Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-10-21
;Mistellaueuns &eadina.
REWARD OF HONEST INDUSTRY.

uuCleS leu Hlll lnCO nlSneT pOSlGlOlS CndH Hc
ever dreamed of filling, and gave him what we
would all like to reach-honor and success.
In the years of my experience as a printer
in Chicago, more than twenty years ago, our
| firm did good deal of printing for the Chi
cago, 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,; he was poor,
and had no influential friends to even give
him letter of recommendation. He sought
employment on the Chicago, Burlington and
Quincy Railroad, and after waiting time, at
last secured a position as brakeman on a
freight train-salary only thirty dollars
month. Hewa faithful in this position, and
being both intelligent and industrious, he was
soon made a conductor on the train, with
wages nearly doubled. He soon attracted the
attention of his superior officers, who saw in
him an honest, faithful, conscientious conduc-
tor, 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 more comfortable pO-
sition, and one yielding higher salary. Here
l first knew him, amodest, quiet, unaSsumlrg
young man, free from the popular vices, and
one who tried to be just as faithful and true
and devoted to his work as a conductor, as
though the position had been that of general
superintendent. He did not apparently have
very high opinion of his own abilities; there
was total absence of that swagger and strut
so often seen in those who come to similar sub
altern positions. 1t seemed as though to prop
erly conduct his train, to secure the comfort
Of his passengers andrightly serve the inter-
ests of his company. required the full exercise
of all the powers God had given him.
One of the sternest and most exacting, and
yet one of the nobest, ablest, and most con-
scientious men who ever filled similar posi-
tion, was then general superintendent OF the
road. This man, Col. G. c.. Hammond, watch
ed every employe of the road with an eagle
eye. He measured every man, knew the abil-
ty of each and seemed intuitively to know
the faithful workers from the shirkS. Our
young conductor did not escape his keen eye.
When he least thought of it, his chief was
measuring and sounding him, and finding out
what kind of metal he was made Of But no
one ever knew whether he was approved or
not, for the chiefs look was always stern and
cold as ice.
On Friday night, train number four moved
slowly out of Chicago under the care of my
young friend, who, only intent on doing his
work as well as he knew how, seemed to have
no higher ambition than to be good conduct
or-salary nine hundred dollarsa year. About
noon, when he stopped at the station, he found
Il telegram from the head office, ordering him
| to leave the train in care of --, and take
the first train for Chicago.
This was an unusual thing. Wondering
what was the matter, conscious that he had
tried to do exactly right and yet remembering
how eXacting was the general superintendent,
he feared that unintentionally he had fallen un-
der his displeasure. Reaching Chicago late
Saturday evening, efOund Colonel Hammond
| IoI hov trip hp
was in his observance of the Sabbath, the con-
ductor waited impatiently for the coming
Monday morning, when, with fearful heart,
he presented himself at the office of the super
| intendent
"Good morning, Mr.. Hammond; I've an
swered your telegram, and come to see what it
| meanS.'
''Good morning." growled the chief; II see
you have, sir. have concluded to take your
train away from YOU"
The conductors heart sank lower than ever.
What before was only fearful fOreboding was
now painful truth. He had served the cOmpa-
ny to the best of his ability; he had kept the
affairs of his train in complete order; his re-
ports had been carefully and correctly made;
and yet, after all, he had lost his position, he
knew not why, and felt that his case was sad
indeed lie inwardly resolved that, having
missed his calling, he would quit railroading
and try some other service, where faithful
work would be appreciated. He dared not
hope to reverse the decision of the official, yet
in as calm voice as he could command, he
politely asked the reason of his summary dis
miSSal.
Colonel Hammond waited while before he
answered. Then the muscles of his face re-
laxed little, and he said:
81 want an assistant superintendent IN my
office, and have called you to take the place."
True worth is always modest, and our thun-
der struck conductor could only stammer:
''But am not competent, sir, to fill the po-
sition you Offer.''
''You can do as I tell you; you can obey or
ders, and carry out the details of the work
laid out by the chief"
To these duties he brought the same thor
ouglness and faithfulness that had made him
noticeable as conductor. His elevation did
not make him vain or spoil him. He was as
plain and modest and hardworking as before
The salary at first was one thousand eight hun
dred dollars
After few years of service under Colonel
Hammond, and an advance of salary to- two
thousand five hundred dollars, the plain young
man was invited to take the office of general
superintendent of young road, at. a salary
of four thousand dollars Distrustinghis own
ability, but determined to do his BEST lie ac-
cepted the call and succeeded, until the Chica-
60, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, realizing
how much they had lost in parting with him,
invited him to resume his old position, with
the tempting offer of six thousand year.
In the meantime, COL Hammond had be-
come Superintendent OF the Union Pacific
road, running from Omaha to Ogden, where
it connects with the Central Pacific road. The
latter road was owned by four or five million
aires who had built it, one of whom was its
general superintendent. However good a bus
mess man, he knew but little about railroad
ing. and under his care the road was anything
but prosperous, until the owners and directors
resolved upon radical and sweeping change
But where could they find general super
intendent who had the ability and would dare
to re-organize the road and put it's affairs up
on better basis They consulted Col. Ham
mond and other railroad men, and the result
was that most Unexpectedly, our modest anu
Woodworking conductor one day received
telegram, asking him if he would undertake
the duties of general superintendent OF the
Central Pacific road at a salary of ten thou
sand dollars. He was satisfied with his ap-
probation by the Chicago, Burlington and
Quincy Railroad, who proposed to increase his
pay to seven thousand dollars, and as he pre-
ferred to remain in Chicago, he declined the
princely offer made by the California road.
1uen ilOIlltI ItleSldIl dohcu hU NHao
he would become the chief of the Central Pa
cifc Almost hoping to discourage his tempt
ers, he telegraphed,
''iThirteen thousand year in gold."
At once came the answer,
"Accepted.''
So taken in his own trap, he had nothing
to do but to bid adeu to the city that had
served him so well, and turn his face toward
the land of gold. My story would be too long