Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-05-09
Always Ready but Mover Wanted.

A Dubuque correspondent of the
Inter- Ocean furnishes the following
interesting history Of the Dubuque
Elevator and the contracts of its
proprietors with the Dubuque Il
Sioux City railroad:
Among the other institutions OF
this city, and one which Invariably
attracts the attention of the traveller,
whether he comes by river or rail,
is the large grain elevator near the
depot Of the Illinois Central Rail
way. There is a peculiar history
connected with the structure, and
one which, in these times ofrailway
excitement, may not be uninterest-
ing. Tie elevator was bought in
1860 by Dean Richmond, who was
then one of the magnates in the con
troll and management of the New
York Central Railway. There has
not been a bushel of grain in the
elevator since 1868, nor has there
been prospect of there being any
in it since that time. But a visitor
at the premises will find at all hours
of the day workmen prepared to
handle any grain that may arrive.
The boilers are filed with water,
and in the furnaces underneath is
kindling and fuel ready to ignite at
any moment. The engine and all
the machinery is oiled for instant
motion. The preparations are such
as to induce the belief that the pro-
prietors had only stopped business
for day or two, and. were about to
start again. But still the years roll
on, and smoke never issues from
the chimney, the fires are not light
ed, the steam never raised-only a
constant, watchiul readiness. There
is reason for this readiness, and
for the silence and inactivity which
broods over the place.
Dean Richmond had a son whose
habits and character were not en-
tirely in accord with his fathers
wishes. He would not hold pen
behind his ear, nor perch himself
upon a stool poring over the books
in the Office, nor did he exhibit any
of the qualifications for successful
bull or a bear upon the stock market.
The father lost confidence in the
son, and SO strong became his dis
satisfaction that he eventually
ostraciscd him. He was allowed
to labor and shift for his own means
of support. lie became a conductor
upon his fathers railway. Mr..
Richmond told him that the least
infraction Of the rules Of the COM
pay would insure his immediate
removal, and especially was he
warned against allowing any person
whether a friend or not to ride with
out showing ticket or pass or pay
ing the necessary fare. He had
been employed in this capacity for
some time and there had been no
complaints, when, one day, Dean
Richmond himself became pas
senger upon his sons train. The
conductor, while collecting tickets
and fares, came to the old railway
magnate, when the following dia-
loguc occurred:
''Ticket, sir!"
"Ticket? Get out! l am the
President Of this road. | don't buy
tickets"
"That makes no difference. It's
against orders for me to allow any
body to ride without he pays his
fare, presents his ticket or shows
a pass. Come, hurry up"
"Wcll, sir, you know who l am,
and you know that am entitled to
ride on this road free. l could
make out pass, but haven't any
blanks. Go on. 1t is all right"
"See here, old gentleman, it makes
no difference who you are; give me
a ticket, show a pass, pay me your
fare, or get off this train"
"Humph! young man, you are
getting mighty arbitrary. If you
don't 60 on about your business I'll
have You discharged"