Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1882-08-19


The Remark able Career OF A. N. TOwnc
We make the following abstract
from an article by Alfred l.. Sewell,
IN Chicago paper, which gives an
account of the railway career of A.
N. Towne, General Superintendent
of the Central Pacific Railroad, q
gentleman we'll known throughout
this coast. Mr.. Sowell writes:
In the earlier years of my experi.
ence as q printer in Chicago, more
than 20 years ago, our firm did Il
good deal Of printing for the Chi
cago, Burlington and Quincy Rail
road, and because Of this | came to
know II young man who is the subs
.ject of my story. lie came from
Massachusetts; he was poor, and had
no influential friend to even give
him a letter of recommendation. He
sought employment on the Chicago,
Burlington and Quincy Railroad, and
after waiting II time at last secured
"a position as u brakemen on u
freight train--salary about $50 a
month. He was faithful in this po>
sition, and being both intelligent
and Industrious, he was soon made
conductor Of the train, with wages
nearly doubled. lie attracted the
attention OF his superior officers, who
saw in him an honest. faithful and
conscientious conductor - one not
seeking his own ease or pleasure,
but constantly devoted to the inter
ests of the company that employed
him, SO that not many months
elapsed before he was made conduc-
tor of a passenger train-a more
comfortable position, and one yield>
ing somewhat higher salary. Here
l first knew him, and l saw in him
a modest, quiet, unassuming young
man, free from the popular vices,
and one who. tried to be just as true
and faithful and devoted to his work
as conductor as though in the posi-
ton of General Superintendent.
One Of the sternest and most ex>
acting, and yet one Of the noblest,
ablest and most conscientious men
who ever filled similar position
was then General Superintendent Of
the road. This man, Col. G. g.
Hammond, watched every employee
on the road with an eagles eye. He
measured every man, knew the abil-
ity of each, and seemed intuitively
to know which were the lazy shirks.
Our young conductor did not es,
cape the keen eye. When he least
thought of it, his chief was measur-
ing and sounding him, and finding
out what kind Of metal he was made
of; but mono ever knew whether he
was approved Or not, for the chiefs
face was stern and cold as ice.
One Saturday morning train No.
4 moved slowly out of Chicago in
the care of my friend, who, only in
tent on doing his work as we'll as be
knew how, seemed to have no highs
er ambition than to be good con-
ductor-salary, 5000 year. Abont
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 unusual thing Won>
dering what could be the matter,
conscious that he had tried to do
exactly right, and yet remembering
how eXacting was the General Su>
perintendent, be feared that unin>
tentionally 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"