The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1888-02-24

gineers corps. When the war OF the re-
bellion came on Mr.. Potter entered the ranks
as a private, served about three years, fought
nobly and served his country well. In
January, 1866, he entered the service of the
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad as
station agent at Abba, Ia, from which po-
sition he was advanced to fuel and claim
agent of the same road at Burlington, occupy
ing that position until January, 1878, when
he was made general agent at Creston. In
August, 1873, he became assistant superin-
tendent Of the Iowa division of the Chicago,
Burlington and Quincy, with headquarters
at Creston, and remained there until Feb
ruary, 1875, when he was promoted to the
superintendency of that division, COM
prising the various lines operated in
Iowa. In June, 1878, he became
general superintendent of the Chicago,
Burlington and Quincy railroad, with head
quarters at Burlington, and in December,
1879, was assistant general manager at Chi
cago. In November, 1880, he was made gen
eral manager: in November, 1881, was also
made third vice president, and in September,
1884, was made first vice president and gen
eral manager. He was also, while with the
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad,
general manager of the St. Louis, Keokuk
and Northwestern railroad, Kansas City, St.
Joe and Council Bluffs railroad; the Council
Bluffs and Kansas City railroad; the Chi
cago and Iowa railroad, and vice president of
the Hannibal and st. Joe railroad. When
Mr.. Potter became general manager of the
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad,
chat corporation took formal possession of
the Burlington and Missouri railroad in
Iowa, under a perpetual lease, and over this
Dak I,
ment, and, two years after, the legislature
accomplished the consolidation of the Chi
cago, Burlington and Quincy railroad and
tho Burlington and Missouri railroad, in
Iowa. In 1880, the Chicago, Burlington and
Quincy acquired the property of the Bur-
ilngton and Missouri railroad in Nebraska
s36 miles in all.
From January, 1878, when Mr. Potter be-
came general manager, until December, 1884,
the increase in length of road operated di-
1ectly by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy
railroad corporation was from 706 miles to
3,GS7.40 miles, The net earnings for 1878
were S2,Gl9, 176S So, and i'll 1854 they were in
creased to the enormous sum of 81, 753 045 IS,
nearly $4,000, 600 more than other roads
earnings, ceatering in Chicago.
In January, 1887, the "Bee" line was in
need of president, and it made Mr.. Potter
various offers to accept the position, but he
was resolute and resisted the handsome finan-
cial temptations rendered to him. About
this time President Charles Francis Adams,
of the Union Pacific railroad, opened nego-
tiations with Mr.. Potter, and the outcome
was the acceptance OF tho management of the
entire Union Pacific system by Mr.. Potter.
His salary is said to be $4,000 per year.
There is 20 question in the minds of indi-
viduals who are in position to know, but
what Mr. Potter will succeed in soon bring
ing the Union Pacific railroad out of its
present financial straits, and place it on such
a basis as will be emine.itly satisfactory to
tho directors and the government. All
through the west, where he is best known,
the popular appellation is ''Tom' Potter, and
lucky is tho railroad manager who can SO
win the esteem of the general public as to be
so friendly greeted and similarly quoted
Mr. Potter, by his industry, economy and
iudicious investments, has accumulated an
ample fortune and by his executive ability
and social qualities has achieved position
in the business and social world of which he
has reason to feel proud.