Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1889-04-27
RAILROAD MAeNArss.
How Some OF Them Climbed from
ObscurIty to National Fame.

.
According to Chicago correspon-
dent, President Hughitt OF the Chicago &
Northwestern railroad and President
w. B. Strong of the Atchison, Topeka
& Santa Fe. the heads of the two great
railroads of the country, started as tele-
graph operators. The latter began as
operator at Milton. Wis, on the old
Milwaukee & st. Paul railroad, and the
former at small station on the Chicago
& Alton railroad. These are the only
two big railroaders out here who start
ed on their career from the keyboard,
There are dozen of the most prominent
men in the profession, railroad presi-
dents most of them, who graduated
from the civil engineering department.
President Newell of the Lake Shore be-
gan as rodman. So did President
Roberts OF the Pennsylvania system.
He helped carry the chain for the en-
gineers who built the Erie road. Hugh
Riddle, for so many years at the head
of the Rock Island. and now a
member of the executive commit
tee, grew up from the civil en-
cheering department. General
Manager I. j. Potter of the Union
Pacific was a lineman before he became
a country station agent on the Burling-
ton and Missouri Rriver railroad.
President /. b. Blackstone of the Chi
coro e Alton harrou biS no ;i,,nad;nrr b,r
acting as roadman on the New York &
New Haven road. The late S. S. Mer-
rin who was given higher rank than
almost any other Western railroader,
didn't begin even as humble member
of the civil engineering corps. He
started in on gravel train as con-
ductor. That was on the old Prairie
du Chen road. j. C. Clarke of the
Illinois Central, who has just retired
from the presidency, was fireman on
an engine. A. c. Bird, one of the best
esteemed men on the st. Paul, began
as truckman in the baggage-room of
the Indianapolis & st. Louis railroad.
Commissioner Midgley of the South
western pool, the highest priced COM
missioner outside of New York, began
his experience with railroads as
stenographer in the Illinois Central
offices. Commissioner George r.
Blanchard of the Central Traffic pool,
is one Of the large number who began
as clerk in the freight offices. Vice
President Galloway, who has Just left
the Union Pacific, was years ago
a freight clerk for the Grand
Trunk. Elijah Smith of the o. T.
began as a clerk for the chairman
of the board OF directors OF the Chicago,
Burlington & Quincy. General Passen-
ger Agent Ruggles graduated from a
clerkship in freight-office, and Treas
urer Purdy, now vice-president of the
Rock Island, years ago got about fifty
dollars month for keeping books and
occasionally helping with the freight
in the Illinois Central offices. Super
intendent Jeffery of the Illinois Central
started in as an Office boy in the sos.
President Jim Hill of the Manitoba was
local agent for ten years for a little
| plug road at st. Paul Hannaford, the
general freight agent of the Northern
Pacific, was once drawing the salary Of
an $S0O-a-year freight clerk. Commits
sioner George F. Daniels was a rodman
in his early railroading days. Division
Superintendent Chamberlain, one of
the best-liked men on the Rock Island,
began his life on the rail as conductor
on the New York Third avenue street
railway line. Horace Tucker, now the
general freight agent Of the Illinois
Central, and General Manager E. St.
John of the Rock Island both began
by helping in the ticket offices OF small
roads.