The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1878-10-02
MISCELLANY.
4 srORf ZOE YOUNG MEN.


should be read carefully by every young man
who is anxious to advance in the world. 1t
contains its own moral
In the earlier years of my experience as a
printer in Chicago more than twenty years a.
go, our firm did good deal of printing for
the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad,
and because of this | came to know a young
man who is the subject of my story. He came
from Massachusetts,, was poor, and had no in-
ffuential friend even to give him letter of
recommendation. He sought employment on
the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
and, after waiting time, at last secured the
position of brakeman on the freight train, sal
j airy about $50 month. He was faithful in
this position, and, being both intelligent and
industrious, he was soon made conductor of
the train, with wages nearly doubled He at
tracted the attention of his superior officers,
who saw in him an honest, faithful and con-
scientious conductor, one not seeking his own
ease or pleasure, but constantly devoted to the
interests of the company that employed him,
so that not many months elapsed before he
was made conductor of passenger train-a
| hicAo Sc'iAOieooio postum anu obo yitiuihS ~
somewhat higher salary. Here first knew
him, and l saw in him "a modest, quiet, unas-
Stunning young man, free from the popular VIC
es and one who tried to be just as faithful and
true and devoted to his work as conductor
as though his position had been that of aen-
eral Superintendent.
One of the sternest and most exacting, and
Al.
scentious men that ever filled position was
then General Superintendent of the road
This man, Col. G. G.. Hammond watched ev-
cry employee of the road with an eagles eye.
He measured every man, knew the ability of
each, and seemed to know intuitively which
were the lazy ones. Our conductor did not
escape the keen eye. When he least thought
of it his chief was measuring and sounding
him, and finding out what kind of metal he
was composed of but none ever knew wheth-
er he was approved OF not, for the chiefs look
was always stern and cold as ice.
On Saturday morning, train No. moved
out of Chicago under the care of my friend,
who, only intent on doing his work rs we'll as
he knew how, seemed to have no higher am
bition than to be a good conductor-salary
5000 year. About noon, when he stopped
at a station, he found a telegram from the
head Office ordering him to :. Leave the train
in the care of -, and take the first train
for Chicago
This was an unusual thing. Wondering
what could BE- the matter, conscious that he
had tried to do exactly right and yet remem-
bering how exacting was the General Supern-
tendent he feared that unintentionally he had
fallen under his displeasure. With fearful
heart he presented himself at the office of the
Superintendent.
Good morning, Mr. Hammond have
received your telegram and come to see what
it MEANS"
Z" Good morning." growled the chief. 81
see you have, sir have concluded to take
your train away from you"
The conductors beart sank lower than ev-
er What before was fearful foreboding was
now painful truth. He had served the COM
pany to the best of his ability. He had kept
the affairs of his train in complete order, his
reports had been carefully and correctly made
and yet, after all, he lost his position. He
dared not hope to reverse the decision of the
all-powerful official, yet in as calm voice as
he could command he politely asked the rea-
son for his summary dismissal.
Col. Hammond waited awhile before he an
swered. Then the muscles of his face relaxed
little, and he said 8" want an Assistant
Superintendent in my Office, aud have call
cd you to take the place."
True worth is always modest and our thun-
derstruck conductor could only stammer -
But am not competent, sir, to fill the po-
sition."
You can do what tell you you can obey
orders, can't you? That's all you will have
to do, sir. You will begin work this morning.
That is your desk"
The new duties were not so difficult as he
expected At first he had only to obey orders
ana carry out the details of work laid out by
the chief and to these duties he brought the
same faithfulness and thoroughness that had
made him noticeable as conductor. His
elevation did not spoil him or make him vain.
He was as plain and modest and hard-work-
ing as before. His salary at first was $1,000.
mond, and an advance of salary OF So, $780, the
plain young man was invited to take the Of
flee Of. General Superintendent of younger
road at a salary of $4,000. DISTRESSING his
own ability, but determining to do his best,
he accepted the call, and succeeded, until the
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy, realized how
much they had lost in parting from him, in
vited him to resume his old position, and Sc
cured his SERVES by the tempting offer of &c.
600 year.
In the meantime Col. Hammond had be-
come the General Superintendent of the I'm
ion Pacific Railroad, running from Omaha to
Ogden, where it connects with the Central Pa
cifc. The Central Pacific road was owned by
four or five millionaires, who built it, one Of
whom was its General Superintendent. How
ever good business man he was he knew but
little about rairoading.
But where could they fnd General Super
intendent who had the ability and would dare
to reorganize the road and put its affairs up
on better basis They consulted Col. Ham
mond and other railroad men, and the result
was that, most unexpectedly, our modest and