The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-09-26
GIFTSF0R MAI. BELKNAP.
CENTRAL RAILROAD MEN SUR
PRISE THE RETIRING OFFICIAL.


a $1,000 Present-The Presentation
Scene at the Meeting of the Advisory
Boar d-Mr. Lawton's and Engineer
Smiths Speeches and Maj Belknap's
Reply-Two Beautiful Presents.
Scarcely in the history Of any railroad
has there been SO kindly feeling displayed
by employees toward retiring employer as
there was yesterday at the Central rail
roads general office when two beautiful
presents were given Maj. NJ. S. Belknap
by the officers Of the road and by the mem
bers of the Brotherhood of Locomotive En-
gineers. Officials and employees gave the
sincerest manifestation of their respect for
the retiring general manager.
The presentation took place at noon in
the advisory boards Office. The board had
been in session all the morning and had
taken a ten minutes recess, when the
presents were taken in by two portsrs and
placed upon the long table in the center of
the room. Those officials who were not
present at the advisory board meeting fled
into the room, followed by the office men
end the engineers. IL was a complete
surprise to Maj Bolknap, who was chair
man Of the board. He received the men In
astonishment.
THE PRESENTATION.
When everything was quiet A. r. Law
ton, Jr., ESQ, in behalf of the officers, pre-
seiited their gift Mr.. Lawton said: mr..
Belknap, this is the last meeting
OF the advisory board over which
you viii preside, and as the officers of
this company esteem You mos. highly it is
with personal regret that they have learned
that you have severed your connection with
It. AT the same time, mingled with these
feelings are those of pleasure, because it is
understood that in severing your connection
with the company it is for your personal
benefit The regret is selfish. The pleasure
is unselfish. Having been under your su-
pervision for the last two and half years,
they have esteemed you, and in continue
ton Of that respect and esteem they have
taken great pleasure in bringing TO you the
silver service, and which / take pleasure in
presenting
THE OFFICERS GIFT.
The service of five beautiful pieces was
then uncovered, and Mr. Lawton
continued: "They ask me to ex-
press with it their gratitude of
the uniform courtesy, kindness and Just
consideration which you have shown them
during your connection with the company.
They trust that when you go to the land Of
the Montezulnas you may have no regret,
save that of leaving those here who esteem
you. That regret is mutual, you may be
sure. They have selected the purest silver
expressing their esteem of you. We feel
certain that your work will live after you.
The useful organizations which YOU
have perfected for this company are a
manifestation Of your skill ana industry.
You have given your time, your brains,
and, indeed, you have sacrificed your health,
perhaps, for the welfare and promotion Of
the Centrafs interests. Zeal has been char
acteristic OF you in the service Of this com
pany. Therefore the officers, in presenting
to you this token, desire your continued
friendship, and in whatever country or in
Whatever CLINE you are, they will entertain
the same for you"
THE ENGINEERS GIFT
Following the presentation of the officers
gift came that of the Brotherhood of Loco
motive Engineers by Engineer J. ". Smith.
Mr.. Smith said: Mai. Bel1nap, the organi-
cation TO which | belong has selected
me as a feeble agency to present
to you a token in manifestation of
their esteem of yourself We have met Won
in business and find you square and fair.
You have been courteous and kind to us.
You have proven that you were our friend
and we are grateful. Wherever Won
60 you will hold our esteem ard our highest
appreciation. We have always found you
just and on any platform where we might
meet you we would expect justice Weare
sure that il Is TO your interest to leave ma
and believing that your interests will be
promoted we rejoice, but our regret lies In
the separation"
The beautiful chest of seveuty-tEo nieoes
OF silver was then uncovered. Mai. Belk
nap, who had remained standing with his
hands claspsd behind him all the time,
looked at the men when the last sneaker
concIuded with an expression of grateful
ness.
MAJ. BELKNAP's REPLY.
Gentlemen" be said, and his voice fall
tered, II am profoundly thankful for these
manifestations of your kindness. Whom
this board took recess few moments ago.
i suppose to give place to these presenta.
tons, did not know the import of it. That
/ possess your confidence and esteem have
always believed, indeed, may say that I
felt that knew it, because / fels that il was
mutual In my relations with the officers of
the company have been guided by one
great feeling, and that was as men we were
possessed OF the same feelings aud senti-
ments. The same causes that stirred or
hurt the feelings OF one elated or wounded
the feelings of the other. Therefore. as
men thought that we should be guided
toward each other by feelings of mutual re-
spect and regard. That feeling of resnact
aud regard could never be forfeited if prom
erly nourlshed. My life here has been
one of hard work. 1t has been
hghtened, though, by the cooperation
of my officers and men. have felt that |
had the honest help and honest regard of
the men and of my assistants which enabled
me to pursue my task with comfort and
happiness, and with that feeling of satisfac
ton that will only como when all men have
a common purpose. Whatever success NAV
result from my labors can only saw that
a very large portion of II is due to the
officers OF this company. 1t is impossible
in this day of cooperation and of united
effort for one man to properly and success
fully perform the tasks that are laid ont
here in the various walks of life where
united effort is necessary, and where it is
not maintained.
A GIFT FROM THE HEART.
"To the officers Of the company will re-
turn my thanks for the kindness shown me
in their presentation, which will ever be a
remembrance of the sentiment so kindly
expressed by the gentleman in their behalf
To the engineers, whom | have considered
always my friends. return my thanks for
their kind Offering. l have always told
them that we understood each other. At
all times we have preserved mutual good
understanding and good fellowship TO do
what is right and just In negotiations
of various kinds there has been a
kindness manifested and maintained.
owe them much and l shall ever remern-
Der them in after life | shall estaer,, THAR,