The superintendent of telegraph with two assistants has charge of all telegraph and telephone lines and communication on the system. The commissioner of safety attends to all matters relating to the "safety-first movements" in the education of employees and the traveling public and secures data for the purpose of making such rules and regulations as to operation as will tend to decrease the injury to persons and the loss of property. He travels over the system lecturing to employees and showing the practical application of his advice with the aid of moving pictures and other devices. The general watch and clock inspector's duties are obvious. The chief engineer of the system (and therefore the head of the engineering department) reports to the vice president of operation. His organization has been described in the chapter on Engineering. There are four general managers, each with an independent organization of transportation, engineering, and mechanical officers. The usual medical and police officers are included in the organization. There are five general superintendents and four chief engineers reporting to the four general managers. There are five district engineers, four mechanical superintendents, and twenty-one division superintendents reporting to the five general superintendents. That is, there are four constituent general manager's organizations, similarly constituted within the operating department of the system. New York Central Railroad Figure 17 shows the operating organization of the New York Central Lines East of Buffalo. It is interesting by way of contrast to the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe organization, the one being strictly departmental and the other divisional. The organization of the general superintendent of the electric division and that of the chief engineer are interesting as showing the character of organization required for operation with the electrified zones of steam railmada Organization of the Pennsylvania System The recent reorganization of the Pennsylvania System is an attempt to break away from the evident evils of too great concentration of authority. The higher officers found that the lower officials were passing up problems that should be handled by them, resulting in delay and a general slowing down of the whole organization. Therefore, it was decided to split the system into four operating regions under the general authority of an operating vice president located in Philadelphia. This officer was given complete authority over all the problems of transportation, of maintenance of way, and of equipment. His staff consists of four regional vice presidents, a vice president in charge of personnel, and the other officers shown on the chart. The organization in each region is carried out on a divisional basis as if each were a separate railroad organization. That is to say, the general superintendents, together with the division superintendents reporting to them, are responsible not merely for getting the trains over the road but also for the track, ballast, bridges, and general condition of the rolling stock. The regional general managers have on their staffs representatives of the traffic department, purchasing department, accounting department, etc. These officers are carried on the pay rolls of their respective departments but report to the regional officers on all local matters, so that the region becomes a real railroad unit. TEST QUESTIONS These questions are for the student to use in testing his knowledge of the assignment. The answers are not to be sent to the University. 1. On what is the successful manufacture of goods contingent? 2. What are the two chief elements in any undertaking? 3. Does the business of transportation differ materially from other commercial or manufacturing enterprises? 4. What department is in touch with the investing public? 5. In what way does the public come in contact with the operating department? 6. To what department of a manufacturing enterprise does the traffic department of a railroad correspond? 7. What are the divisions of the financial department? 8. What department determines the standards of equipment? 9. In what divisions may the representatives of a corporation be assigned? 10. What functions are performed by the stockholders? 11. Are the directors of the company subject to the dictates of the stockholders? 12. What is the average amount held by each holder of railroad securities? 13. How is the chairman of the board of directors selected? 14. On what qualifications were the presidents of the earlier railroads selected? 15. How does the executive department of the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway differ from that of the Norfolk & Western Railway? 16. In the Harriman Line organization what were the functions of the director of maintenance and operation? 17. By whom are stock certificates signed? 18. Who attends to the registration of stock? 19. Who is custodian of the funds secured from operation? |