The Press., 1885-04-30

the train, with wages nearly doubled. He soon attracted the attention of his superior officers, who saw in him an honest, faith- ful, and conscientious conductor, one not seeking his own ease or pleasure, but con- stantly. devoted to the interests of the com pany that employed him, so that not many months elapsed before he was made con- ductor of a passenger train, "a more con- fortable position, and one yielding some what higher salary. Here 1 first knew him, and l saw in him a modest, quiet, unassuming young man, free from the popular vices, and who apparently tried to be just as faithful and true and devoted to his work as a conductor as though the po- sition had been that of general superin- tendent He did not apparently have high opinion of his own abilities. There was total absence of that swagger and strut so often seen in those who come to similar subaltern positions. It seemed as though he thought that properly to con- duct his train-to secure the comfort of his passengers and rightly serve the interests of his compapy--required the full exercise of all the power God had given him.
 One of the ste1nest and most exacting, and yet one of the noblest, ablest. and most conscientious men who ever filled a
 
 tendent of the road. This man, Col. C. G. Hammond, watched every employee of the road with an eagles eye. He measured every man, knew the ability of each, and seemed intuitively to know which were the faithful workers and which were the lazy shirks. Our young conductor did not es- cape the keen eye. When he least thought of it, his chief was measuring and sound ing him, and finding out what kind of metal he was made of but none ever knew whether he was approved or not, for the chiefs look was nearly always stern and cold as ice.
 One Saturday morning, train No. 4 moved slowly out of Chicago under the care of my friend, who, only intent on do- ing his work as well as he knew how, seemed to have no higher ambition than to be good conductor, salary $9OO year. About noon, when he stopped at a station, he found 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 could De the matter, conscious that he had tried to do exactly right, and yet remembering how exacting was the gen. eral superintendent, he feared that unin- tentionally he had fallen under his dis pleasure. Reaching Chicago late Satur- day evening, he found Col Hammond had gone home and, knowing how strict he was in his observance of the Sabbath, the conductor waited impatiently for the com ing Monbay morning, when, with a fear ful heart, he presented himself at the of flee of the superintendent.
 "Good morning, MT. Hammond I have answered your telegram, and come to see what 1t means. $4tG
 Good morning. growled the chief. 'tI take your train away from you. :"
 The conductors heart sank lower than ever. What before was only fearful fore boding, was now painful truth. He had served the company to the best of his ability. He had kept the affairs of his train in complete order, his reports had been carefully and correctly made and yet, after all, he had lest his position. He knew not why, and he felt that his case was sad indeed. He inwardly resolved that having missed his calling, he would quit railwaying and try some other ser vice, where faithful work would be apLre- ciated. He dared not hope to reverse the decision of the all-powerful official; yet, ill as calm voice as he could command, he politely asked the reason for his sum- mary dismissal.
 Col Hammond waited while be4ore he answered. Then the muscles of his face relaxed little, and he said 1T want an assistant superintendent in my office, and I have called you to take the place."
 True worth is always modest, and our thunderstruck conductor could only stam- mer: 'But I am not competent, sir, to fill the position. ,
 'You can do what I tell you. You can obey orders, can't you? That's all you have to do, sir. You will begin work this morning. That is your desk"
 The new duties were not. so difficult as he expected. At first he had only to obey orders, and carry out the details of work laid out by the chief and to these duties thoroughness that had made him notice. able as a conductor. His elevation did not spoil him or make him vain. He was as plain and modest and hard working as before. The salary at first was $1 800.
 After few years service under Col Hammond and an advance of salary tc $2, 500, the plain young man was invited to take the office of general superintend ent of a younger road at salary of $4 ,0O0 Distrusting his own ability, but determined to do his best, he accepted the call, and succeeded, until the Chicago, Burlington < Quincy, realizing how much they hat lost in the parting with him, invited hin to resume his old position, and secured his services by the tempting offer of $6, ,OO' a year.
 In the meant time Colonel Hammond had become the general superintendent 0 the Union Pacific railway, running iron Omaha to Ogden, where it connects witt the Central Pacific Railway. The Centra Pacific railway was owned by four or fiv' millionaires who had built it Its genera superintendent, however good bushes man he was, knew but little about railway ing and under his care the road was any thing but prosperous, until the owners ant directors resolved upon radical ant sweeping change.
 But where could they find genera superintendent who had the ability ant would dare to recognize the road and pu its affairs upon better basis? They con suited Colonel Hammond and other rail way men, and the result was that, mos unexpectedly, our whilom modest ane hard working conductor one day received Ia telegram asking him if he would under take the duties of general superintendent of the Central Pacific railway, at salar, of $10,000. He was satisfied with and ap