The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-08-24

that. become money makers. Col. Davis
will turn to money getting if he be not
made director general of the Worlds
fair. Ex-senator Platt has paid more
attention to business than to politics for
several years. Mr.. ClarksoR is likely to
90 into some large business enterprises
as soon as he can get out Of Office. The
railroads of the country swallow up a
large part Of the best business talent we
have. 1t is surprising how rapidly some
of our brainy young men develop in the
railroad field. Ten or twelve years ago
l was out on the frontier of Nebraska,
and riding one day in the caboose Of a
freight train I asked some questions of
the conductor, who seemed to be a bright
young man. Three years ago 1 again
visited Nebraska, and found that young
man, Holcomb by name, the general
manager of all the Burlington lines in
Nebraska, with probably 1900 miles of
road under his control.
A few months ago a boyish looking
man appeared before the house commit
tee on railways to give evidence in the
matter of the proposed law requiring
railway companies to equip their freight
cars with automatic couplings. He was
| introduced to the committee as Mr..
| Brown, of Burlington, and as he began
| to talk a member of the committee whis-
pered to one of his colleagues: Don't
| believe we shall get much information
out of that young fellow. He's brake
man, isn't he?" But in a few minutes it
was seen that the young man not only
| knew what he was talking about, but
that he had a singularly clear and direct
manner of saying what he had to say.
a little later and he had the close atten-
ton of every man in the room, for it was
apparent that he was master of the
science of railroading in all its branches.
For an hour he talked and answered
questions, and gave the committee a
keener insight into the wonderful devel-
opment the mechanics Of railway have
experienced than any Of them had ever
had before.
''You seem to know your trade pretty
we'll" remarked Congressman Hill, of
Illinois, after the final hearing was over;
'hdVe we not met De1Ofe!
Il think we have" replied Mr. Brown;
sit was thirteen years ago, in your town
of Joliet. There had been an accident
on the gravel train on which was work
ing, and you came up and asked me some
questions"
you were then working on gravel
train?'
Yes, sir"
and what are you doing now?'
Mr. Brown mOdestly handed the con-
gresham his card. 1t read: "Superin-
tendent of c., B. and Q. lines in Iowa"
Since that day this young man, who
went through all the stages of railroad
ing, and who can make coupling, run
locomotive, build a bridge or manage
10000 employees, has been promoted to
control Of the Kansas City lines of the
great Burlington system.
Down at Cape May week or two ago
met President Roberts, of the Penn
sylvania railroad. Here was man who
had started out twenty or thirty years
ago as a track hand and who had come
up through the mechanical and the eX-
ecutive branches Of the business TO be
the president Of the greatest railway in
the world. His salaries-for he has sew
eral as president Of the three or four COZ
porations which are in the Pennsylvania
system aggregate 800 900 a year DR..
Roberts shows the effect Of his early
training in the strong love which he has
for the details of railrOa6ing. Where one
would think his conversation would be
OF the large phases Of the business, of the
finances, of the building of new lines, he
speaks most Of new inventions, new
methods of bookkeeping, Of the rate
sheets, and of the countless details of
the work. Possibly he pays too much
attention to details, said one gentleman.
No replied another, who knew the
president well, che does not. 1t was
close attention to details that made him
what he IS. To this day he has fond
ness for going out on the line, watching
the tracks, noting the condition of cars,
switches, buildings, and for taking a
look in the Offices to see how the boys
10 their work. The great fuapcier gives
his attention to stocks and bonds The
great railroadcr knows his road as the
fond proprietor Of a villa knows his
front yard"
Another railroad man whom l met at
Cape May is George Boyd, the assistant
passenger agent Of the Pennsylvania.
Probably if a vote of the travelling pub
lie could be taken on the most popular
railroad man in the country Mr. Boyd
would win the prize. Unlike most men
who have wide popularity, he is remark
ably efficient Il was Mr.. Boyd who
planned that greatest of railway jour
neys. the tour of the Pan-American con-
gHeas To his ingenuity, energy and tact
many Of the improvements in modern
railroading which have tended to make
travel more comfortable than staying at
home are due. Not many years ago
for he is still young-Mr. Boyd began
railToading as s clerk in q freight Office
at indianapolis At a salary of $40 a
month. Some time probably he Will be
president Of the Pennsylvania
Another interesting man whom / often
see in Washington IS Col. \. L. Conger,
of Akron, O. He is type Of the ideal
business msn and men Of affairs who in
this country usually come from the farm.
He is also type of the politician of the
sort spoken Of by Plat and Clarkson in
their recent articles-pohtician who
learn and teach lessons of life In work
ing for others and not for themselves.
Col. COnger was a poor BOY on farm.
He has forced bis way TO the front till
now he is not only millionaire, but one
Of the potent men of q great political