Sixth. The adoption of a system, as a whole, which will not only enable the general superintendent to detect errors immediately, but will also point out the delinquent.
400. A system of operations to be efficient and successful should be such as to give to the principal and responsible head of the running department a complete daily history of details in all their minutiæ. Without such supervision the procurement of a satisfactory annual statement must be regarded as extremely problematical. The fact that dividends are made without such control does not disprove the position, as in many cases the extraordinarily remunerative nature of an enterprise may insure satisfactory returns under the most loose and inefficient management.
All subordinates should be accountable to, and directed by, their immediate superiors only. Each officer must have authority, with the approval of the general superintendent, to appoint all persons for whose acts he is held responsible, and to dismiss any subordinate when in his judgment the interests of the company demand it.
401. The following table shows the rate and direction of subordination for a first class railroad:—
| {Road-master. | {Section men. | ||
| {Superintendent of Road. | {Section men. | ||
| { | {Road-master. | {Section men. | |
| { | {Section men. | ||
| { | |||
| { | {Foreman Machine shop, Machinists. | ||
| { | {Foreman Blacksmith shop, Blacksmiths. | ||
| {Superintendent of Machinery. | {Foreman Car shop, Carpenters, | ||
| { | {Foreman Paint shop, Painters. | ||
| { | {Engineers (not on trains), Firemen. | ||
| { | {Car-masters, Oil men and cleaners. | ||
| { | |||
| { | {Conductors | {Brakemen. | |
| { | {Mail agents. | {Engineers (on trains). | |
| { | {Ticket collectors. | ||
| General Superintendent | { | { | |
| {General passenger agent. | {Station agents. | {Hackmen. | |
| { | {Switchmen. | ||
| { | { | ||
| { | {Express agents. | ||
| { | {Police. | ||
| { | |||
| { | {Conductors. | {Brakemen. | |
| { | {Engineers (on trains). | ||
| {General freight agent. | {Station agent. | ||
| { | {Weighers. | ||
| { | {Gaugers. | ||
| { | {Yard-masters. | ||
| { | |||
| {Supply agent. | {Clerks, Teamsters furnishing supplies. | ||
| {Fuel agent. | {All men employed about the wood sheds. | ||
DUTIES OF EMPLOYEES.
402. The General Superintendent has entire control of all of the heads of departments; he issues his orders to the heads only, and is the main agent for transferring the resolves of the directors to the operating department, and the channel through which the reports of the departments go to the directory.
The Superintendent of the Road has complete charge of the road-bed, superstructure, bridging, masonry, and buildings; also all removals, enlargements, and alterations. He should be a thorough civil engineer, able in every respect to build a railroad from beginning to end.
The Superintendent of Machinery has charge of the purchase, inspection, repair, and operating of all of the rolling and fixed machinery, of shops, engine houses, turntables, tanks, and weigh scales. He is responsible for the good condition, proper adaptation and efficiency of the entire equipment of engines and cars.
The General Passenger Agent fixes, under the direction of the president and general superintendent, the prices of passenger transportation, has charge of all conductors, ticket sellers, station police, mail and express agents, of stage, steamboat, and railroad connections, and of all operations incident to transporting passengers.