The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-03-10
THOMAS j. PorrER.

announcement of which appears in our
Geographic columns, comes most sud
denly and Unexpectedly. Only day
or two ago it was said that his health
was much improved. apd that in the
course of a few days he would Se about
attending to his dudes. Only few
short weeks ago he was Frustrated by
the pulmonary complaint which has
carried him off.
The life of Mr.. Potter demonstrated
what a man can do in this world by
energy honesty and labor. Born
forty. seven years ago, he obtained such
limited education as parents in moder
ate means could afford, and arriving
at his majority he joined railroad
surveying party making the line for
road across Iowa. The war fever took
hold of him, however, as it did OF so
many am 5itious young fellows, and in
1868 he enlisted as private in an Iowa
regiment. Instead of being sent to the
south, his regiment was ordered to
Nebraska to protect the Union tactic
railway from the Indians. Three years
later the regiment was mustered out,
Potter being @ captain. The Burlington
4 Missouri River, on which he did his
first surveying, having been built, Pot
ter entered its service as station agent
at a little town in Iowa, where his
ability was soon recognized by the
company, and in a little while he was
made fuel agent for the entire line.
Later the Chicago, Burlington q
Quincy absorbed tie B. & NJ,
and Potter was employed by the
rich company as general agent. His
advance was thereafter rapid, the posi-
tions which he held being successfully
assistant superintendent of division
superintendent, assistant general man
ager, general manager, and first vice
president, the last-named office, which
he attained in 1881, placing him in abb
solute control of the road as regarded
its policy and operations. His COM
pany Mas one of the largest in America,
and Mr.. Potter was recognized as per-
hans the aSlest, all-around railway
manager in the country. Under his
management the 20" prospered amaZ
ingly, and many were the tempting
offers from rival and other companies
which he rejected. He was 10th to
leave his first love, however, and
only last spring could he be induced
to give up the road to which he
had become welded and with
which he had won favor. 1t is said
that the Union Pacific tempted him
with a salary of ,000 in addition to
bonus of $4,000. Whatever the sum,
the investment was a wise one, for Mr..
Potter did what others had tried for
wears to do and faiIed-he brought
order out of chaos, and elevated the
Onion Pacific to the magnificent con
dition in which we see it to-day. One
of the first things he did was to
famiIiarize himself with the road and
its affairs; this done, he set about it to
eure evils and INACCURATE improvements.
The extravaganza which had come to
he q characteristic feature of the great
system was abolished so far as posi-
ble. incompetent employees were
"houuced," and men who understood
their business were employed;
the easy going, careless way of
doing things was discontinued,
and buslness-Iike methods substi-
tuted. He injected life and activity
into the road which was suffering from
dry rot, and fast going to decay. The
change which he inaugurated was so
great that people have not got over
talking about it. As manager of the
Union Pacific he had an opportunity to
show what he was, and he proved him
self q railroad man pure and simple.
But if tom" Potter's life demon
strated what a man can do in this
world. It also showed what he cannot
do. 1t showed that man is not made of
iron. that he will wear out; that he is
enual 10 great labor, nut there is q
point beyond which he cannot go and
live. Nature has gagged his capacity
and endurance. and will not permit
her metes and bounds to be
disturbed. Potter was the victim
of oyerwork. He did not commit
suicide, but he killed himself by over
work. a man with his brain and his
physique should number his three score
wears and ten. Twenty-thre' years of
life in Mr.. Potter's case, were sacrificed
in an effort to defy nature and do more
than man can do; and in this sacrifice,
as in all other cases where men die from
oyerwork. the world is cheated out OF
those years and deprived OF the good
which such men might do.
This death is a severe blow to the
Union Pacific Railway Company. AS
man like Potter are scarce it will be