The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-04-18
ROCK LAND NAY
Prizes to Section Hen q Re-
ward Of Eaaciency.
Return Of OAacials After IN
Inspection Trip.
EVERY NILE IS cuEckB Up
Painstaking Observation From
Rear Of the. Train.
The sBrass Col1nr" on Road
Not to Be Envled.
|EvERY NILE IS CHECKED Up

There was time whom the average
railway employee recognized only one
day in the month In which he was
receiving = fair deal with the COM
pany for which he worked-that was
pay day. The, rest OF tho time he
considered the company nothing more
than . cider preso-a corporation
squeezing from him all his paying
energies.
It's dinerent now. At least, It -
different In Kansas-
In Topeka the public comes In cone
tact with the employer and the em-
ployee Of two big railway systems
tho Rock Island and tho Santa Fss.
Here may be witnessed the life's pat
Of the railway ladder. On the other
hand the general manager. the gem
eral freight agent, the general pas
senger agent, and all other depart
ment heads are seen In active duty.
The other day q party Of Rock Is
mess cars-the public calls them
private cars'-in Topeka and left
this city for an inspection trip Of the
second district. eneral Manager
second district. General Manager
Smalley as heads Of the operating
department: J. M. Brown. engineer
Chicago, manager Of mail franc ana
general baggage agent: Charles II.
Schneider Of Horton. district store
keeper; L. F. Shedd Of Chicago, gem
eral safety supervisor and D. B. 10th
ian Of Topeka, district safety super
visor; F. L. Park Of Topeka, master
including II. p. Greenough of Dalhart.
A. b. Ramsde1l OF Herington. H. r.
Saunders Of Kansas City, H. e. Cor
rell OF Eden. Mo-, H. L. Reed Of
Fairbury, Neb.. w. A. Shehan Of Colo
RADIO Springs. Also tho trainmasters
McMullen Of Dalhart. w. w. Cameron
Of Fairbury, NJ. L. Elli6 Of Pratt and
J. J. Breheny OF Topeka Add to this
list the assistant engineers, the. road
masters along tho different divisions,
with q master mechanic and q master
carpenter ana . station supervisor
here and there.
It was an inspection OF the right Of
way, the condition Of the track. tho
tool houses, the stations-nothing
was overlooked as the train ran from
one station to another.
Competition and Loyalty.
And here is where the new attitude
Of the employee was exhibited.
The Rock Island adopted q novel
keep an accurate check on the i'm
provements made by the roadmasters
and section foremen over their terri
tories, to reward roadmasters and Sec
ton foremen for their energy in main
tenance and upkeep ana to promote q
sense Of loyalty among employees. the
road decided to offer q prise of 800 for
roatlmasters and $50 for section fore
men. This prize is awarded to the
man who makes the best showing. It
il given to q roadmaster on each divi-
sion and . section foreman on each
roadmaster's district. In this manner
several thousand dollars IL distributed
annually to the maintenance men along
tho Rock Island Lines.
Two inspections are made-one In the
spring and ono in the fan. Three d.
vision superintendents Of another part
Of tho road and the engineer. mRinte-
nance Of way. sit in the observation
end OF the rear private car and grade
the condition Of the track At every
mile post. These grades are repeated
ment money has been spent ON the
track. The roadmaster and the sec
ton foreman making the best show
ing, the appropriation to his territory
considered, is given the prize upon the
grades Of the officers who check the
track from the observation ends on
these semi-annual trips.
Not detail IL overlooked on this in
spection. Every condition along the
line IL taken into consideration. Al
the roadmasterB Dit In the center Of the
observing group, dancing along at the
rear Of this train Of private cars. call
ing off the mile posts, the sharp opin-
ions Of the superintendents are regis
tered In graded form.
stations Arc Not Overlooked.
At, tho stations. usually the entire
staff. representing enough operating
talent to run an average railroad, goee
through the station. on the lookout fol
cleanliness. clear platforms. neatness
in filing and records and arrangement
Of waiting room and freight room ac-
Communications.
The tool houses of the section fore
men, are inspected, also. The officials
see that the tools are arranged accord
ing to q standard recently adopted b.
the Rock Island. They see that there
| are no surplus tools that might be IL
the storehouse ana In circulation Al
an economy IN purchases. Everything
il inspected. Then the officers flocl
back to their cars, the familiar nigh.
baY' u given ana tho nervous en-
gineer. striving to pull his train to the
distinct sAtigfaction OF tho superior
officers behind, eases away and speeds
on to the next station.
Joke On tho Tfainmastezs.
Despite the seriousness and strair
of these inspection trips, there n /
relaxation now and Them period
sandwiched in to relieve the strenu.
| BUSINESS Of the work.
J. b. Smalley. assistant genera
manager. whose regulated staff meet.
ii NJ NJ TAl-