Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1878-07-18
How a Brakeman Became General
=. ~. superintendent,

r. ~ superintendent,
In the earlier years of my experience
as printer in Chicago, more than twenty
years ago, our firm did a good deal OF
printing for the Chicago, Burlington &
Quincy Railroad, and, because of this,
came to know young man who is the
subject of my story He came from Mas
sachusetts, was poor, and had no infuen-
tial friend to even give him letter OF
accommodation. He sought employment
on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Rail-
road, and, after waiting a time, at last
secured the position Of brakeman on a
freight train-salary about thirty dollars
a month. He was faithful in his position
and, being both intelligent and industrl-
Gus, he was soon made conductor of the
train, with wages nearly doubled. He at
tracted the attention OF his superior off
GERS who saw in him an honest, faithful and
conscientious conductor, one not seeking
his own esse or pleasure, but constantly
devoted to the interests of the company
that employed him, so that not many
months elapsed before he was made con-
ductor of a passenger train--a more COM
| Portable position, and one yielding a so ne
what higher salary. Here I first knew
him, and I saw in him quiet, unassum-
ing young man free from the popular
vices, and one who tried to be just as
| faithful and true and devoted to his work
as conductor as though the position had
been that of General Superintendent.
One OF the sternest and most exacting,
| and vet one of the noblest, ablest and
| most cons, ientious, men that ever filled
| a position was then General Superintcnd-
| ent of the road. This man Col. e. G.
Hammond, watched every employe Of
the road with an eagles eye. He meas
ured every man, knew the ability of each.
and seemed intuitively to know which
were the lazy shirks. Our young con-
ductor did not escape the keen eye.
When he least thought of 1t his chief was
measuring and sounding him, and find
ing out what kind of metal he was made
Of; but none eyer knew whether he was
approved or not, for the chiefs look was
always stern aud cold as ice.
One Saturday morning train No. 4
moved slowly out Of Chicago under the
| care of nv friend, who, only intent on
doing his work as we'll as he knew how,
seemed to have no higher ambition than
| to be good conductor-salary 5000 a
year. About noon, when he stopped at
station, he found 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 unsual thing. Wonder
ing what could be the matter, conscious
that he had tried to do exactly right, and
yet remembering how exacting was the
General Superintendent, he feared that
Internationally he had fallen under his
displeasrre. 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
"Good morning." growled the chief !;
take your train away from YOU"
The conductors heart sank lower than
ever. What before was only fearful fore
boding was now painful truth. He had
served the company 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
vet, after all, lost his position. He dared
not hope to reverse the decision of the
all-powerful official, yet in as calm a
voice as he could command he politely
asked the reason for his summary dismis-
sal.
Col. Hammond waited while before
he answered. Then the muscles of his
r.. hn Il
W mt an Assistant Superintendent in ry
office, and I have called you to take
the place."
True worth is always modest, and our
thunderstruck conductor could My STAN
mer: " But I am not competent, sir, to
fill the position
you can do what tell you; you can
obey orders, can't you? That's all you
have to do, sir. You will begin work this
| morning. That is your desk"
The new duties were not as difficult as
! he expected. At first he had only to obey
orders, and 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 notice
able as a conductor. His elevation did
not spoil him or make HIM vain. He was
as plein and modest and haro -working
as before. His salary at first was 81, 800.
After few years service under Col.
Hammond, and an advance of salary to
$4,000, the plain young man was invited
/ to take the office Of Genera. Superinten-
lent Of a younger road, at a salary Of 81,
900. Distrusting his own ability, but
determined to do his best, he accepted
the call, and succeeded, until the Chica-
go, Burlington g. Quincy, realizing
how much they had lost in parting from
him, invited him to resume his old posi-
| ton, and secured bis services by the
tempting offer of $4,000 a year.
In the mean time Col. Hammond had
become the General Superintendent of
the Union Pacific railroad, running from
Omaha to Osoen, where it connects with
the Central Pacific railroad. The Cen
trail Pacific Road was owned by four or
Eve milllonaires, who built it, one of
whom was its General Superintendent.
However good business man he was he
knew but little about raiiroading., -
But where could they find a General
Superintendent who had the ability and
would dare to reorganize the road and
put its affairs upon a better basis2 They
consulted COL Hammond and other rail.
road men, and the result was that most
unexpectedly, our whilom modest and
Woodworking conductor one day received.
telegram asking him if he would un-s
dertake the duties of General Superin-
tenasnt Of the Central Pacific railroad, at
q salaryof l0, 900. He was satisfied with