Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-06-12
FLORAL ENGINE FEATURE
OF MEMORIAL EXERCISES
Annual Services for B. l.. L.
Held Las, Night al Broad
Street Church.

Memorial services of the Brother
hood of Locomotive Engineers were
held at Broad Street Methodist
Church last night. The church was
nttingly decorated. one of the unique
features being the front Of an engine
in horal design. The roster OF loo
names were read by y. W. Harding.
AS each name was called. a flower
was placed upon the table by women
in memory OF the dead. MIR. Philips
and the choir sang appropriate sclec-
lions Rev. Fred r. Chcnault preached
from the text. Verify, verify | say
unto YOU, except a grain Of wheat
fall into the ground and die. II abid-
eth alone. but If IL die. it brinGeth
forth much fruit" He spoke, in part.
AS follows:
Il count it "a privilege TO bring To
YOU brief message At the memorial
service OF the Brotherhood Of Loco
motive Engineers and auxiliary orr
Ganiza;ions. You come to honor
your dead and. in so doing. YOU
honor the living, for your act is in
dicativc of your spirit. You cling
together in life and in death.
Nnluc of Service Rendered.
Your organization Is rendering Il
! large public service. II Is impossible
10 estimate the value OF the service
to the public that is rendered by your
brotherhood. II you stop for n day
or week, the arteries OF trade are
stopped and the commercial interests
OF the country are paralyzcd Mil
lions OF dollars OF produce of raw
and manufactured material are en-
| trusted to you every day. Through
YOU not only arc the various States.
but even the nations are united and
brought In close proximity. We are
enabled to enjoy in our home and
upon our tables the products OF every
state and every cline. because you
keep moving and rolling the cars
Rut yours Is not only n public
service. IL is n skilled service. we
are told by those who are acquainted
with the facts. that the trained skill
and physical perfection required OF an
engineer is such that the great ma
joriiN of engine wipers hostlers and
. fremen, who spend years iaboring
for the opportunity to grasp the
throttle are later disqualified When
the strict test is made. II per cent of
the 'iremen who aspire TO become en-
gtneerS are rejected at the end of
three years. because of physical i'm
PROJECTIONS. An additional &c per
cent do not exhibit the natural tenn
permanent and ability required OF an
engineer, SO that only seven out of
every 100 contestants win place on
the right side of the cab And even
| this rigorous selection of the most
/ NJ only six out of every 100 for
! places in passenger service. In brief
the length of training and skill re-
uuired To become Il successful engi-
neer ~ no less than that demanded of
! Il goId dentist or an able lawyer.
Work One OF KcsponsibiIity.
! The engineers work not only is
on" OF public service and skin. but
| II IS one Of great rcspons ibiIity. IN
! no profession is man entrusted with
| more sponsibility for the life Of his
fellowmcn. than is the eng incer who.
In his locomotive. must Keep his hand
upon the throttle and his eye upon
/ the rail. That the engineers OF the
nation discharge their obligation with
| sk!l' ana conscience. Is Indicated by
| the report OF the Interstate Commerce
| Commission for 1921 This shows
that fatalities on American railroads
are less than they have been for the
| last twenty-five years. l6.239.77i be
ing carried 10 their destination in
! safety TO one killed. And, whenever
an accident does occur. 1t Is usually
the man who runs the train and not
the passenger who pays the price.
| The great carcfulncss of the en-
| Gineer !S such that one trans lorta =
| ton line that carries 100000 % per
sons year, has not had fatal in :
jury in the last four years. There
are thirty-four times as many people
! killed by automobiles In the United
States. according 10 the 1920 census.
as passengers killed on railroads The
law recognizes the great RESPONSE
bility of the engineers and holds him
to il. The engineer is not only re-
sponsibie for the passengers. but for
the millions of dollars OF produce
which he handles every year of his
! service. Some one has said that an
engineer trimmings a train Of coal ca RS
virtually has $500.0 OF property in
his care. surely n thoughtful public
Will recognize that men with your
training. skill and responsibility. and
with brief average life because OF
the danger to which you are subject.
should he compensated in a manncT
commemorate with your work" :