The American Railway: Its Construction, Development, Management, and Appliances

by Thomas Curtis Clarke

I have thus outlined the skeleton of a railroad organization, and suggested briefly the relations between its most important parts, and some of the principles upon which its work is conducted. The scheme of authority is outlined in the diagram on [page 185]. But space is utterly lacking to clothe the skeleton with flesh and go into the innumerable details and adjustments involved in the economical and efficient discharge of all of its functions.

It seems a very simple matter for a railroad to place a barrel of flour in a car, to carry it to its destination, and to collect fifty cents for the service. It is done apparently so spontaneously that even the fifty cents may seem exorbitant, and I have actually heard appeals for free transportation on the ground that the cars were going anyhow. So it also seems a very simple matter for a man to pick up a stone and place it on a wall. But this simple act involves in the first place the existence of a bony frame, with joints, sinews, and muscles, sustained by a heart, lungs, and digestive system, with eyes to see, a brain to direct, nerves to give effect to the will-power, and a thousand delicate adjustments of organs and functions without which all physical exertion would soon cease. Similarly, a railroad organized to respond efficiently to all the varied demands upon it as a common carrier, by the public, and as an investment by its owners, becomes almost a living organism. That the barrel of flour may be safely delivered and the fifty cents reach the company's treasury, and a part of it the stockholder's pocket, the whole organization outlined in the diagram must thrill with life, and every officer and employee, from president to car-greaser, must discharge his special functions. All must be coordinated, and the organization must have and use its eyes and its ears, its muscle, its nerves, and its brain. It must immediately feel and respond to every demand of our rapidly advancing civilization.

Each road usually has its own individuality and methods, and its employees are animated with an esprit de corps, as are the soldiers in an army. There is much about the service that is attractive, and, on the whole, the wages paid railroad employees are probably in excess of the rates for similar talent in any other industry, although labor in every other industry in the United States is protected by high tariffs, while in this it is under the incubus of legislation as oppressive as constitutional limits will permit.

	President
Secretary and Treasurer	General Manager			General Counsel
		—Auditor of Receipts
		—Auditor of Disbursements
—Comptroller————–	——	—Travelling Auditor
		—Local Treasurers
		—Local Paymasters
		—Clerk of Statistics
—Purchasing Agent——	——	—Local Storekeepers
			—Receiving Clerks and Laborers
			—Loading Clerks and Laborers
			—Billing Clerks
		—Station Agents————	—Discharging Clerks and Laborers
			—Delivery Clerks
—Superintendent of			—Collectors	—Yard Engines
Transportation——			—Yard Master————	—Switchmen
				—Brakemen
			—Train Despatchers
		—Train Master—————	—Operators
			—Conductors
			—Trainmen
—Division
Superintendents———	——
				—Engine Runners
				—Firemen
			—Foreman	—Hostelers and
			Machine Shop——	Cleaners
				—Mechanics
				—Laborers
—Superintendent of
Machinery———	——	—Master Mechanic———
				—Car Inspectors
			—Foreman	—Greasers
			Car Shop——	—Mechanics
				—Laborers
				—Bridge Foremen
			—Supervisors of	—Watchmen
			Bridges——	—Carpenter Gangs
—Superintendent of				—Mason Gangs
Roadway—	——	—Road Master—————
				—Section Foremen
				—Gangs and Track Walkers
			—Supervisors of	—Wood and Water
			Road———	Tenders
				—Floating Gangs
				—Construction Trains
—Car Accountant———	——	—Lost Car Agents
			—Travelling Agents
		—General Passenger	—Local Agents
		Agent———	—Rate and Division Clerks
—Traffic Manager——–	——	—Claim Agent
			—Travelling Agents
		—General Freight	—Local Agents
		Agent———	—Rate and Division Clerks
Diagram showing the Skeleton of a Railroad Organization, and Lines of Responsibility.

In Europe, where the pooling system practically prevails, the service is much more stable than in the United States, and in many instances there are pensions and insurances and disability funds, and regular rules for promotion and retirement, and provision for the children of employees being brought into service in preference to outsiders. Such relations between a company and its employees as must result from arrangements of this character are surely of great benefit to both. They are the natural outgrowth of stability of business. Their most advanced form is found in France, where each road is practically protected from dangerous competition by means of a division of territory. In the United States we are still in the midst of a fierce competition for territory and business, and, as pooling is forbidden, the railroad companies will be in unstable equilibrium until consolidation takes place. As that goes on, and large and rich corporations are formed, with prospects of stability in management and in business, we may hope to see similar relations established between our companies and their employees. Already there is a beginning upon some of the largest roads, such as the Baltimore & Ohio and the Pennsylvania Central. But the ground still needs preparation also on the employees' side, for our American spirit is aggressive and is sometimes rather disposed to resent, as interfering with its independence, any paternal relations with a corporation. And as we have before found railroad management in intimate contact with every problem of finance and commerce, it is here confronted with the social and industrial questions involved in labor unions and problems of co-operation. As to the results, we can only say that, as war is destructive, no state of warfare, even between capital and labor, can be permanent. Peaceful solutions must prevail in the end, and progress toward stability, peace, and prosperity in railroad operation and ownership will be progress toward the happy solution of many vexed social questions.

FOOTNOTES:

[14] See "How to Feed a Railway," [page 302.]

[15] See "The Freight-car Service," [page 275.]