Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-11-07
SERVED HIM RIGHT,
A California Millionaire Overreaches Him.
self and Pays for 1t Dearly.

Il
speaking of cables" said man on
the ferry-boat in the hearing of San
Francisco Examiner reporter, reminds
me of 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 a
close figurer in financial matters. Well,
when the Market street cables were
put down the contractors employed
Henry Root to superintend the con-
struction. There was lots to learn
about cable roads in those days, and
even after the contractors had turned
the road over to Croker and his asso-
ciates every days run suggested some
thing in the way of Improvement.
Without any particular understanding
Root was kept along to look after
things generally, and especially to Sc
cure patents on the devices which the
construction and operation of the road
had suggested. He was paid a small
salary, only about 800 a month, but
so loyal was he to the company that
when an offer came to him from Den
yer urging him to take charge of that
city's new cable road at fat salary he
refused it, and went on until he had
about perfected his patents.
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 more rigid
economy. After time he came to
Roots name.
.''See here said he to his manager,
whats that 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 l want you
to tell Mr.. Root that not only will we
no longer pay him anything, but that
l 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 500 which he
had received from the company in the
way of compensation for six months
work. 1t was big wad of money to
the Root of those days, too, and he
had heap of trouble to raise it. But
he stood up all his friends, mortgaged
lot, and finally managed to square
himself with Croker, taking receipt
from that gentleman showing on its
face that he was not in the cable COM
pany's employ for the seven months.
and that the money had been wrong
fully paid to him.
''Then he went on and took out
his patents ia 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 these i'm
provements which you people operate?
don't see your showing.
"Oh, we've got EN- somewhere re-
piled 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 APP
peared before the magnate the latter
said: Root, there are a lot of devices
which we use and which I see are pat
ented in your name. | wish you'd
just make them over to the company
"Wny?" asked Root simply.
'"1 on worked them out and patent
ed them WI hen 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 outa patent the pat
ent belongs to the employer
"Certainlv; 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 | was at work on those patents /
was not in your employ. Now, my
dear Mr.. Croker, you can have those
patents for just $25,000.'
"Crocker paid.
"From Roots connection with the
road he learned of the projected ex-
tension out Haight street, put his $685.
900 into lands along that highway, re-
allied on them when the boom came,
made enough to keep the wolf work
from his door, thus found time to per-
feet 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 fortune"