Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-09-04

career as railroad official. He was
born in Alexandria, Genesee county, N.
Y, on September 26, 1887 He is
therefore fifty-two years OF age, but his
splendid physique and magnificent health
leave him with the looks and ambitions
of man of forty. All his early life
was spent on farm, and his first relief
from the exactions' of the pillow was found
in country grocery store.
During the panic of 1857 Mr.. Marvel
drifted west to seek his fortune. His
first landing was at Detroit, where he
failed to get satisfactory employment,
and he pushed farther on. Reaching
Rock Island, he became a clerk in
another grocery store, but finally secured
clerkshlp in the Chicago, Rock Island
and Pacific railroad office, then but
very primitive corporation rs compared
with its present proportions.
From the spring of 1859 to 1881 Mr..
Marvel continued his labors with the
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific. From
clerkship in the purchasing agent
office he became purchasing agent, and
mounted from one position to another
until he occupied the offices of assistant
superintendent, superintendent and gen.
eral manager. His service on the
in the spring Of 1881, when he resigned to
accept the position of general superin-
tendent of the st. Paul, Minneapolis and
Manitoba railroad. Six months later he
became the general manager, and less
than year ago he was elected first vice
president of that corporation.
On September he is to be called to
the presidency of one of the greatest
railroad systems in the country, having
lines extending from Chicago to the City
of Mexico. After all, it ism t such long
distance from q grocery store to a rail-
road presidency for forcefuI man.
William 8. Strong, who retires from
the presidency OF the AtchisOn, Topeka
and Santa Fe, had much such an early
career as the man who succeeds him
His railroad experience also began in
the boundless West, where he ran the
gauntlet from a small place to the
presidency of the Michigan Central rail-
road. After the Vanderbilts captured
that line he left, and finally landed in
the place he has now been asked to va
cate. It is charged by those who ought
to know that Mr.. Strong has always been
a heavy Spectator, or rather that he has
encouraged the speculative tendency in
railroad management. 1t is alleged that
the difficulties this great system of rail-
roads has had within the last two years.
Whether this be true or not, it is true
that Mr.. Marvel represents non-specu-
lative policy in railroad management.
Those who are closest in the St. Paul,
Minneapolis and Manitoba railroad to
Mr.. Marvel assert that his whole life has
been spent in vigorous and practical rail-
reading that he knows and cares nothing
about putting up or down the price of
stock for speculative purposes, and thai
he has always exercised a very careful
supervision over the expenses of any cor
porGtion with which he has been connect
ed. Like many other railroad mana
gers working for a salary, he has not
made great fortune out of his position,
but has been content to attend to his
legitimate business.
Mr.. Marvel is credited with superior
ability in the management Of men,
which is said to have been one of the
complaints against the Atchison, Topeka
and Santa Fe railroad management.
While he is a very severe disciplInarlan
he is said to be very popular with his en-
ployes, and to have never had any diff
Guilty whatever with them. He, there
fore, brings to his new position
an experience that is expected to
be useful to him in bringing order
out Of chaos on the great railroad systems
in which Boston and all New England is
so very much interested. Yet, after all,
it is one of the wonders in financial cir
Giles in this great city that u man so able
and so well spoken of by the great rail-
road men who know him personally
should be almost unknown outside of q
very small circle. Really, a pressing
question in Wall street was this morning,
who is Alexander Marvel?