Second, definitive edition. ‘The nucleus of the present volume is a series of four articles published by Mr Jacobs in The Engineering Magazine from September, 1906, to January, 1907, under the title “Organization and Economy in the Railway Machine Shop”. This was followed in June by a paper on “The Square Deal to the Railway Employee”, and continued a year later, in June, 1908, by a discussion entitled “Personalism in Railroading; a Study of Changing Conditions.”

‘These all appeared in pamphlet reprint editions, quickly exhausted. Later in 1908, the greater part of the work was reissued, somewhat altered in form, and combined with other papers by the same author which had been published from time to time in The Railroad Gazette and The American Engineer and Railroad Journal, or had been presented before various professional bodies. The entire issue of this enlarged volume, entitled “Betterment Briefs”, in turn, was soon absorbed in private and general circulation.

‘Meanwhile the work on the Santa Fé was proceeding to the development of a new order – new, not only to the road, but to the ideals of railroad operation generally. In the mechanical and stores’ departments, in the apprenticeship system, and in all the relation with employees, both financial and friendly, standards were being attained which made Santa Fé a center of observation and study for railway officials throughout the country. Both inside and outside the organization in which Mr Jacobs was directing so strong a motive force, there was a need for a logical presentation of the various aspects and activities of the Betterment work – a presentation which should properly correlate the several influences and agencies and show them in their proper proportion and connection with one another. This book appears as the fulfilment of the need’ (Charles Buxton Going, in the preface).

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