Semi-weekly herald., 1914-01-05
LITTLE ECONOMIKs In RAIL
WAYS.
.Bv George Ethelbert Walsh.

conundruin. How long will a broom
last?" Railroads pay on an average
twenty cents each for their brooms,
and there must be as many as there
are stations in the country, which Is
considerable.
A broom is worth TO the railroad
that buys it---no. not twenty cents
but the cost of hauling one ton OF
freight thirty-fiye miles. But it is
not the value so much AZ it is how
long will broom last that concerns
the railroads. If the once-a-month
broom can be converted into the two
months broom, the economical station
agent saves for his railroad the cost
OF hauling one ton of freight thirty
five miles every two months; which
six times q year, means the cost OF
hauling ton Of freight two hundred
and ten miles.
But the broom is merely taken as a
symbol in the new railroad economy.
Take lamp chimneys, several Of which
have to be used in each station. Every
time one breaks charge must be
made against the railroad equal to
the cost of hauling ton of freight
ten and half miles. Twenty lamp
chimneys broken a year in single
station means that some poor locomo-
tive must stagger under an extra ton
of freight over two hundred and ten
miles just to pay for them.
Even the lead pencil must not be
despised. A requisition for new lot
of pencils can be made out in few
minutes; but ton Of freight must be
hauled two miles to pay for each new
one. The same is true Of each track
spike that works loose and is thrown
aside. A track bolt is similarly treat
ed as waste; but it is worth three and
half miles Of haulage of ton Of
freight.
The man who was responsible for
working out these details of cost Of
ordinary trifles in railroad language
was something Of an economist. He
had the idea that waste in trifles had
something to do with the high cost OF
railroad operation. The monthly re-
QUESTION for supplies of trifling ma
ture reached the huge sum of twenty
five thousand dollars, or three hun
dred thousand dollars a year, and he
forthwith decided to cut down the
cost.
After figuring out the freight haul
age of the different items, he offer
ed rewards ranging from one hundred
dollars to ten dollars to every station
agent who showed the greatest an.
nual saving Of general Station sup
plies. He paid out five hundred dol
lars in prizes, and cut the acquisitions
down twenty-five thousand dollars
the first year. The second year the
acquisitions for lead pencils, brooms,
lamp chimneys, lanterns, coal shovels,
waste, and pals decreased SO general
ly that the suspicion was aroused that
many of the agents were buying their
own supplies in order TO get in on
some of the prize awards.
At one time railroad economy gen.
orally meant laying off few men,
cutting wages of others, and postpon-
ing the purchase Of much needed new
equipment and rolling stock. In the
end this sort Of economy resulted in
more inefficient service, grumbling,
and strikes. and deterioration of
tracks, roadbed and general equip
ment. Sooner or later the railroad
had to pay for policy that was about
As economical as killing the old goose
that laid the golden eggs.
The return to the "save the pins
and string" policy is said to have orig
mated in this way:
The head Of the supply department
of one of the big trunk divisions that
goes out of Chicago asked his wife
how long broom lasted in the house
Firm four to six months" she re-
piled.
Exactly! Then wen begin with
brooms."
Forthwith he put into effect the
slogan Of save the brooms." This in
time developed into the save nickel
or dime day for the company" u
policy that is now in effect ON most
big roads.
The Pennsylvania began expert
mcnting. and general notice was
sent to all its employees reading like
this:
u everyone of the employees of the
division would save ten
cents day for the company, il would
mcan total saving of $l40 day,
which would go toward paying the in
creased wages now enjoyed by the
men.
Ten cents day! How can il be
'Avsd? The average man must be
Ihown, and the company itemized
economy for the different employees il
his way:
EnRinemen should economize in the
ne Of oil;
EIrcr1en in the use of coal: