The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-08-18
MR.. JOSEPH HICKsON.
Sketch of the Life of the General Mana
ger of the Grand Trunk Railway.

| Mr.. Joseph Hickson, General Manager of
the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada, was
born in 1880 in the county of Northumberland,
England. He commenced his railway career
when boy as an apprentice in the offices of
the York, Newcastle & Berwick Railway, and
subsequently went to the Maryport &; Carlisle
Railway, and worked his way up to Chief
Agent at Carlisle. In 1851 he Joined the Man.
chester, Sheffield s. Lincolnshire Railway at
Manchester. where he became assistant to the
General Manager. While thus engaged. Mr..
Hlekson attracted the notice of Mr., (now Sir)
Edward Watkin, then Commissioner and after
wards President of the Grand Trunk Railway
of Canada, who has distinguished himself by
his association with so many important rail
way and public enterprises, and as member
of the British Parliament.
Mr.. Hickson was appointed by Sir Edward
to the position of Chief Accountant of the
Grand Trunk in December 1861, and after
wards to that Of Secretary and Treasurer. In
the performance of the duties which this latter
Office entailed, Mr.. Hickson found ample scope
for that financial and administrative ability
which has since met with such general recoo-
milton. For nearly twenty years it was mis- task
TO battle against what often appeared ipsupera-
bic Obstacles but his skill, knowledge and en-
ergy were always in the end victorious, and he
had the happiness OF preserving the Grand
Trunk to its original shareholders when so
man. lines were put into liquidation and the
owners deprived of their property In 1874
Mr.. Hickson was promoted to the responsible
position which he has since filed, The first
service which he had to perform in his new ca
pacity was to effect the change of gauge of the
road east of Montreal, so as to complete it's
uniformity throughout with that of its connec-
tons, and to enable cars to &C. through without
change of bulk. To carry out the financial
negotiations necessary for the accomplishment
of so expensive an alteration was no trifing
labor, and Mr. Hickson performed it in a man.
ner entirely creditable
Mr.. Hickson's management has been highly
successful. When he Joined the Grand Trunk
Railway in 1861 its traffic earnings were for
the year ending June 80, S3,476,773. In 1879
the revenue had increased to $S,476, 566. In
the former year the passengers carried were
722 OS6, and in the latter 1.973,519. In 1861 the
freight amounted to 695 ,266 tons, and in 1879
to 2 81 ,225 tons.
1t is impossible to write of Mr.. Hickson's adj
mlnlstratlon without some mention of the
Chicago extension, of which he is President
as well as of the Michigan Air Line. For
years it has been agreed by all those who had
given any thought to the subject that without
this extension the Grand Trunk was so tram
melled that it might be completely crippled by
its rivals as to the business from Chicago and
points beyond, DeSlueS having also TO contend
with the rival enterprises in Canada, some of
which have been built by Government aid
The financial question, however, doomed
threateningly up whenever any attempt was
made at settlement of the difficulty, and it
was in this connection that Mr.. Hickson's
practical experience and skill came to the res
cue, and for him was reserved the solution of
so important and urgent problem. 1t was at
this time he negotiated the sale to the Govern
ment of the Dominion of Canada of the unre-
munerative River du Loup line for 81 ,5OO,-
600. What makes Mr.. Hickson's administra-
ton so especially satisfactory is the contrast
afforded by its results to the issue which had
long been predicted by a large portion of the
Canadian press and pablo, with whom it was
foregone conclusion that the Grand Trunk,
like SO many of its American confreres. must
go sooner or later into liquidation. Under less
efficient management the line assuredly would
have shared the fate so abundantIy foretolo for
it, but energy, economy and vigilance saved it
from the ruin that has in recent years over
taken so many other railway properties, and
won for Mr.. Hickson high reputation.
The first effects of the opening of the Chca-
go connection, which took place late in Febru-
airy, and while it was still so defective in equip
ment, will be an increase of over three-quar-
tiers of a million in the traffic for the portion
of the half year, after taking into account the
loss of the revenue for tho 118 miles sold to
tie Government last August. The payment
of the dividend the first, with good pros
poets for the second, preference stock will be
thus assured, which is an event unprecedented
in the history of the company.