The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-09-30
Santa Fe Head Will Travel in q
Track Automobile.
Motor Fixed Up to Garry Seven
Passengers on Trip.
SPEECH ON TALKING MACHINE
Mexicans to Hear Safety Logic
in Spanish Language.
Novel Methods of Spreading
Sentiment Among Men.

new and novel way to present the
"Get the Safety Habit" campaign to
a large per cent of the Santa Fe en-
ployes has been adopted by the safety
department of that road. A seven pas
senger, 1914 Cadillac automobile has
been purchased for Isaiah Hale. safety
commissioner, and he will go over the
lines of the system in this car.
The automobile is being equipped
with a new device of the Railway Spe-
cialty company, of AtchisOn. Give
Hastings, of that company, recently in
vented a device to place over the rub
Der tires of an autOm> bile wheel, thus
making it possible for an automoDlie
to be used on railroad track. This steel
to be perfect.
The safety campaign of the Santa
Fe railway has been carried out ex-
tensively but up to this time 1t mas
not been possible to reach the men
working at other than division anu
of employees, section hands, water SER
vice men. signal men and others VINO
have not been in contact with the
safety first idea. 1t has been 1mpOs-
sible for Mr.. Hale or any other person
interested in the work to work to-
gether with the trackmen. gasoline
motor was tried out but proved unsat-
isfactory. When officials of the road
learned Of the device of Mr.. Hastings.
in Atchison, they Immediately investl,
gated. The car has been purchased ana
will be driven to Topeka Sunday and
following it's arrival will be put on the
car track in front of the Santa Fe
office building for inspection.
In addition to Mr.. Hale. who will
travel in the car, on each trip several
diviion officials will be members of the
party. The superintendent of the di-
visions and his official family will ac-
company Hale on these trips to the Sec
ton men. The car will be run by orders
just as a regular passenger or freight
train. When the machine reaches a
gang of men at work, an informal
safety meeting will be held.
Speak BY Machinery.
AS large part of these section men
are Mexicans, Mr.. Hale has prepared
for this. He has written a nine min
ute speech, condensing all of the main
points and values Of the safety move
ment, and had it translated into Span
ish. He then sent it to the Edison
company to be made into Spanish
records. This was done and armed
with a graphophOne and several rec
ords he can talk with the Mexicans.
AT the larger places where the Sec
ton hands bunk together with their
families, Mr.. Hale has discovered that
nearly every other bunk car has a
graphOphone. On his tours, he will Wis
it several of the places in the evening.
He has purchased several records of
popular Spanish songs and tunes and
will give a concert to the Mexicans
After a dozen selected pieces Of mu-
sic, he will conclude with the Spanish
safety address. The department has
several extra records of the address
and these will be left at the various
divisions for several weeks.
The safety work of Commissioner
Hale during the past few weeks has
shown wonderful results in the num-
Der of accidents lessened all over the
system. The work done in the Santa
Fe shops here and at other places has
been remarkable. In addition to this
work, much improvement Is possible
among the Mexican section hands and
others who are away from the towns
and cities. The Mexican section hand
Is an important factor of the railroad
and his safety has to be considered.
Mr.. Hale will start his new work as
soon as the machine is ready