Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-01-03
A Man or Clear Grit.
Washington Sunday Herald ]

III were called upon to select
from the present Congress a mar
who represented American energy
and pluck in the highest and best
sense, rather think l would ask
the Hon. Robert s. Stevens, Re,
preventative from the Thirty first
New York District, to step for
ward. Fifteen years ago, when
he was still youth. whose beard
had hardly grown Mr.. Stevens
had made a handsome fortune.
One day, by reason Of . concaten-
alton OF circumstances he conld in
NO way control, he found himself
financially ruined, for he had La
bilities amounting to $500, 600,
and his assets re-nil. Most
men under such q blow would
have lain down and resigned
themselves to their evil fortune.
This is precisely what Mr.. Stevens
did not do. One morning he left
his native village, Attica, and said
to few friends: IT am going
away, and shall not come back
until / can return, able to pay all
I owe." He went to New York
as everybody does who is broke,
and began to look about him.
Three days after his arrival he
learned that some prominent
bankers had charter to build q
railroad from a point in Missouri
to Texas through the Indian Ter.
ritory. and the contract for con-
struciion OF the entire road bed
would be let to q good profit to
whoever would satisfy the CON-
pany OF his ability to do the work
in the period specified. The
head OF the syndicate was Levi
Parsons, q man who had gone to
California in 1849 and returned
to Now York with two million
dollars. Mr.. Stevens did not
know Parsons, but went to him
and said: II am told that you
are ready to let the work Of con-
structing the road-bed Of the N.
X. and T. r. R.Y Eyes, We
afe," answered Parsons. "Ilet
me see your engineers profles
and estimates of the work." asked
Stevens They we're handed to
him, and he was given q table,
and paper on which to write.
After three hours study, Stevens
rose up and said: III think !
will take that contract, but will
tell you tomorrow precisely what
/ will do from Parsons he went
to great man in Wall street, and
said: II am worse of than moth
ing, for l owe $500, 900. / want
to take the contract to build the
NJ. X. and T. r. Road, a line
more than thousand miles in
length. I will need 30 much
money. Will you back me?"
The friend considered q few min
utes, and said, Eyes"
Three days from that time
Stevens was on his way from st.
Louis to Sedalia, Mo. He built
the road, as he promised, taking
part Of his pay in the stock and
bonds OF the line. He worked
day and night. His friends said
no human being could stand the
strain. But be stood it. Two
years ago he resigned the posi-
ton of general manager OF the
NJ. X. and T. r. r. and its as
soeiated lines aud salary Of
$25, 900 per annum He was
rich enough, he thought, to rest.
He paid all his creditors-interest
as well as principal-and still re-
mains very wealthy man, The
Democrats in the Attica District
had been beaten 90 often that
they concluded that it was about
useless to make a nomination.
But they thought they would try
it once more, and nominated
Stevens. He went into the can
vass with the force and vim that
charaoterizes all his actions. He
carried. the district BY . hand
some majority and is now q clear
headed representative man Of the
people. He is no orator, but will
bring into public affairs quick
comprehension, thorough knowl-
edge OF what the business inter
ests OF the country require, and q
determination to see that, 30 far
as he is concerned, the country
hill .,<SS ~ Jsoa arv<xsuto6