The Frisco Employes' Magazine, March 1928

80 Pages·2004·20 MB·English

You can have the Ball Watch
you've always wanted-easily
Ten to one, you've always wanted a Ball Watch-if you do not
already carry one. You've admired them for years and you've seen
the pride othcr men take in thcir Ball Watches. But did you know
how easily you could have one?
A liberal allowance for your old watch and conveniently small pay-
roll deductions for the balance-just say the word and thc new
watch is in your pocket. See your local watch inspector.
An old veteran "turnipp' may keep time all right and squeeze pasr
inspection, but you never know when it's going to blow up and you
simply can't have the pride in it that you will in your handsome n----
Edl. Happy Ball owners are the "fine car owners" of watchdc
The Ball Patent Stirrup BOW
Only on Rall Watches will you find this great improvement.
UA LlT Y Designed by us cspccially to make the railroad man's watch proof ,.: &?k -
against damage from twists and tangles with his watch chain. ,
+ +?'
Garlztnb Your Ball Watch is Insured
lSirist
ID ntches With every Ball Watch goes a burglary and hold-up insura nce
poky at no extra cost. No railmad man need hesitate to c:a "?'
-Righto n Time" a good watch if it is insured.
Acc,lrate timekeepers because they are selected
The Ball "Box Car" Dial iY p,,
"
Watch. For.men or women. Glance at the h~ld,~lafiignu res of the Ball dial from almost any dis-
tance and in almost any light and you can read them. A watch dial ?
designed especially to meet the varied requirements of railroading.
C L E V E L A N D , OHIO.
R. F. CARR, Mempb
Plgldant
Strong as Ever for the "Friscoii
RAL OFFICES
MEMPHIS, TENN. Phone, Main 231
3. Bon 1032
n v o vern on
1
> .
C a r M a n u f a c t u r i n g Cc
I
Repair Shop,
500' x 150'. Capacity Per Annw n :
10,000 Freight Cars:,
Fully equipped with
C-.r n-n-a-c.., "K,l eetrfr I! 150,000 Chilled Trea Id
I----1 -- Wheels;
Riveters, etc., enabling
us to work in all kinds 20,000 tons Forgings.
'7!
BUILDERS OF FREIGHT CARS
OF ALL KINDS
MOUNT VERNON, ILLINOIS

8 Page 3
iE FRISCO EMPLOYES' MAG-IiYL
.
. .
WM L HUGGINS Jr., Edilor .
.
WJ .M J . KMAePMLIALNL .A ANd oAcdrnflc~rlfnia#Sl nd#i cMifaonra gcr
No. 6
~uctr edit.
Magazine
Page
........................................... 4
...: . .................................... 5
PAYMASTER I
M
ANY employes on the Fris-
co railroad proper have
Billit
never met Paymaster F.
W. Young, of St. Louis. Mo., who in E
will celebrate his forty-sixth year
C
of continuous service on March
1% 1928, but there are few who
do not know and welcome his
eignature which has appeared on pay
and time draft8 totaling more than a
billion and a half dollars during his
entire service. He is a native St.
Louisan, born June 16, 1868, at Thir-
-
teenth and Washington Avenues, then
-mm<A--*l-l ---bl~- -# Cb T .-..-a- I...&
now well
The pa: DO a. m. to
s.
gan as of F. L& M.
under MI , were take11
auditor. was operated
ferred to Birmingham
ment, wh ma nrdr- nsiA
15, 1885.
oza=hi~+~
Page 5
RETIRED ENGINEER RECALLS OLD DAYS
0N February 12, 1928, Mr. a house. Later, just like the snap
Sanudm mMirts .A vJ.e nSu.e ,H SaprrtI nofg iI1e2l2d0. J. S. Har l and His W j f ospf ryionugr fuipn!g er, Itth es etoemwneds bnegoathnl ntgo
Mo., celebrated their fiftieth wed- Celebrate Thcit GoIden # short of miraculous. Tulsa with
ding anniversary. And along with its sky-scrapers seems incredible.
the flfty years of wedded life, Wedding Ann ioevso ry for I have recollections of a roil-
thirty-nine years and one month ing plain with numerous prairie
of the time Mr. Hart served as a chickens and rabbits running
Frisco engineer, with Mrs. Hart faith- about, where the city now stands."
fully sharing the hardships of early Mr. Hart recalls pioneer days In
railroading life, and enjoying the com- Springfield, when North Springfleld
forts which were added later to their and South Springfield, were distinct
lot in life. towns and blackberry patches were
They were elaborately entertained numerous between. "I was sitting in
at Eagles' Hall, on the nlght of Feb- front of the old Jackson House on
ruary 12, by the Springfield Chapter Comrnerclal Street, North springfield,
of the Grand International Association one day-and you know the old Frisco
of Engineers. depot was down that street, just at
Mr. Hart began his railroad service the end of Benton Avenue, and one of
in August, 1881. in the Frisco car de- the women guests of the hotel came
partment, at Springfleld. He then Out and asked me if I'd mind going
went with the bridge gang, butiding across the way and cutting her a snuff
false work before the track was laid stick. The weeds and brush wae as
from Winslow to Van Buren, Ark. Re- high as my head, so the request was
turning to Springfleld he went on the easily filled."
road as a brakeman, running between Mr. Hart could not stress enough
Springfleld and Newburg, Mo. From two marvels of railroading, the air
this position he transferred to that brake and the automatic train control.
of fireman, and was promoted to the He drove engines before either of
position of freight engineer June 7, M R AND MRS. J. S. HART these devices were known In railroad-
1887. Hls promotion to passenger en- ing, and he remarked that the feeling
gineer came in 1897. He was retlred Tulsa and it was so muddy we could of confidence which they give the en-
in 1922. hardly use it. The ac~mm~dationg~in eer can not be described. Mr.
Both MP. and Mrs. Hart were born were so bad at Tulsa that we used to Hart's first engine was old 71, known
in Cole County. Ill., and were married go on over to Red Fork where the as the Baldwin consolidated, and now
at Mattoon, Ill., in 1878. Frisco had an old caboose fitted up numbered in the 2700 series. During
"I can remember well that wedding with a cook stove. We used to buy his last years of service he operated
ceremony." Mrs. Hart said. "You Potatoes, bread and meat and cook it a 4100 class engine.
know, In 1878, there were not many ourselves. The Harts have attended three re-
paved roads. I recall that Mr. Hart "But we had lots of fun with it all. unions of the Frisco Veteran Em
brought two horses, and after the It was pioneer railroading, and as we ployes' Association. "We never wish
wedding ceremony had been perform- didn't know any better way of doing to miss one as long as we live," re-
ed in the old home in which I was it, we just buckled down, joined hands marked Mrs. Hart. "At the last one
born I put on my riding habit and like brothers, and did the work. Hours I talked to our president and thanked
we mounted our horses to proceed to were long, pay was not so good, but him for the many favors extended to
the home of Mr. Hart's uncle. The we loved the work. the pensioned Frisco employes-ur
distance was too great to make that "That was a great stock country at passes and pensions ttnd hospital per-
night, so we stopped half way at the that time and we handled many train .mits-and I told him what a wonder-
home of one of my girl friends, where loads of stock to the market. Over ful thing it was, and in return he told
we had our wedding reception." that 56-pound rail and with those little me all he wanted was for the pension-
Mr. Hart recalls vfvfdly railroading engines we were required to come ers to take advantage of those privi-
forty years ago and compared it with in from Red Fork to Springfield in six leges."
railroading today. hours." A married daughter, Mrs. H. M.
"I notlced in a recent interview with He laughed heartily when he recall- Beckham, resides in San Francisco,
Mr. Kurn where he mentioned that ed a certain incident of early railroad- Cal., and Is the only daughter of the
seventy miles of track, between Afton ing. "Our mixed passenger train com- Hart's. For some time they resided
and Tulsa. Okla.. would be replaced ing in from the west was run on very with her; but their many friends in
soon with 110-pound rail. When I slow schedule. In fact, it was so slow and agound Springfield brought them
used to run an engine over that fame that we used to sit on the pilot with back.
stretch of track, we had 66pounll rail a shot gun and shoot quail and rab- "We've had a wonderfully happy life
under om engine wheels. There was #bits. When we hit our game we together," Mr. .Hart sald, "and we
not even so much as a small village wouldn't have to stop the train to hope that we may Ilve many more
where the thriving city of Tulsa now pick it up, we would just run and get years to sing the praises of the good
stands. There was, however, across it and hog back on again. In com- old Frisco Lines."
[rom the little depot, a half-way hotel parison with our fast schedules of to-
run by an Indian. We got our water day that sounds ridlculous. Vagrant winds blow the chaff, but
for the engines out of the river at 'We'd go for miles without seeing the flint is undisturbed.

March, 1928 Page 7
FOLLOWED IN FATHER'S FOOTSTEPS
T HE unlque circumstance s brakeman and was promoted to
riluyr rooufn diFnrgi scthoe Lfaamkeer faannt:Ld - Six Sons of- Fred Lakcr, Sf., cthoen d~ucrtiosrc Mos aerrcvhic 9e, ~19u00l.y SO H. e1 9l1e2f.t
Qnrinmu..-....f leld '.M.-..n., n., .r-=ld.-an. nr.r~n-h.a-rh-ty Entered of the Frisco and is deceased.
has not been duplicated by any as Call Boysa t Springfield c. 13. ~,aker is the second m,
other railroad family. Mr. and He began hi8 service as a call
Mrs. Fred Laker. Sr., had seven boy. The records do not show
sons. One of them died in the exact date. He worked as a
infancy. Each of the other six be- War, Mrs. Laker said: "Right after conductor from May, 1906, to Feb-
gan his business career not only in the Civil War I remember that the ruary. 1908. Ha was In train service
Frisco service, but in the north ronnd- young men were so unsettled. Most twelve years and in tbe service of
house at Springfield and as a call of them were too old to learn trades. the company nineteen years. about sir
boy. Fred Laker. Sr., and two of thz Railroading paid much better than years as a conductor. He Is deceased.
sons are deceased. Recently Mrs. anything else then, and many boys Bruce Laker is the third son. Mrs.
Laker, in her comfortable little home, went in the service. It eeemed that Laker says that when Bruce served
told a reporter for The FrSsco Em-' as a call boy, he used to call the
p1oyc.s' Magasin& of her family of rail- crews with the aid of hla pony. He
road men. She will be eighty years served as a brakeman from August.
old in June. She was born in Bur- 1899, to July, 1911. He is the only
lington, Ky. son who ever left Frlsco service to
"My father was a shoemaker of the go with another railroad, and he is
old school. He served an apprentice- at this tlme an engine foreman with
ship of five years before he started
a western road.
his trade. He used to make what we
E. Ross Laker entered Frisco serv-
termed 'opera slippers', and I recall
Ice as a call boy, July 3, 1900, was
that he used to measure my feet and
transferred to road service as a
make shoes to fit. We used to go to
brakeman in October, 1900; promoted
town to try on a shoe, like we go to
to freight conductor in October.
a dressmaker now. Since he died, I
1906; promoted to extra passenger
have never been able to find shoes to
conductor in April, 1921, and is still
fit.
in service as a freight and passenger
"Alter Mr. Laker and I were rnar-
conductor out of Springfield.
ried and had come to SprIngfleld in
1873, he got a job firing a iocomot~ve Robert E. Laker entered the service
on the old Atlantic & Pacific, the first as a call boy, and on December 15,
unit of the Frisco Lines. In those 1904, began his service as a switch-
days they burned cord wood instead man. He left the service March 10,
of coal. He flred for six yeara be- 1905, and re-entered the service as
tween Sprfngfield and Newburg, Mo.. Mrs. Fred Laker, 80, of Springfield, a brakeman July 4, 1910. He left
and then was promoted to engineer. Mo., is ~ h cwi fe of a former Frisco err- it permanently on September 16, 1911.
ginerr and the mother of six Frisco som.
"I suppose it was because Mr. Of railroad work she says: "It brings He now lives on a poultry farm just
Laker. waM in the service tbat at1 our olrt the bed there is in a man, for he outside of Springfield.
boys wanted to become railroad men. TI~NS~be sober. alert, punctual, indus- George D. Laker, the youngest son,
Every one of them began service with triotrs nrrd vigilorrt." lives with his mother and serves the
the Frisco as soon as he could, and Frisco as a switchman at this time.
all of them started as call boys at the He began his service as a call boy
old North Springfield roundhouse." way after the late war, and I remem- about 1911. He worked as a switch-
Mrs. Laker is the oldest woman rep ber the many nights I spent hoping man rt Tulsa from May, 1915, to
istered with the Frisco Veteran Em- that George woul.d come home to me March, 1920, when he left the service
ployes' Association at Springfield, but safe and sound. to work in the oil flelds. He re-en-
she is old, only in years. Her six "Yes, I have many Crlends, but I tered the service as a switchman at
sturdy sons and her two daughters have devoted my life to my little fam- Monett in July, 1921, and transferred
have kept her mind active. She reads ily. Mr. Laker died and left me with
to Springfield yard in March, 1923.
and sews and keeps house for her one flve children to taRa care of, but I Fred Laker. Sr., was a Mason and
son. She has five grandchildren, the have always been glad that my sons
was master of one of the Masonic
children d Bruce and Fred Laker. were railroad men. I think that rail-
lodges at Springfleld for some time.
"I was riding with my daughter the roading brings out the best there is
Mrs. ,Laker has been a member of
other day, and we had to stop while in a man. He must be sober. alert,
the Eastern Star for thirty-six years
a long Frlsco freight train went by. industrious, punctual and vigilant.
and is also a member of the White
I said to her, 'Honey, this train would The greatest of these requirements
Shrine.
have made four of the trains your is punctuality. I have noticed that
father used to have. Sixty cars was railroad men are more systematlc She is a lover ot flowers and takes
a long train in those days."' than those in other services." great delight in her flower garden at
George Laker. her youngest son. Fred W. Laker, Jr., entered the the back of her little home at 424
who lives with his mother, is a World service as a call boy and fireman in East Locust Street She is active and
War veteran and was gassed in June, 1891. On September 1, 1898, happy, and 'does most of her house
France. In referring to the World he transferred to the position of a work unalded.
Page 8
NEWS FRISCO CLUBS
of the
Sapulpa, Oklahoma for the second Tuesday night in each Pickle Comedy." Granger, played by
month. Mesdames Mallory and Van Ness, the
With a great deal of enthusiasm
Mlsses, Crosby, Williams, Peteet,
the Frisco Employes' Club of Sapulpa, OFckrhoma City, Oklahoma
Thompson and Carruth; women's
Okla., was organized at the Y. M. C. The Frisco Employes' Club of Ok- chorus, "Trees," composed by Carl
A., February 6, with thirty-elght charm lahoma City held its flrst 1928 social Hahn, and "Moon Dream Shore..' corn-
ter members. A large delegation or event the night of February 9 when posed by E. Lockhart, sung by Mes.
officlals and others from Tulsa, Ok- a varied program of vocal and in- dames Sumter, Robinson, Crosby,
lahoma, attended.
Mills, Pruitt and Shepherd, and Miss
The officers of the club are a8 fob
STAND BY YOUR COMPANY Jane Housh. Dancing followed, to
lows: E. L. Workman, president; Mrs.
music by the ''Southern Serenaders."
Ida MacMillan, flrst vice-president; A. If you think your company's best,
Morgan, second vice-president; F. Tell 'ern soi Tulsa, Oklahoma
Morgan, thlrd vice-president; Ed. If you'd have It lead Phe rest,
Brodie, fourth vice-president; F. L. Help it grow. Members of the Frisco Employes'
Deaton, fifth vice-president, and M. E. When there's anyrnlng ra do Club of Tulsa ("The Magic City
West, sixth vice-president; C. E. Let the fellows count on you, Club") who attended the business ses-
Harris, secretary. You'll feel bully when it's through eion held In a coach January 30, Ils-
R. L. Schoenberg, Tulsa, ex-presi- Don? you know. tened to the reading by Miss Chris-
tine Vanderford, club vice-president,
dent of the Frisco Men's Club of St.
Louis, was the flrst speaker intro- If you're used to glving knocks, of a group of letters from officials
duced by J. R. Dritt, agent, who pre- Change your style; of Tulsa business houses In which
sided. Mr. Schoenberg gave a brief Throw bouquets instead of rocks the Tulsa terminal force wae praised
outline of the purpose of Frlsce em- For while. highly for service rendered these
ployes' ctubs. He emphasized that Let the other fellow roast, houses durlng 1927.
the entertalnments given by the clubs Shun him as you would a ghost, High compliments are given by
are important and that business meet- Meet his hammer with a boast Tulsa industries to Frisco freight sew-
ings of the clubs should be held once And a smile. ice there in letters read at the Jan-
a month. uary 13 business meeting of the
Chairman Dritt then called on When a stranger from afar FWsm Employes' Club of Tulsa.
some of the Tulsa visitors for short Comes along, The Frisco has had an increase in
talks. Next came nominations and Tell him who and what you are- freight business at Talsa every year
elections. Make it strong. since 1919. aald C. H. Hensley, Tulsa
Decision was reached to invite Needn't flatter, never bluff, freight agent for the Frisco. Fay
members of the Tulsa and other clubs Tell the truth, for that's enough; Warren, chairman of the club, pres-
to the next meeting, the date to be Join the boosters-they're the stuff, sided.
selected by the president. Sing your song! The letters of commendation of
-Selected. Frisco freight service were addressed
Henryetta, Oklahoma to 0. L. Young, superintendent of
The Frisco Employes' Club of strumental music, readings, a playlet, terminals, and were from the Maloney
Tank Manufacturing Company, the
Henryetta, Okla.. was organized Feb- choral numbers by women and a
' rsuhaipry o7f walilth ththee fporrotysp-nelcntiev e emmepmlobyeers- dwaansc e22, 4 wpaesr sognivse, ni.n chTdihneg watitveensd, acnhcile- Bthrea dWena iSletese lD &ov eW-Hinecrmh lCstoomn pCanoyrp oanrad-
there. Twenty employes of Henryetta dren and friends of members. tion, all of Tulsa. The yard forces
attended this meetfng. The meeting was called to order by were praised in these letter8 for their
The 1928 officers were elected as D. L. Estes, president, who turned efficiency and courtesy. Another com-
follows: F. A. McClaren, telegrapher, it over to Mrs. J. T. Carruth and mending firm was the Mount-Cooper
president; H. C. Morgan, yard clerk, Mrs. L A. Prultt, of the program Boiler and Iron Works. Mr. Mount
vice-president, and J. D. Keith, commtttee. of that company said he was going
cashler, secretary-treasurer. The entertainment numbers were: to route every car he possibly could
H. G. McKinstry, agent, called the reading, "The Story Book Ball," writ- over the Frisco.
meeting to order. He told the mem- ten by G. Delrige and presented by Frisco Girls' Club of St. Louis
bers of the object of the meeting, to Mary, John and Betty Jean Van Ness;
form the dub, and emphasized the piano solo, "Valsante," by E. Poldini, A Valentine party was given by the
value of service to Frisco patrons. played by Nazla Barkett: reading, Frisco Girls' Club of St. Louls at the
J. A. Hutchinson, assistant super- "George Washington of Today," by Chamber of Commerce banquet hall
intendent of the Southwestern di- Tomlin, presented by Junior Mallory; on Valentine day. February 14, with
vision, spoke on traffic solicitation. piano solo, "Whispers of Spring," by more than two hundred and twenty
J. B. Herndon, yardmaster, talked on Tomlin, played by Miss Theresa girl employea in attendance.
co-operation between employes. Other Samples; piano duet, "Norwegian The smaller tables were attractive-
speakers were E. L. Harris, teleg- Dance," Greig, presented by Nazla ly decorated with Valentine souvenirs,
rapher-ticket cashier, and Mr. Mc- Barkett and Mrs. Carruth: vocal solo, while the head table was decorated
Claren. "A Little Love-A Little Kiss," sung with a huge heart made of red paper
The regular meeting night was Set by Margaret Fritz Sumter; playlet, "A carnatfons, with streamera of red rib-