Smyrna times., 1888-02-29

In January, 1886, Messrs. Carson and
Shelmerdine secured control of the
Peoples railway line, another road in
hard luck and bad shape. They then
turned around and to the establishment
of business men caused the PEOPLES
line to lease the powerful and dividend
paying Germantown Passenger Rail-
way COmpany-familiarly known as
the North and Eighth streets road.
This latter corporation had been in the
possession of the Singerly party for
years, and had been purchased from
William NJ. Singerly a few years pre-
viously for $1,7O0,O0O cash, the pur-
chasers, of course, assuming all bonded
and floating Indebtedness. The syndl-
cate leased the Green and Gates streets
line. The Lombard and South streets
road, the Reyles line, and the Fourth
and Eighth street lines and their
branches were consolidated under one
management. John B. Parsons was
called to take charge of the system.
He found himself at the head of a
street railway combination represent
ing sixty-fve miles of road, property
valued at $12,OOO,OOO and having in its
employ some 1000 men.
Z" Parsons has bitten off more than
he can chew this time the old time
railroad men remarked, with signif-
cant shakes of their heads. But, in
stead of making the lamentable failure
predicted, young Parsons proved a
decided success. He was fully equal
to the occasion, and to prove that he
was a success he accomplished three
things: First, he improved the prop
erty and caused it to bring in big re-
turns to his employers; second, he
provided better accommodations for
the patrons of the roads in the system
third, he obtained the good will of his
hundreds of employees, and he estab.
lished relationship with the working
men which secured their earnest atten-
ton to duty and an exhibition of in
terest in the welfare of the corporation.
Parsons is clean handed, his integrity
is of the best, and has won his new
spurs strictly upon merit. Railroad
men declare him to be good disciplin-
arian, attentive to business, and with
an eye to the detail which makes him
master of his occupation.
" 1t was no innate love for the man
that caused Messrs. Widener, Elkins
Kemble to engage the services of Mr..
Parsons. They looked him over the
same as rich man would a fast and
costly horse. After thorough inspec-
ton they arrived at this conclusion
He comes high, but we must have
him.
Mr.. Parsons was at first disinclined
to consider the proposition made to
him, to relinquish his present position
and assume the control of the Chicago
road. AS his nearest friend and spon-
sOr, Mr.. Carson, put it: The offer was
such handsome one, and the induce
ments so good for a young man, that
advised him to accept We are sorry
to lose him, but could not stand in a
young mans way. If he shall be sue
cessful he will get rich. The people
of Chicago will be satisfied with him.
1t could not be learned defnitly what
the terms of the contract are, but it is
stated that Mr.. Parsons will receive
not less than $4,000 per year salary
with a percentage based upon the
profits of the corporation reaching Ger.
tain sums each year. 1t is also said
that. in addition, block of stock will
be transferred to his name to become
his individual property upon certain
conditions.
" Personally, Mr.. Parsons is quiet il
demeanOr, pleasant in manner, and has
but little to say. He has never figured
in the social world, having always
lived unOstentatiOusly. About one
year ago he was married. His wifi,
will accompany him to Chicago. Mr.
and Mrs. Parsons had just furnished {
new house at No. 2033 Spring Garder
street and had settled down to enjoy
social life and become introduced int
the society befitting a man of his posi-
ton, when the golden promises of tn,
West were whispered into his ear. Mr.
Parsons is a well-knOwn member o
the Masonic order, and an active
Knight Templar"
The accompanying portrait and auto
graph of this rising gentleman of 81
years cannot fail to be interesting; anC
several of our readers who may not bC
well acquainted with him may remem
Der young man making a speech Al
the fourth annual meeting of the Amer
lean Street Railway association, com
monty called the st. Louis Convention
on the strikes that were then 1855
only beginning to trouble street rail
ways; that was J. B. Parsons. Th'
Association did not see the danger
looming in the distance, although Cal
vim A. Richards, Boston, presided, anC
they did not heed Mr.. Parsons, WHIT
predicted, in a measure, what came t
pass unfortunately soon afterwards.
Mr.. Parsons is one of the most faith
full members of the American Stree
Railway Association. He attends al
its meetings and takes part in discus
siOns wherein he has anything to say
and when he does speak he is wortl
listenining to. He is also more liberia
than many on reference to our Direc
tor Supplement, it will be found tina
the two companies of which he wa
president are members of the AssOcia
ton; many president would econo
mize, in such a case as that, by limiting
his connection with the Association t,
one membership, but Parsons, Will,
seeking all information from its DELHI
erations, and freely contributing hi
own ideas in return, encourages tn,
young and promising institution b!
extending the membership land tn,