St. Paul daily globe., 1888-12-23
James j. Hill and T. F. Cakes
Shining Examples OF
High Success.
Stiekney and Marvel Have
Come UP From Humble
Stations.
Hannaford, Thrall and Board
Iron Rail Magnates Of No
Mean Ability.

selves. The discovery of the applica-
ton Of steam has opened field that has
been sOwn with successive generations
of intellectS. The field was fertile. so
fertile, that now the men who are its
fruits, especially they who dictate the
policy of railroads, for sound, common
sense, and ready, rapid and accurate
judgment, rank with the statesmen Of
the world, and frequently above them.
The United States leads the world in
rail mileage, and its railroad men for
intelligence and personal worth, easily
Outrank their class, wherever found,
outside of its territory. st. Paul has
more resident railroad men Of note than
probably any other city between New
York and San Francisco, and is justly
proud of that fact. In all events that
call for the aid Of executive ability
above the average or require financial
assistance, the people at large pay them
the
INVOLUNTARY TRIBUTE
of calling Oh the leading railroad of
ficias. The heaviest subscribers to
public funds, whether charitable or
not. are among the railroad men. This
not simply because, as rule, they are
the heads of large personal fortunes;
for. in st. Paul, at least, there are many
other men whose wealth is as abundant
as theirs, but because their business is
such as to enlarge their minds and ell
gender a spirit of liberality, that, in
eases where they are called on to act
simply as private individuals, is often
princely.
Foremost among st. PauPs railroad
men is James j. Hill. president of the
ST PauI. MINNEAPOLIS IL Manitoba rail
way He, by his own energy and i'll
duStry and by the exercise OF that
quality Of judgment that directs man
TO the one road TO success amongst a
maze of diverging roads, has,
within space of about twenty
three years, elevated himself from
the position of a struggling con-
tractor, in small way, with the old
st. Paul d Pacific, to his present place
ut the head of one of the greatest rail
roads in the United States and fortune
ample enough for any one, certainly
greater than that owned by any railroad
man in st. Paul and most newspaper
men. In spite of the demands on his
time by his enormous business inter
ests, Mr.. Hill still finds sufficient leisure
to study matters of art, and has patron
lied artists with such appreciatlve in
telligence that his gallery now contains
the best private collection in the North
west.
A Younger man, though probably
longer connected with railroads, is L.
+. Oakes, that handsoWs and atfable
man whose recent election to the preSi-
dency of the Northern Pacific railroad
is an evidence of the superlatiVe intelli-
gence of his electors. Financial and
executive ability sufficient for the
proper management of concern OF
such magnitude as the Northern Pacific
railroad is not cOngcnitai, though the
predispoSitOn may be, but is matter
of such prediSpositiOn combined with
experience. Mr.. OakeS' experience
began away back in 1868 when
he went to work as an ordinary
clerk in one Of the Kansas Pacific rail
road Offices. He was fortunate in haV-
ing natural aptitude and still more
fortunate than many that "bIush un-
seem in being cast where he was APP
preciated, for he rose rapidly from the
position of clerk to that of general
superintendent. The report of his
ability rapidly spread, and other roads
began 10 bid for his services. He passed
from road to road, always adVanta-
geously, until 1881, when he was elected
vice president and general manager of
the Oregon Railway and Navigation
company.
HENRY WILLARD,
that keen tinancier, had been watching
Mr.. OakcS with growing appreciation,
and in 1883 was Instrumental in Secur-
ing his election TO a similar position on
the road that he has since managed.
His continued management means the
continually increasing success Of that
vast and growing property. Saying
that Mr.. Cakes social qualities are
.,.,l -, Ia
of expressing his popularity in society.
Even people whose business in iereStS
conflict with his cheerfully testify to
this fact, for his geniality is so un-
affected that it disarmS prejudice. He
is a kind husband and father, and that
he is Il wise one is inStanced by the fact
that his son, a Harvard graduate, is
now working on a railroad IN Missouri
with his advancement dependent upon
himself and his own personal applica-
tion, and not upon the influence of his
fathers name.
A. B. Stickney, whose recent ar
rangement and perfection OF the present
Chicago. st. Paul and Kansas City rail
way system has caused considerable
comm0ti0n in railway circles and
aroused much futile opposition, is an
other man of the same type as Mr.
0akeS. His first railroad experience as
superintendent of the st. Paul. Still
water Il Tayior'S Falls railroad is still
fresh in the memories of his friends, the
old residents of st. Paul. This little
road was only twenty miles long. but in
its management he displayed such keen
financial instinct that he aroused a
feeling of strong admiration III the
breasts of his observers. SO strong was
this that he was frequently called into
counsel on affairs that were foreign u
his own Immediate interests, and HOr-
ace Thompson. the banker, sought the
aid of his Judgment on all mat
tiers of Importance. Mr.. Stickney
was general superintendent of the Cana
dian Pacific at Winnipeg. going there
from the Taylor's Falls road (now pant
of the Omaha SYSTEM. Later he was
made vice president of the Minneapolis
II St. Louis railroad. and negotiated its
transfer into the Rock Island system.
He has been identified with railroad
construction for number of years, and
among the more prominent fruits of his
work in this direction may be men,
toned the Minnesota Il Northwestern,
the Minnesota Central and Manitoba
and Northwestern. Mr.. Stickney is
now president of the Chicago, st. Paul
II Kansas City railway. but his genius
for combination is such that doubtless
the near future will tell of either his adj
vancement to still wider field, or of
his enlargement of his present field to
an extent that it will increase its value
to its owners, and advance the interests
of the public that is dependent on il for
transportation. Mr. Dixon, the affable
and capable agent of the Milwaukee
road, says that Mr.. Stickney is gener-
ally considered to have the best tinan-
cial head that has ever been identified
with the Northwest. His past successes