Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-06-01
GIVES GLIMPSE
BEHIND SCENES
OF BIG ROADS
Illinois Central Explains Vast
Work in Maintenance of
Modern Railway.
ARMY IS EMPLOYED

A glimpse behind the scenes" in rail-
way management and operation Is
afforded in a letter received by local
officials of the Illinois Central Railway,
and made public today. The letter gives
an idea of the immensely Of the organiza-
ton that is necessary in keeping the rail-
way in proper condition, and in SAFE
garding the public which uses the
utility.
Few persons, according to the letter,
are aware of the monster organization
that is behind the operation Of rail-
way Few persons ever examine mod
ern locomotive, a passenger coach, re-
| frigerator or ordinary freight car. An
idea Of the work required in the con-
struction Of locomotive, or of the Of
ficials behind the organization Is given
in the letter.
MODERN LOCOMOTIVE
HAS 1000 PARTS.
A modern locomotive, it states, is CONS
posed of more than 1920 parts, not in
GLIDING rivets and bolts, all of which
must be inspected daily and kept in per-
feet condition, some requiring the att
tention of highly specialized experts.
modern all-steel passenger coach, exclu-
~sive of bolts, rivets etc, has more than
1000 parts The wheels, trucks, air.
brakes and draw gear require constant
attention. The dynamo, which generates
electricity for lighting the coach when
the train is running, and storing the bat
teries to provide lighting when the train
is standing, must be carefully handled.
CLEANING. VENTILATING
Is BIG ITEM.
The single item Of cleaning and Yen-
cilating passenger coaches runs into large
igures, the letter states.
A modern refrigerator car contains
more than fifteen hundred parts. Per-
feet insulation must be maintained and
the car must be kept absolutely clean.
1.-THE men who actually operate the
trains on the Illinois Central System
compose a comparatively small proper
ton Of the more than fifty thousand en-
| ployes back of Them" the letter con-
tinues.
"one out of every eleven persons in
| the United States depends directly on
the railways for a living, counting one
worker to every five persons.
Railway prosperity is necessary TO
national prosperity. Anything that IN
lures the railways also injuries the pub
| lie Anything that helps the railways,
! helps the public.
VAST CONSUMPTION
OF COAL. STEEL.
1.-THE railways consume g per cent on
all the bituminous coal produced in the
United States. They consume % per cent
of all the steel produced in the United
States They consume is per cent Of all
/ che timber and lumber produced in the
United States They are also large users
of iubricating oils and other commodities.
"The railways do not claim perfection.
Every railway in the United States has
| locomotives and cars that should be re-
placed by better ones; machinery and
appliances that should be replaced By
later and better models; steel rails that
should be replaced by heavier ones; track
| that should be provided with better bal
last; terminals that should be enlarged.
/ The railways are striving to overcome
these deficiencies. They are succeeding
| gradually. They are fighting for the
privilege of serving you-the public
| new ask no advantage of any kind. They
ask only square deal Constructive
criticism and suggestions are invited.