The Washington herald., 1915-02-15
STRENGTHENING OUR TRACKS.
BY ORISON SWEET MARDEN

Anything to save time" is one Of the
great notices of today. In the early
history of our country. when time was
not so valuable, our railroads and post
roads wound around hills and mountains
and through valleys. thus doubling.
| sometimes trebling. the distance between
two points. But in our strenuous days
| of Declines. short cuts and scientific
| methods We no longer follow the easiest
grade. Instead We tunnel mountains and
bridge rivers. We do anything to
! shorten distances and to saw. time. Our
great railroads think nothing Of spend
ing millions of dollars in trying to save
a few minutes between two great cities.
4, The late Mr.. Hartman spent vast sums
for this purpose. While in early railroad
days the great object was to avoid en-
pense. today it is to save time
This is an age of Decline short cuts and
quick methods in business. Modern BUSH
ness men consider 1t the greatest econ
omy to take short routes and fast trains
because of the rapidly increasing value
OF time. They will pay more for any
device or facility which will save time
than for almost anything else. Conse-
quently no expense Or ingenuity is
spared. especially by the big railroads
which run competing lines. to accom-
pllsh shortened routes. to quicken serv-
ice. Any railroad today which could
| cut the Twentieth Century Limited s
time between New York and Chicago
half an hour would very quickly put
the Twentieth Century out of business
unless 1t could outdistance its competitor.
AS the railroad today which will per-
sist in winding about hills and meander-
ing long distances to avoid a river cross
ing or tunneling hills or mountains
stands no show for competition with up
to-date roads SO the young man who
expects to get on cannot afford any
handicap which will retard his progress
or reduce his chances of success.
In the pioneer stages days of our his
tory, before competition had become so
fierce. a liberal education and special
training were not SO necessary as foun-
dations for ones lfework. Today. how
ever. il one is to make real success
in any line he must be specialist. must
spend years in training for his speciality
He must lay a larger and frmer foun-
datiOn for preparation than formerly II
he expects to get anywhere near the top
of his vocation. He must remove all
possible distractions, must have bet
ter training, better equipment and more
scientific outfit in every way. or he can
not hope to succeed.
The trouble with most people who fail
to make Roadway is that they do not
pay enough attention to Strengthening
their tracks and reducing grades. They
try Is save time. to make short cuts in
laying their foundations. Then they try
To speed on crooked. ill-made roads and
dangerous grades. with light rails and
poor equipment. Is II any wonder that
the result is thousands OF wrecks.
II there is anything in which We can
not afford to adopt shortcut methods II
is in laying foundations. Every man
should lay out a clean. straight. level
track to his goal. All distractions should
be removed. all dangers and risks re-
duced TO minimum. making his road
straight, firm. solid and safe.
There are thousands who are very
painstaking in laying their foundati tons.
They make great sacrifices to get a
good education and perfect themselves
in their speciality. but they spoil all when
they come to their actual work. They
take little or no precaution to insure
success when they start out on their
trip: pay little regard to the condition
of their roads or cars. to the food fuel
as to its energy and bulk or TO any Of
the essential things on which the health
and life of their machine depends. Yet
they wonder why they do not win IN the
race.
Running a successful life is a good
deal more of a complicated business than
running a successful railroad or shop
farm. 1t can't be done on Decline
methods. II takes all of ones time man
aged with the greatest economy, all OF
ones common sense. skill and energy to
accomplish the biggest undertaking God
has given to ma.