10 'Cbe Conservative *
and otherwise , may have operated to re
duce the average return below the level
established for other enterprises. Yet ,
however this may be there is unques
tionably an ultimate limit , and , wheth
er or not it can be ascertained or even
expressed in any but the most general
terms , no student of transportation can
afford to ignore its existence.
In conclusion the writer may be per
mitted to indicate the direction of some
of the practical applications of the
theory that is here suggested. The
most obvious bearing is upon the desir
ability of railway agreements for the
suppression of competition among lines
connecting the same points , and for the
maintenance of rates. It is certain that
if railway rates tend naturally toward a
minimum in the establishment of which
the cost of operation is an important
element , the enforcement of wasteful
competitive methods of administration
is undesirable , as the costs of such meth
ods must inevitably become a charge
upon traffic. It will probably appear
also to have considerable force in deter
mining the economic desirability of ex
tensive corporate consolidations and the
degree and character of state control
over rates. The method to be adopted
for the taxation of railway property
would appear to be affected as , if the
conditions of railway transportation
have been correctly interpreted , such a
tax must be distributed among railway
patrons. H. T. Newcomb , in the Yale
Review.
Washington , D. O. , Census Office.
AFTER GRADUATION WHAT NEXT ?
Mr. George M. Basford , in a recent
lecture before the graduating class of
Purdue University , made some practical
and helpful suggestions. He said in
part :
"You are soon to come to the decis
ion : 'What next'and I am safe in
saying that you do not all know your
possibilities , and that comparatively few
know just what you are best fitted for.
It is specially important , under such cir
cumstances , to seek opportunities rather
than positions. To decide to take your
courses was an important step in that it
was the acceptance of a long , hard task.
The sequel comes after graduation ,
when more long and hard tasks are ac
cepted , for the sake of preparation for
advancement. In these the stimulation
of the examination is lacking , and grit ,
patience and earnest purpose are requir
ed , because no letting up can be per
mitted.
It is well to be informed as to what
others are doing. Study their work in
its bearings upon your own , and use the
ideas of others as improved upon by
yourself. The technical press may be
made a factor in your experience if
properly used , and you can help your
self by the right sort of reading. It is a
good plan to acquire experience in writ
ing. A well-considered article in a
technical journal of high standing once
or twice a year brings the writer's name
into pleasant and profitable prominence ,
and a good paper on a vital subject read
before one of the technical associations
in exceedingly helpful in acquiring and
extending acquaintance. It is a serious
mistake to neglect opportunities of this
kind. The writer also profits directly
because he crystallizes his own opinions
in telling them to others. The reputa
tion gained by having one's name at the
head of good articles on important sub
jects is not to be despised. If you think
you cannot write well enough , perhaps
some editor will be glad to help you.
Whether you write papers or articles
or not , subscribe for the best technical
papers and join an engineering associa
tion or railroad club. If yon have an
association here you should use it.
Not Sulllclcnt to Know.
It is not sufficient to know something ,
it is necessary that others should know
that yon know it , in order to open the
opportunities for which you are prepar
ed. Many complain that they are not
consulted and that they have no chances ,
being kept in the same old ruts and not
entrusted with important and interest
ing matters. Doubtless such a situation
would be changed by well-considered
suggestions to superiors , carefully
worked out and presented in finished
form. One may urge and argue with
his superiors , hoping to induce them to
take up some improvement , but if put in
the form of a complete scheme , with
perhaps alternatives , the arguments ,
even if not successful , will carry an im
pression of ability and earnestness
which will not be lost.
Beginners have no voice in determin
ing their relations with their superiors ,
but as you will soon have responsibilities
over the work of others , a study of or
ganization is necessary. Ideal organiza
tion is represented in military and naval
affairs , where every officer is prepared
for advancement , and is educating his
own successor. In these fields there is
never the slightest difficulty in finding
men prepared for advancement , and yet
how this lesson has been lost in many
mercantile and railroad organizations !
The constant stream of inquiries received
at our office for men qualified to do this
and that , from draughtsman to superin
tendents of motive power , testifies to a
serious weakness , to which proper at
tention cannot be too quickly given.
Railroad officers should be made to see
that they are generally fatally deficient
in their methods of securing their sub
ordinates and in their treatment of
them. The writer has been asked by
railroad officers to recommend men for
certain positions of responsibility under
them , and has sometimes suggqsted the
promotion of men already in subordinate
positions in the same department. The
results were most satisfactory , but it is
a sad reflection upon intelligence and
even honor when promotion of faithful
and capable men is not uppermost in the
mind of the chief in such a case.
Clinnccfl for Young Men.
There was never a better time for
young men to enter locomotive work
than now. For years the chief improve
ments have been in the form of increas
ed weight and size , and motive power
men have generally found the problems
presented by the traffic and passenger
departments more important and more
pressing than those affecting economi
cal operation. The demands for fast
and heavy trains are growing not less ,
but more severe , and the development in
size and weight has been carried to a
point which compels attention to econ
omy for its own eake , and also because
of the fact that increased economy
means increased capacity and more
horse-power without exceeding the limi
tations of clearance and weight. The
question now is , as put by Mr. E. M.
Herr , how to enable a fireman to shovel
more horse-power into the firebox.
The fireman's limit has been reached
and in some cases passed , and this fact
seems likely to exert a most important
influence on the future design of loco
motives. The desire to postpone the
day of two firemen on a locomotive has
already led to the consideration of the
wide firebox. One after another of the
improvements which have marked the
progress of other branches of steam en
gineering will probably come up for
consideration for the same reason , to re
lieve the fireman , and , also , to increase
the capacity of the locomotive. This
will probably mean much for the loco
motive and also for the young men who
prepare themselves to take a part in its
future development. A total weight of
250,800 pounds for a locomotive has
been reached , the wheel loads are prob
ably as high as they can go with present
construction , and recently the boiler of
a well-known high-speed passenger loco
motive of a western road has been
adopted without change for a heavy
freight engine of an eastern road. The
locomotive is clearly in a most interest
ing stage , and it offers a worthy field
for the best of talent. The questions
are difficult , and they call for know
ledge , ability , experience and business
judgment.
"Work for Engineers.
Engineers have always been consulted
as to what certain things will cost ; they
are now also asked whether projected
schemes will pay , and the most success
ful engineers are those who can answer
both questions. It is necessary to ac
quire ability to see what should be done
and to render opinions to practical ,
hard-headed men , which will convince
them. Technical consideration should
be used to form opinions , but they