The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-06-02
BETTER EVERY YEAR.

BETTER EVERY YEAR.
Nearly fifty years ago boy Of twelve
years, in Connecticut earned his first
dollar He belonged to family whose
members were as poor as they were
numerous. Each one was compelled to
do what be could to keep up a success
full connection between soul and body.
A neighbor employed Charlies-the
twelve-year-old, carry the winters
stock Of dry wood into the shed and pile
il up. The boy did the work promptly
and thoroughly. When the wood was
neatly piled. he gathered up the chips
and swept the yard with an old broom
which he found in the shed, thus COM
pleting rs neat job Of work as an en-
terprising lad ever did.
Neat as pin" said his employer,
upon inspecting the work. There's a
dollar for you; you've earned il, and
you shall hare the JOB merit year.
Charlie took the dollar,-his first
with feelings that can be better imagin-
ed than described, and FASTENED home
ward The job next year, This
promise kept ringing in his ear and
down through his heart How does he
know shall want it next year?'' he
said within himself II shan't always
pile wood for living. | would have him
know"
He reported his success TO his mother,
who congratulated him upon his good
fortune. and praised him for his enter
prise. Charlie looked thoughtfully for
a moment. and then responded, "My
feelings are divided between delight
with the dollar and contempt for the
man Cho thinks shall be doing nothing
better than piiiig rood a year from
nOtD."
We should naturally expect to hear
from boy of such spirit rs that. Going
up higher each year is about as enter
prising as we can expect youngster of
twelve to be. Such laudable ambition
usually crops out at sometime and some
where. Charles cropped out; and,
about fifteen years after the wood was
piled so well, the following sign appear
ed over a hardware store. at "a Il. street,
Sacramento. I'll Huntington Il Hopkins.
The first was our Charlie from Connecti-
cut, and the latter was n kindred spirit
from Massachusetts. They had large
store, and sold the best goods at a fair
price, and their honesty was even better
than their goods. Their principles COM
manded the public confidence.
1t was in this store, No. "a K. street,
that the Central Pacific Railroad was
born and nursed. 1T can be done"
said Huntington; and he was only TAX
ing step higher when he said it. 'Of
course it can" replied Hopkins, whose
spirit matched that of his partner well.
And it was done. After encouraging
one Judah to explore and find pass
for a railway over the Sierra Nevadas,
and furnishing him with money to pay
the bills, without realizing their expec-
tations, Huntington said. 1--WE must
push things" So he called in Leland
Stanford and the two Croker brothers,
numbering five in all, for consultation.
81 will be one Of eight or ten," pro-
posed Huntington, ITO pay all the ex-
pense of finding and laying out route
for n railroad over the Sierra Nevadas,
and that for three years, if necessary"
Another step higher. The other four
stepped up also. The Central Pacific
Railroad was born on that night. II
was a tremendous burden to bear, such
as only the shoulders that bore the road
could bearl A friend said, Hunting
ton, do you know what you have under
taken? Why, every shovel, pick, rail,
locomotive, and all else needed, must
be purchased in the East and carried
around Cape Horn, an eight months
voyage, before you can utilize them
What of that?" was Huntington s
laconic answer. That was only the first
Cape Horn he would have to sail around
before he could ride in Pullman cal
over the Sierra Nevadas Many Cape
Horns would have to be rounded before
his railway would become fact
why, Huntington, money can't hire
men enough to build your railroad. y
added his friend.
The Chinese Empire can furnish
them" he replied; and it did He i'm
ported laborers from that crowded
country. and the work was done.
1--WE will pay as we CO. he said. II
we can keep two thousand men at work
we will do it; but if only half or quarter
that number, so be il. We will Keep a
work only as many as we can pay. II
we can pay but one man, then we will
keep only one man at work. Dr. Frank
Inns motto, Pay as you 60 is mine"
On returning from Washington a
one time, he found the company's treas
ury empty. Il can keep three hundred
men at work one year ana pay then
out of my own pocket; how much car
you doP" he said to his associates. Their
reply matched his, and the decision wa,
to keep eight hundred men at work one
year at their own expense. This prompt
decision saved the great and noble en-
terprise from failure at that crisis.
When the time came for a depot to b.
erected at Sacramento. the plan of {
fine building that would cost twelve
thousand dollars was brought to him
"A very nice plan, indeed. y he replied
after examining it, "but we are not do
ing much business that pays yet thinl
such building as this must answer
now" and, suiting his action to hi
words, he drew the plan of a boarC
building, upon his store-door with chalk
His plan was adopted. and the depo
was put up in a single day at an ex
Pense Of one hundred aud fJtv dollars
The living members OF the origina
Central Pacific Company still hold tina
railway in their own grip. and this
true Of no other railroad in this countr-
except those originated within a few
years. Boys who go up higher ever
year not only add to their natural &C
QUESTIONS. but they keep what they get
-Wna- H. IhGyer, IA Journal Of Edg
cation.
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