Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-11-14
SERVED HIM RIGHT.
A California Millionaire Overresches III m
self aud Pays for IT Dearly.

self aud Pays for 1t Dearly.
"Speaking Of cables" said a man on
the ferry-boat in the hearing of San
Francisco Examiner reporter, reminds
me OF a good one heard the other day
on the late Charles Croker. You
know he was at the head of he great
Market street cable system and was a
close dgurer in financial matters. Well,
when the Market street cables were
put down the contractors employed
Henry Root to superiutend 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 assoc
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 aud operation of the road
had suggested. He was paid a small
salary, only ,.oout 500 a month, but
80 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 aud more rigid
A "a Ia, 10
Roots name.
See here said he to his manager,
whats that man Root doing on our
pay-rollg
'"Oh. we've kept him along looking
after various things and arranging
about patents.
"'Well. he has no business here at
ALL said Crocker. sharply. He was
employed by the contractors aud when
they turned the road over to US his
employment ceased. Now want you
to tell MIR Root that not only will we
no longer pay him anything, 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 alta good salary
Just because he felt it his duty to stay
Dy 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. Ii was q biz wad of money to
the Root of those days, too, and he
had a heap of trouble to raise it. But
he stood UP all his friends, mortgaged
lot, aud nnallv managed to square
himself with Crocker, taking a receipt
from that gentleman showing on It's
face that he was not IN the cable COM
panys employ for the seven months,
aud that the money had been wrong
fully paid to him.
Then he went on aud took out
his patents ~ the name Of Henry
Root.
"By and by Croker, Hallidie, and
the rest Of the cable meu began the
organization Of their BIZ pool When
they got well along with it Hallidie
said one day: See here, Croker,
where are your patents on these inn
proyements which you people operateP
don't see your showing.
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