Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-10-03
KICKED INTO WEALTH.

KICKED INTO WEALTH.
How Thrifty Mechanic Got Even with
Millionaire Croker.
| Speaking of cables" said man on
the ferry-boat. reminds me of a good
one heard the other day on the late
Charles Croker. You know he was
at the head of the great Market street
cable system and was close fgurer
in financial matters. Well. when the
Market street cables were put down
the contractors employed Henry Root
to superintend the construction. There
was lots to learn about cable roads in
those days, and even after the con-
tractors had turned the road over to
| Croker and his associates every days
run suggested something in the way
of improvement. Without any partic-
ular understanding Root was kept
along to look after things generally,
and especially to secure patents on the
| dozen and one devices which the con-
struction and operation of the road
had suggested. He was paid small
salary. only about one hundred dollars
a month, but so loyal was he to the
/ tudb AOu oil OhOI CduO w
him from Denver, urging him to take
charge of that city's new cable road at
a fat salary, he refused it, and went
on till he had about perfected his pat
ents.
''When he had been thus employed
some seven months. Mr.. Croker came
back from the East, and at once began
| looking over the expense account and
| payroll of the cable company. with a
view to retrenchment and a more rigid
| economy. After q time he came to
| Roots name.
"'See here said he to his manager.
| what's this man Root doing on our
| pay-roll?'
"'Oh, we've kept him along looking
| after various things and arranging
about patents
"'Well, he has no business here at
ALL said Croker. sharply. He was
employed by the contractors, and when
| they turned the road over to us his
| employment ceased. Now, I want you
to tell Mr.. Root that not only will we
no longer pay him any thing. but that
shall expect him to return to US all
the salary he has received since we as
sumed control OF the road
Perhaps you don't think Root was
astonished. There he had refused a
permanent position at a good salary
| just because he felt it his duty to stay
by the Market street company, and, of
| course. he had spent the seven hum
dred dollars which he had received
! from the company in the way of COM
pensation for seven months work. 1t
| was a big wad of money to Root in
| those days, too. and he had heap of
trouble to raise it. But he stood up
all friends. mortgaged a lot, and final
ly managed to square himself with
Croker, taking a receipt from that
gentleman showing on its face that he
was not in the cable company's en-
plOy for the seven months, and that
the money had been wrongfully paid
to him.
Then he went on and took out his
patents in the name of Henry Root.
by and by Croker, Hallidie and
the rest of the cable men began the
organization of their big pool. When
they got well along with it Hallidie
said one day: See here. Croker.
where are your patents on all these
improvements which you people oper-
ate? don't see your showing
s. oh, we've got 'em somewhere
replied Croker, confidently; but when
he came to look into the matter he
found he didn't have 'em by long
shot. He found the patents for some
of the most important devices in use
on his system were in the name of
Root.
He sent for Root
when that thrifty mechanic ap-
peared before the magnate the latter
said: Root, there are lot of devices
which We use and which see are pat
ented in your name. 1 wish you'd
just make them over to the company
"'Whyp asked Root. simply.
"'You worked them out and patent
ed them when in our employ, and of
course you know that the laws of the
State provide that when an artisan
takes the time for which an employer
pays him to work out patent the pat
emit belongs to the employer
Certainly; 1 know that's the law
replied Root. in his most respectful
tone. but here's your receipt, Mr..
Croker, which shows that during the
time l was at work on the patents 1
was not in! your employ Now, my
dear Mr.. Croker. you can have those
patents for just $25, OOO.'
''Crocker paid.
''From Roots connection with the
road he learned of the projected ex-
tension out Haight street. put his $685.
600 into lands along the highway,
realized on them when the boom came,
made enough to keep the wolf work
from his door, thus found time to per-
feet a cable system of his own, forced
them to take him into the pool, and is
enjoying rajah's income from it now.
There's man absolutely kicked
into a fortune. San Francisco Chron-
icle.
Revival of the Half Cent