The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1869-02-20
A Cool Conductor.


It has been limited quite generally that
of the hundred and odd conductors on the
Erie Railway not all of them were strictly
honest It has been said that few of
them, on moderate salaries, have, like
members Of Congress, succeeded in saving
from ten to thirty thousand dollars year.
Some of them have built fine houses pur-
chased horses, carriages, fine clothes, fash
ionable jewelry, expensive watches, some
United States bonds, and few shares in
Erie. There are some men who are cruel
enough to say this property has been &C
quired, not by honest labor, but with
money abstrated by a sort of conductorial
strategy, from the earnings of the road,
ana myesCed by the conductors rather
than by the directors. Not long since,
while regulating the Erie, its branches,
and all connecting railroads in the coun-
try, it was decided, in solemn conclave, to
regulate the conductors a little. Every
body said, and everybody must know, that
conductors, like unruly children when
visiting, helped themselves. Acting upon
this basis, Manager Fisk lately undertook
the Job of correcting the evils existing
among the conductors, or supposed to eX-
ist and, after having estimated that they
had bagged enough during the last five or
six years to build double track over hall
the route of the Erie. decided to have tbem
disgorge. With this view notices have
been sent, within the past fortnight, to very
many of the old conductors Of the road,
who reside at various points on the line,
ordering them to report forthwith to
the Superintendents office, on important
business. The other day, one Of the con-
ductors, whose name it is not necessary to
give here, who resides in Oswego, was
called down, ushered into the SupeTintend-
ent's office, and from there into Manager
Fisk's room, when, it is reported, the fol-
lowing conversation took place
Manager" You are conductor on the
Erie, l believer"
Yes, sir"
"How long have you been on the
road ~
Fifteen years."
"Had passenger train all that time, l
believe" ?"
"Yes, SIR
"worth considerable property, l learn?"
"Some."
Have a very fine house in 0swego.
Cost you some thirty, forty, or fifty thou
sand dollars?"
"Yes, sir"
"Some little money invested in bonds, l
am told ?"
Yes, sir"
Gown farm near where you reside?"
Yes, sir"
"Had nothing when you commercials
conductor on our road ?"
Nothing to speak Of; only home for
the future" ..
"Made the property sInce?"
Yes, sir"
Been at work for no other parties?"
"No. But / have been saving of my
money invested it from time to time to
good advantage"
well, sir, what will you give to settle?
OF course you cannot pretend to say that
you have acquired this property from
what you have saved from your salary?
You will not deny that you uhavepocketeda
great deal Of money belonging to the road
at least fifty or sixty thousand dollars,
Now, sir, what will you give to settle, and.
not be disgraced, as you certainly will be,
If a trial il brought, and you are com.
pelled to give up the property you profess
TO own, but which, in reality belongs to
| tn6 company
"Weli, Mr.. Manager, l had not thought
Of this matter. For several years | have
been running my train to the best of my
ability. Never looked at the matter in
this light before. Never thought was
doing anything wrong, Ihaye done moth
| ing more than other conductors have tried
to earn my salary and get it-and think
I've succeeded. ! don't know that / owe
the company anything. If you think do,
why, there's little difference of opinion,
and / don't want any trouble over it. l
have a nice family, nice father and
mother relatives all people Of good stand
ing-they would feel very bad to have
me arrested and charged with dishonesty
Il would kill mywife, She has every con.
fdence in me in the world, and the idea
that /, her husband, would take so little
as penny that did not belong to me
would send her broken-hearted to the
grave. don't care anything for the mat
| ter myself but on account Of my family
and relatives, want to make It all right
with the road and the officers, and Il you
won't say ANYTHING more about it, ~ gee