The Oskaloosa herald., 1918-01-03
of the day was by no means forgot
Federal Operation.

L
Naturally the big subject of discus
sion just now among the men, is the
question of Government Control. As
a matter of fact the Government has
been in control of the railroads prac-
tically ever since the beginning of
the war preparations in April last and
| the only difference in the latest
J move, is a tighter grip on the gen.
eral management and the active con-
ditions that the companies have to
meet. The men anticipate no changes
as far as they are concerned, but as
! things are now, there is no company
rivalry for the securing of traffic, as
| it is now a question of the shortest
and quickest route to the destination
of the shipment The possibility of
strikes is also done away with as all
employees are now under Government
control and the question of wage diff
ferences must be settled in some 9th
er way. In shop operation the men
look for gradual standardization of
all parts that are used in the repair
of either engines or cars and as
matter of economy this would be far
better than each road having stand
ard of it's own as it is now. With one
standard for all, repairs could be
mere promptly made and the motive
power kept on the road instead of be-
ing delayed in the shop
There will also be gradual reduc-
tion of the trains that are now oper-
ated. AS far as possible the opera
J ton of Sunday trains will be avoided
and notice has already been given
that on January 9Th, the 6:25 a. m.
train north, and the 1853 p. m. train
south, known as No. and No. 2, will
be taken off on Sundays.
: The M. & st. L. R. r. was recently
called upon to send one of their big
! engines to the Eastern roads, to help
i them in the movement of traffic. The
| c., b. G. O. R. R. and the Rock Island
as well as other Western roads have
also been asked for equipment.
New Pass System.
A new pass system has been an
nounced by the Rock Island road foI
the benefit of it's employees and the
terms of service are graded from five
to twenty-five years according to the
> position occupied. The annual pass
is granted to the employe at the end
of five years and after ten, fifteen
e twenty and twenty-five years, the ad
: vantages of the pass are extended
v first to the wife and then to the fam
lily in keeping with the kind or class
of work done. Special trip passes
e are also issued over connecting roads
e under certain conditions as the re
II quirements of the case seem to de
e mand.
s. The question OF coal supply for sew
o eral years past, has been so keen thai
y some of the large systems, particu
" larly in the west, now own their owr
y mines and in the east, the railroad.
e have organized subsidiary companie.
j. to operate the mines, while the rail
le roads on the Pacific coast are depend
S ent on the burning of fuel oil. Through
Y. their mountain section in Montana
n and Idaho, the c., NJ & st. P. r. r. /.
10 proving out the advantages OF cleo
e. tricity with considerable success, botl
lie in the matter of economy and in tn,
AZ. increased volume of business han
Dr. died. In the years to come, electri
s, power will no doubt be the great mo
Ds tive power of transportation an,
# gradually the various companies ar
it coming to that idea.