that 1t IL
on the downgrade. Here's hoping that
its pace can be accelerated"