The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1878-02-07

until the c., B. & O., realizing how
much they had lost in parting with
him, invited him to resume his old po-
sition, and secured his services by the
tempting offer of $4,000 year.
In the meantime, Col. Hammond had
become the General Superintendent Of
the Union Pacific Railroad, running
from Omaha to Ogden, where it con-
meets with the Central Pacific Railroad.
This Central Pacific Road was owned by
four or five millionaires who built it,
one of whom was its General Superin-
tendent. However good a business
man he was, he knew but little about
railroading, and under his care the
road was anything but prosperous, un-
til the other owners and Directors re-
solved upon radical and sweeping
change.
But where could they find General
Superintendent who had the ability and
would dare to reorganize the road and
put its affairs upon a better basis. They
consulted Col. Hammond and other
railroad men, and the result was that,
most unexpectedly, our whilom modest
and hard-working conductor one day
received a telegram asking him if he
would undertake the duties of General
Superintendent of the Central Pacific
R. R. at salary of $4,000. He was
satisfied with and appreciated by the
G. B. & O., who proposed to increase
his pay to $1,000, and as he preferred
to remain in Chicago, he declined the
princely offer made by the California
road. Then another telegram asked at
what salary he would become the chief
of the Central Pacific. Almost hoping
to discourage his tempters, he Stele-
graphed. "S13,000 year in gold" At
once came the answer, Accepted"
So, taken in his own trap, he had moth
ing to do but to bid adieu to the city
that had served him so well, and turn
his face toward the land of gold. My
story would be too long if l should try
to tell you the unexpected difficulties
he encountered from the old officers of
the road, who had determined that they
would not be superseded, and thatfhe
new Superintendent should never enter
upon his duties-how they, before his
arrival, set the whole press and people
of California against him-how, sup
ported by the Directors of the road, he
quietly took control. disarmed preju-
dice, conquered submission. and earned
success.
This was nine years ago. He is still
General Superintendent of the Central
Pacific Railroad, one of the most i'm
portant railroads in the world. With
its connections in California, this quiet
man, not yet forty-eight years old, now
superintends 2,734 miles of railroad
and over fifty connecting steamers, be-
side debating the tariffs of the China,
the Australian and the Panama lines of
steamships. While other young men,
preferring present ease and comfort to
the interests of their employers, vast
ing money and time in billiard halls,
theaters and drinking-saloons Albion
N. Towne was at a0Ork, building up
character as well as reputation, and
now fills one of the most important po-
sitions in California, and instead of
$500 year, as brakeman on freight
train, he now draws the comfortable
salary of 800, 900 year in gold.
LUCKY man," says one. "Luck''
worth did it. Work did it. FAITHFUL
NESS IN THE PERFORMANCE OF PRESENT
DUTIES, HOWEVER HUMBLE, did it.
This untiring faittulness in the hum
bier duties not only attracted the no.
tice and won the appreciation of his
superiors, but fitted him for the higher
positions, which, withoEt his seeking,
he was called to fill.
! have long desired to tell this story
of young mans faithfulness and con-
sequent success, for | considered it
lesson that boys and young men of the
present day can study to advantage
Alfred l.. SeWeH, IN Home Arts, Chicago.