On my way to Chicagoland for my nephew’s college graduation, I stopped at the Illinois Railway Museum – highly recommended, I’ll write up my visit soon – and picked up some random NorthWestern Newsliners, the internal company magazine for the Chicago and Northwestern Railway System. Why? Why not! At $1 each (at the museum’s used book store), not much of an investment if they turned out to be duds.
The newsletters are part company news, updates and self-promotion, and part gossip rag about employee (usually the long-term ones). However, there were some non-railroad surprises.
A Lesson In Socialism
A letter from Thomas J. Shelly, high school teacher in the Yonkers, New York school district, appears to have been published without any context, discussion, vetting. And, considering Yonkers is no where near any of the C&NW lines, wouldn’t be surprised if he just mailed it to any magazine he could.
As a teach in the public schools, I find that the socialist-community idea of taking from each according to his ability,” and giving “to each according to his need” is now generally accepted without question by most of our pupils.
Based on what, Mr. Shelly? The 150 students in your class? A discussion between all teachers of economics and history (his courses). Actual surveying of all students? Of the community as a whole? Of course, Mr. Shelly is long dead and we can’t ask, but it’s likely a baseless claim that has staying power simply because of the post-war fear of communism (which, at the time, was a scary and unknown thing, often because no one was operating with the facts).
Taxes
The July/August 1951 edition, in not so subtle ways, appears to be having their employees advocate their local government to reduce the taxes paid by their company.
A large portion of the taxes on our operating property goes for the support of public schools in the states served by our system, many school districts depending on the railroad’s taxes to meet the major part of their costs. Taxes on our operating property also go to help pay county, township, city and village costs, including the construction and maintenance of highways. In fact, in some states our taxes go into a general fund out of which money is appropriated for highways costs. Yes, we even pay taxes for the support of airports!
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…As an employee of the North Western and a resident in your own community, these facts should be of vital interest to you.
Inside, the magazine continues to present the taxes paid in various states in which the company operates. A quick read makes it seem like the company is an outstanding member of the community; read between the lines and it’s the company advocating for reducing the taxes paid.
Some things never change ….
What To Do IF AN ATOMIC BOMB STRIKES
It’s just under six years since the atomic bombs were dropped on Japan, and now the Soviet Union has built – through espionage – its own A-bomb and everyone is shitting bricks.
The ever-present threat of an atomic bomb attack against the United States has brought many recommendations for protection. Most practical and complete of these is a handbook recently printed by the United States government, and which is reprinted on the following four pages in handy booklet size.
The booklet itself is interesting because it seems to downplay the impact of radiation: Beyond 2 miles, the explosion will cause practically no deaths at all. Of course, your future children might be born with defects, but at least you’re alive.
Even if you have only a second’s warning, there is one important thing you can do to lessen your changes of injury by blast: Fall flat on your face.
More than half of all wounds are the results of being bodily tossed about or being struct by falling and flying objects. If you lie down flat, you are least likely to be thrown about. If you have time to pick a good spot, there is less change of your being struck by flying flass and other things.
Duck and cover, baby, duck and cover!
