There is nothing novel about such a meeting as this in territory under my jurisdiction, as I understand that Officers have frequently called conferences of those acting with them, and this widening out of the idea was adopted by myself to permit an exchange of ideas and experience of all the principal Officers, and in order that by personal contact with those occupying similar offices, and with those in other Departments, a better understanding and improvement might result, as well that a more profitable administration of the different departments of the railway might result to the Company.

The calendar year which has just closed has been, in my experience, by far the most successful in the operation of Western Lines, with respect to the volume of business handled, and particularly in the improvement made in most features of its transportation, increased tonnage, and reduction in the expense of transport, as well as the improvement in the passenger service and the handling of package freight, and I think, also, from the fact that there has been less disturbing of the car and power supply during the movement of the wheat crop in districts not directly affected by that movement.

There has also been an improvement in the carrying out of work authorized by appropriation, and in the building of new lines, much of the work having been hurried through and in use, and the equipment employed thereon made available for the handling of the wheat traffic.

The disturbing factor that has given myself and the Operating Officers most grave concern has been the frequency of serious accidents, and one of the most important considerations that led to my calling the present meeting was to see if by conference we could gain additional knowledge how to combat the influences or circumstances that lead up to this most regrettable feature of our operation. Notwithstanding that we are working under a set of most perfect rules, and have gone to the greatest amount of trouble to educate our men to a knowledge of them, we are yet without that benefit which should have accrued to us from the adoption and grounding of this knowledge into the minds of employees.

I have urged most particularly upon all concerned the exercise of the greatest care in selecting men for the Telegraph, Engine, and Train service, and have pressed as strongly upon Officers supervising these Departments to keep their men in an up-to-date knowledge of the rules pertaining to their duties, and particularly to notice their habits. I have felt that selection, character, and obedience to the rules are the features that lead to safety, leaving only that chance which we cannot guard against, error in judgment.

Apart from this, the mattes that I look for the most improvement in this present year, are: First, the time of our passenger trains, accelerating their speed as far as the track conditions will permit, and cutting out all dead time at station, also the education of the enginemen so that they will make greater effort to maintain their schedule, or to recover time lost prior to their talking hold. Second, the Fast Freight Service. Third, the car supply for points distant from headquarters. Fourth, the hurrying home of foreign equipment. In no account in our expenses have we made such an improvement as in this, but it has not yet reached my expectation.

I would urge upon all concerned to curtail their correspondence, doing as much of their business as possible in frontal contact with their Officers, thereby leaving more time at their disposal, and hands unfettered for originating improvements in the handling of traffic.

I would urge, now that the rates paid in all Departments have gone up so much in the past two years, that we should take every means to cull from the service all who are not fully capable of giving service equivalent to the rates paid, and a continued and improved economy in the employment of men in all branches of our maintenance work.

This Company has been the pioneer of business enterprise in the west, and it is essential that it would retain the lead, both in its methods and in its administration of them. This is no small task when we think of the great increase in the wealth of the country, which has attracted so many shrewd men from many countries, the fusion of whose business wits has done much to greatly stimulate trade. No matter what competition we have in the future, this Company's railway must always remain the main artery through which the trade of the west will pulsate. If the Officers and men of this Company will see that all the business offering to it is taken care of promptly, and that all its scheduled trains, whether they be passenger or freight, are run strictly to schedule, and that fine courtesy on the part of its employees, for which this Company is so justly celebrated, is maintained, we have no need to be alarmed at the advent of any competing lines, and i would urge upon all that they leave no impediment in the way of accomplishing this result.