Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1879-07-05
A WELL.EARNED REWARD.

John Bluett Presented With a
Gold Watch and Chain by the
Tunnel Company-his Substi-
tute.
Last Wednesday morning John
lBluett, foreman of the Sutro tunnel,
received Geographic dispatch re-
.auesting him to call at the office of
kirkpatrick & Stephens, in Virginia,
without delay. Mr.. Bluett's resigna-
&ion having just taken effect, he went
mp to Virginia at once. Arrived
there he called ut the office of the
law firm named, and was met by
Judge Kirkpatrick, who presented
him, on behalf of the Tunnel Com
pany. with solid gold watch and
squsrtz-set chain. The watch bore
the following inscription:
PRESENTED
by the
.SUTRo TUNNEL Co.,
to
JOHN BLUETT,
in
Recognition of long and valuable services
rs
FOREMAN OF vuE SUTRo TUNNEL.
Sutro, Ney, July 1st, 1879.
In presenting the watch Judge
Kirkpatrick referred to the recipi-
ent's long and faithful services, and,
on behalf of the Tunnel Company,
wished him uninterrupted prosperity.
Mr.. Bluett, being taken completely
by surprise, was unable to utter a
word, but fastened home and dictated
the following letter Of acknowledge
ment to the Tunnel Company:
GENTLEMEN 1T is with the deep
est sense of gratitude that I received
your kind token of appreciation of
my humble services during my pro-
longed stay with the 6utro Tunnel
Company. 1t gives me great pleas
ure, on this occasion, 10 testify to the
uniform courtesy and consideration
which l met with at your hands.
In taking farewell of my fellow
workmen l thank them for their
hearty cooperation and untiring de-
votion to their duty.
Giucaralu hnnsan that r.,,r ,x,n.t
sanguine expectations may be real
lied, and congratulating you on the
success your tunnel has already at
tanned, remain,
Yours respectfully,
JOHN BLUETr.
Mr.. Bluett has been employed at
the tunnel since the earlier days Of
the enterprise, but not continually.
AT times, owing to disagreements
with Mr.. Sutro, he has been com.
PEELED to resign, but the company
were unwilling to dispense with his
valuable services for any great length
of time, and he would be re-engaged.
His last stay at the tunnel has been
of over four years. During all that
time he never left it except OH the
company's business. Whenever want
ed Mr.. Bluett could always be found
at his house within thirty feet of the
tunnel entrance, or in the tunnel it.
self. During the past few years Mr..
Sutro has spent more time away
from than at the tunnel, but every
thing, nevertheless, went on like
clock. work, and with a rapidity
truly astonishing. For many months
the average progress was over THREE
HUNDRED FEEY per month! and some
Of the ground traversed was slippery
as "slickensides," and required close
timberipg. This rate Of progress
still remains unsurpassed inthe world.
Mr.. Bluett hos happy faculty of
getting all the work possible from
his subordinates. An Englishman
himself, he is thoroughly aware of
the prejudices which exist among
workmen of various nationalItiee,
and how to use them to the best ad-
vantage. Hence the "Cornish shift"
the Irish Shift" and the "Hoosac
tunnel Shift" whose friendly rivalry
led them to Guido one another, even
though the greatest efforts were re-
quired.
MIR. Bluett will leave with his
family in about a week, and will be
absent about three months. In his
absence Robert Andrews. one Of the
old-time shift bosses, will have charge
of the work in the tunnel.
Suit Against the Union Pacific.
A. NJ. Cromer. the ell-known