Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-01-27
r@g NEW PRESIDENT Of TuE yOR
THERx PACIFIC CoMPAvH.
lSt. Paul Pioneer Press.

| Hn8 NEW UR8DuOkNI 81 IUE NORs
TnERN PACIFIC CoMPAVH.
lSt Paul Pioneer Press.
Robert Harris Was born ne arly fifty-
dve years ago In Portsm outh, N. H.. and
| sprung from that old Puritanieal stock
for which New England is famous.
After receiving An education, the best
obtainabie IN his native country. he ap-
Piled himself 10 the study Of civil en-
gineering, and when he had Mastered
the rudiHents of that profession. be
| drifted westward. Naturally, too.
| There was t room enough among the
| granite for the development this man of
action felt would come 70 him, and be
| needed the scope of the prairies for his
| growth. Previous to leaving Massachu-
| setts he married the daughter Of James
Duncan, enc of the most prominent
gentlemen Of Hav-rhilI, and who was
one of the early founders of that place.
His good wife has proven a true help
meet. and shares her husbands honors
worthily and in dignified yet pleasant
| fashion. With Mrs. Harris he finally
reached Racine, Wis, and there first
secured railroad prominence, associat-
ing himself with the Racine l. Mlssis-
slppi road, running from Racine TO Free
port, ILL.,, and now the Western Union. a
bra 1ch of the Chicago, Milwaukee d st.
Paul. His talents as executive evinced
themselves early. In his first response
ble position he learned to read mems
characters from their faces and oonver-
satiOn. IL is related of him that then,
"a IN later days. he used to engage an
applicant for place In conversation.
asking tue candidate all sorts of ques-
tions on matters generally utterly for
eign to the prospective spi ere. From
the naturally unPu u4rded answers Civ
Ga ths catechist formed his impress
sions Of the Ques toned, and he rarely
went astray. While with the R.cine d
Mississippi, Mr.. Harris accepted the su-
perlntenaency of the Galveston, Hous-
ton q Henderson Railroad of Texas,
and immediately went South. remain
ing until the war brake out. Even be-
fore the war, as every reader of history
knows, Northern mon we're not looked
upon with marked favor and 0pportu-
nifty was afforded for the display of q
characteristic that Mr.. Harris possesses
in An eminent degree-the power to pla-
cate the hostile, without loss of dignity
Or self respect, and to win the regard of
men opposed to each other on questions
vital to each. FOm to the last degree
Ia greater matters, one who knows him
we'll Gays: "Harris can always yield in
the lesser matters of the law, and by 80
doing secure the liking even of OppO-
nents." With the commencement of
hOstilities railroad communication Was
practically stopped, and Mr.. Harris with
his wife started for the North. The
hu v,ntp aftov, poOulI tho tprn Guc
pected, Ostracized, halted, embarrassed
and thwarted ut every turn, was
every one in those days who
sought to leave a section where they
were unweloome and gain access within
the lines of former friends. The jour
ney was made partly by private con-
veyance and partly ON foot. The whole
country was In terribly disorganized
condition, and the expedition an ex-
trelnely hazardous one. The small
party suffered many hardships, and had
all sorts of hairbreadth escapes. FIRE.
quently both Mr.. and Mrs. Harris were
compelled to disguise themselves and
pass az the lowliest of the baokwOOds- |
men Of the South. Food was scarce,
and at times tue pair would gs for a
VIII ,le day without either bread or
drink. The roads were exceedingly |
rough, and az the trip was made ia the |
rainy season, the soft, sandy soil would |
give way to the weight of the light |
wagon, aud the wheels would boy and
siak to the hub. This would necessitate |
a several hours' stop Oh each O3aasiOn, |
until the wagon could be unloadsd and |
the road cOrduroyed. Finally, how
ever, the little party crossed into the |
Northern lines, when they were 0noe
again enabled to travel with sOme- |
thing like comfort. Racine was soon
reached, but there Mr.. Harris and wife |
did not tarry long. FROM Racine he
went to Haverhill, Mass, and there
took up his residence with his wife's
family.
HIS MILITARY CAREVR.
He was not granted much of q rest,
however, rs soon after bis arrival III the
North his country found need for his
He enlisted in q Massachusetts reRi-
men,, and served as Quartermaster
the war. not position
where cens oicuous gallantry gave sud
den repu tation, but one where courage,
coupled with saeacity, was in constant
demand. Mr.. Harris knowledge of
a csretaker of army MINUTES, aud lot 1t
bc fittingiy recorded-he came out Of
the army poorer than when he entered
il, while his accounts checked in the |
Quartermaster Generate Ottice to an |
absolutely correct balance. When hos |
tiiities ceased and peace was proclaim |
I'd, he was called to tue assistant super-
intendency of the Chic ciRo. Burlington |
d Quincy. In this position he remain |
ed until G. q. Hammond resigned the |
su ..erintendency and entered the service
of she Union Pacific. Mr.. Harris vas
then appointed superintendent. j. +.
JOY was then president Of the road, but
SOON afterwards resigned, and Mr.. Har
ris was elected to the presidency as bis
successor. II WAS during his term OF
office that tho Chicago, Burlington q
Qainsy attained its present standing
among tho railroads Of the country,
aud was first made trunk liae.
Many storiea are told Of Ar.
Harris' popularity while with the
Chicago, Burlington d Qaincy--a pop
ularity which shons conspicuously
against the background Of hearty dis
like with which the road ~ Whole,
and former managements a. we'll, had
been regarded by tho people OF Illinois.
Ibe new man vas approachable didnt
have to be kowtowod Or toadied, and
didn't always wear black frock coat OF
Bost N cot the most severe. lt may be
remarked in passing that Mr.. Harris, in
personal appearance, has good deal OF
the rugged homelinees which distin-
auished Abraham Lincoln, and nearly
As msuy inches of hight as had tue
lamsuted President, while IN dress,
though more Brummelish than Greeley.
be il far from dnical, and consuIss case
and comfort more than Stultx or Dell.
But 20 return 70 the biography: In his
positiou a. the head Of mammoth cor
pors,ion, Mr.. Harris displayed great
ability, both financially and otherwise,
and it was With the greatest reluc:Ance
that the Burlington directors IN 1879
accepted his resignation, 10 enable him
10 accept the general management OF
the New York, Lake Erie 4 Western,
vhich had been tsnderrd him BY Preel-
dent Hugh ]. Jewett. OF that road. DE
coutinued general manager until
1870, when he became Vice
President, and since then has
been the practical president Of the road,
Mr.. Jewett con6ninQ him0slf to the
1 .lrt.aS Of MIA r~aSatlnn AtD