Gunnison news-champion., 1918-10-18
LETTER FROM FORMER GUN
NISON RAILROAD MAN
Darter Writes Interestingly of Life
in France and Work of Engineers.

American ENpedluonary Forces,
Somewhere in France.
Herman Weirick,
Gunnison, Colorado.
Dear Friend Herman:
Received your letter today; was
glad. you bet, TO hear from you. | am
feeling fine, and working rather long
hours, and pretty steady. Have lost
only one day for two months. Every
time they wash the boiler, the fireman
and | get 80 hours. The boiler is sup
posed to be washed every days, but
we are lucky TO get boiler wash once
a month.
The water here is very good, but
not as good as in Gunnison. One takes
q great chance when he drinks out of
a tank, as the water is very impure.
The French, of course, drink nothing
but wine, so there is no danger for
them | drink it sometimes, but have
not formed the habit. One quart of
red wine costs from one franc to one
franc, seventy centimes. The white
wine is higher and more Intoxicating
One franc is about Is or 20c in normal
times-100 centimes make one franc.
Red wine is very healthy if drunk
within the bounds of reason.
Beer is getting higher all the time
on account of the Americans. 1t is
one franc for bottle about the same
size as in the States. We are paid
$500 per day for rations, so we can
eat anywhere on the road that we have
a chance, buy eggs and butter on the
road, and carry in large basket that
paid 90 francs for. So cook on the
engine. French bread is dark, but l
like it for change. 1t is cheaper
here than in the States. l pay to
francs dozen for eggs, and butter is
about fir. per pound. can get a real
meal for fr., or a good meal at the
Ry. station for 3la fr., that is, in the
large towns. The French people eat
more bread than anything else. They
cut little cubes off the loaf, one at q
time, so there is no waste, and it
doesn't dry up.
Most of the railroad employees are
intelligent, and easy to get along
with. The trains are handled in much
the same way as in the States. The
conductor handles the orders, that is,
he gives them to the engine man. He
blows a little horn to stop the train.
He rides as near the engine man as
he can. He has long cord which is
attached to clap bell on the tank on
engineers side. He pulls cord to make
the bell ring; the engine man then
looks for the signal. One brakeman
rides the middle of the train, the 9TH
er the rear. When starting the train,
the conductor signals the rear-by
day, red flag, by night, a red lamp.
All lanterns for road crews have one
side red, and the other white. II
train is all in motion, the rear man
gives the "Go ahead" signal, if not,
the "Stop" signal. The same is trans
ferred to engine man. The system is
safe. The conductors and brakemen
never throw a switch or cut off q car,
as they have no switch keys. The
station employees do all such work.
Should it be necessary to cross over
the opposite track, or against the cur
rent Of traffic to get in sidetrack, no
one can get to the switch to unlock
it until the station master throws an
lnteriock from the station which lets
a stan drop down in a steel 'cage-like
affair. Then the station employe can
unlock same. / am running a large
engine made in New York. The
drivers are about the same height as
the 700 Of the Grande. We can make
70 6lometers per hour if the way is
clear.
You asked if l ever get close to the
front. l am located a distance back
near the center of France and hardly
ever get close enough to hear the
thunder Of the cannon. see the boys
often as they pass through, but never
anyone that / know. Ny brothers are
now in the war.
Wish l could send You large photo
of the things that Uncle Sam has
done. You surely would be surprised.
You could not believe the great things
your Uncle has accomplished. Miles
Of trains. made up Of U. 8. A. earn
are propelled by U. 8. A. locomotives.
You could figure out about how long
Fritz win last when we get started
/ an ready to start for good old
Colombo the minute the Kaiser is nut
in jaf. bntz shall mot think Of leaving
unt1 the end is attained. Write soon.
Fraternally,
CPL. ]. r. DARTER
Co. B, teth Ehgrs, B. o. r.
A. r. o. IT,