An Efficiency Factor This is a "penny-wise" and "pound-foolish" view to take of the situation and where the department is going to assume considerable proportions involving the efforts of many employees, necessary provisions should be made for the purchase of adequate and convenient facilities. No factor will contribute more to the employees' ability to deliver the goods. Tables versus Desks Substantial tables of good quality are recommended for the clerical force rather than pedestal desks; they are more economical, more sanitary, may be moved with less effort, and prevent the accumulation of correspondence and personal belongings. The work of each employee is in the open, and the opportunity to lose sight of important matters is minimized. Unfinished business can be laid in wire trays. CORRESPONDENCE FILES For the accommodation of correspondence, any standard vertical file will prove adequate. For durability, those of steel are recommended; these may be purchased in units, three tiers or over in height, and can be added to from time to time. A file containing drawers furnished with roller bearings is preferable. They can be opened or closed with convenience, tho filled with heavy correspondence. INDEX SYSTEMS Owing to its elasticity, the card-index system for correspondence files is the order of the day. It affords an opportunity for correcting errors and for crossindexing a subject under its various ramifications; it is convenient to use. Preferably a general departmental index of all correspondence files should be maintained. Cross references are desirable. For example, the United States War Tax Law would be indexed under U-United States, under W-War, under T-Tax, and under I-Law. TARIFF CABINETS Tariff cabinets of various kinds are designed by different manufacturers. Where the Tengwall system of filing tariffs is employed, wooden shelving to accommodate the binders can be prepared by any carpenter. The subject of filing tariffs will be developed in detail in a later division of this work. LIVE VERSUS DEAD ISSUES In both correspondence and tariff files a periodical check should be made to separate "the sheep from the goats" and to leave the expensive office equipment free to accommodate current material. In many phases of traffic work there is no further use for correspondence, once the incident is disposed of. On the other hand, correspondence on subjects continually agitated should be readily accessible to investigators, even when files have been temporarily removed. Each clerk can be represented by cards of a given color. When he removes a file, he leaves in its place one of his cards. The reissue of certain publications and the cancel lation of those heretofore in effect cause considerable change in the tariff file. It is desirable to transfer the dead files and superseded publications to other places for safe keeping and subsequent reference. Less expensive transfer cabinets and binders are employed for this purpose. The numerical arrangement of the dead file corresponds with that of the live file, so that if a file or tariff is needed in a particular instance it may be readily located. It is not wise to dispose of cancelled tariffs within less than two years, preferably five, after they have been cancelled. The overcharge claim investigator frequently handles cases predicated on old issues and must refer to these cancelled tariffs to make proper reference on claim papers. CHAPTER V THE LIBRARY OF THE TRAFFIC DEPARTMENT Trade Publications-Atlas-Shipping Guides-Package Car Many of the publications upon which the public must depend for information are distributed gratis by railroads or associations. The subscription price of others is moderate. Most of the absolutely necessary books of reference are not prohibitive in price. The extent of the office reference library will depend upon the industry's special needs, and upon its resources. The investment invariably results in the increased efficiency of the employees, and this more than offsets the expense involved. A nucleus of a few volumes may be added to from time to time. The following sections describe briefly some desirable publications, and give short digests of a few selected works. Certain publications and books of reference are indispensable. Others simply make the work more convenient and more accurate. TRADE PUBLICATIONS The progressive man can greatly enhance his general ability by regularly reading one or more of the trade journals bearing on his firm's activities and his special field in particular. These technical and trade magazines should be found in the general library of the industry, or, if a publication relates purely to departmental activities, it should pass from clerk to clerk in that department, and then be filed for permanent reference. The Traffic World, published by the Traffic Service Bureau of Chicago, Ill., is the journal devoted exclusively to traffic work. It reproduces in substance all of the decisions of the Interstate Commerce Commission, besides offering columns of special interest to traffic men. The Railway Age is devoted especially to problems of railroad operation. Nevertheless, it gives considerable publicity to shipping reforms, court decisions, Interstate Commerce Commission decisions, and construction news. Both publications are weekly issues and find a place in practically all well-administered traffic departments. ATLAS An atlas is virtually indispensable, since many questions come up which involve the exact location of a given point and its accessability to various transportation agencies. Rand McNally & Company, of Chicago, publish a very acceptable commercial atlas. It is arranged by states, with an alphabetical list of towns under each state. It shows the population of each town, its |