Evening journal., 1914-10-19
5000 MILE TRIP
OVER BIO. TRACKS
To See Itself as Others See
1t Is Object of the
Company
ROUGH LIFE
FOR INSPECTORS

To see itself as others see it is a
plan adopted by the baltimore and
Ohio Railroad Company in sending
an assistant general passenger agent
on a 5000 mile tour of its tracks
on an inspectors gasoline tricycle.
to collect first-hand information con
corning the degree TO which the ser
vice meets the requirements of COM
munities, as we'll as to ascertain the
attitude Of public opinion and ex-
change views with patrons, agents of
the railroad and others interested In
high standard OF transportation
facilities.
The trip has been begun by William
70. Loves, assistant general passenger
agent at Baltimore. who will be en-
gagged on the work for several months
as weather conditions permit and
who will compile a report for the in
formation and records Of the general
officers. Accompanied by a photo
grapher and a supervisor of tracks.
Mr.. Loves has covered a portion of
the main line and branches of the
eastern divisions on his acouting ex-
petitions.
CARRIED for roughing it, with bag
gage forwarded ahead and carrying
only such necessary articles as a
dispatcher's schedule OF trains to be
met and passed and notepad
camera and box lunch, tho main line
OF the Shenandoah Valley from Har-
per's Ferry to Lexington and the
line along the south branch OF the
Potomac river from Green Spring
TO Petersburg, w. Va, have been
travelled over. Also the territory in
eastern Ohio from GAINESVILLE to Mari
eta has been visited. Gnd in these
sections number Of exquisite photo
graphs of historical interest and
scenic beauty were made and will be
used for advertising purposes.
Ii is impossible to set a time when
the tour of observation and education
will be completed and a report sub
mitted to the Baltimore and Ohio
officials, as progress on the work
will be governed by local conditions
IN the communities visited. Up to this
time II has been possible 10 travel
from fifty to sixty miles a day. stop
ping to talk over business conditions
with agents at small stations, as
we'll as to farmers in the fields and
workmen in industries along the
route. The gasoline tri cycle used
by the officials is operated through
communication with the train dis
patcher and train crews are advised
to be on the lookout for Il in order
TO minimize the danger Of accident.
When visiting a small agency, Mr..
Loves discusses the service with the
agent, examines the station and Of
ters and receives suggestions as to
the needs of patrons. From farmers
he obtains information concerning
the fertility Of soil and its adaptable
ity to particular phases OF farming
learns the yield per acre i'm the COM
munity and the amount of fertilizer,
farming machinery and articles ship
ped in; and in turn such Information
as the most available market paving
top prices for farm products is i'm
parted. If further assistance be de-
sired by the farmers. Tho matter Is
taken up with the agricultural de-
partment of the railroad. The ca
pacity of industries, number of per-
sons employed, markets for the ont
put and source Of raw materials is
ascertained from those in charge,
and desire for further information
is communicated to the Industrial de-
partment In this wav the railroad
is adopting an effective way OF plac-
ing the cooperation of its various
departments concerned with the de-
velopment Of business at the service
OF those desiring such assistance.