, 1888-03-02

1iAL W bLAt III
gineer's 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, 1896, no entered the service of the
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad as
station agent Mt Abba, Ia, from which DO
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, 1879, when he was promoted to the
su-perintendency of that division, com
prising the various lines operated in
Iowa. In June, 1873, he became
general superintendent of the CHICAGO.
Burlington aud Quincy railroad, with head
quarters at Burlington, and in December,
lS'0, was assistant general manager at Chi
cago. In November, 1880, he was made gen
oral manager in November, 1881, was also
mndc third vico president, and in September,
1851, was made first vice president AMI gen.
oral manager. He was also, while with the
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad,
general manager of the st. Louis, Keokuli
and Northwestern railroad, Kansas City, st.
Joe and Council Bluffs railroad; the Council
Bluffs md Kansas City railroad: the Chi.
cago and Iowa railroad, and vfco president of
the Hannibal and st. Joe railroad. When
Mr.. Potter became general manager of the
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad.
uhat corporation took formal possession of
tho Burlington and Missouri railroad in
Iowa, under n perpetual lease, and over this
Mr.. Potter exercised his general manage
mcnt, 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 1850, the Chicago, Burlington and
Quincy acquired the property of the Bur
ington and Missouri railroad in Nebraska
$50 miles in all.
From January, 1878, when Mr.. Potter be-
came general manager, until December, 1884,
the increase in length of road operated di-
lectly by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy
nailroad corporation was from 7O0 miles to
G,GSI.40 miles. TIL net earnings for 1876
worc ST. 1TG.S3, and in 1884 they were in.
creased to the mormon sum of S12, 753, 045. 53,
nearly 100000 moro than other roads
earnings, contering in Chicago.
In January, 1887, tho ''Beon limo was in
need of n president, and it mado Mr.. Potter
various offers to accept tho position, but he
was r~csolutc and resisted tho handsome flnan-
cial temptations tendered to him. About
AAAla AAAAAO L w OAlul ANo d
of tho Union Pacific railroad, opened nego-
tiations with Mr.. Potter, and the outcome
was the acceptance of the management of tho
entire Union Pacific system by Mr.. Potter.
Ills salary is said to be $4,000 per year.
There is no question in the minds of indi-
viduals who are in n position to know, but
whit Mr.. Potter will succeed in soon bring
ing tho Union Pacific railroad out of its
present financial straits, and place it on such
n basis rs will be eminently 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 the 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
judicious investments, has accumulated an
ample fortune, and by his executive ability
and social qualities has achieved u position
in the business and socialiworld of which he
has reason TO feel proud.