The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-10-02


100000 to 500, 100000. The Western Union
company is one of the largest corpora
tons in the world. Some financiers think
that the operations which led to the con-
solidation of nearly all of the telegraph
corporations in the United States into one
gigantic institution are in many respects
the finest exemplifications of business
skill this generation has seen, and as it is
likely that in the history of the world no
such colossal and intricate financing has
occurred as some Of the achievements of
the last half of the present century, it is
fair to assume that this organization
stands unrivaled in the history of finan-
ciering, unless We except perhaps the
Standard Oil combination and one or two
railroad consultations.
Some of the ablest financiers in New
York were gathered at a dinner party
given by a merchant, who is also a con-
spicuous politician. few days after the
announcement of the sale of the Western
Union to the Philadelphia syndicate.
The rumor furnished topic for much of
the conversation over the coffee and cigars,
and one of those who was present told the
story of the successive steps Of organiza-
ton and consolidation which finally de-
veloped the gigantic corporation. which is
as much mail carrier as is the govern
ment postoffice department. There were
tributes to Mr.. Gould's financil genius, and
to the extraordinary executive ability of
the late William orion, who was for many
years president of the Western Union,
and also to the capacity of that man who,
having been bred physician i'll Kentucky,
threw away his prescription book when
he discovered he had executive ability and
was chosen Mr.. Orton's successor, DIR.
Norvin Green. Yet after all perhaps the
highest tribute was paid to Gen. Eckert,
and one of the gentlemen at the dinner
party declared that it was common opin-
ton among those who had opportunity to
observe Gen. Eckert's career, that AS an ex-
ecutive manager he probably stands at the
head of the list of extraordinary men who
have revealed great capacity in that direc-
ton.
Gen. Erkert is one of those men who is
great enough to be modest. On Broadway
or Wall street the eye of stranger might
be fixed upon him for moment rs man
who had learned the art Of dressing well
without being conspicuous, and one of
those who was able TO pass through the
hustling throng that gathers in the money
center at midday without displaying any
of that haste or rush or anxiety which
characterizes Wall street. If this stranger
should happen to meet MIN and enter into
conversation with him he would find
man of gentle manners, quiet speech and
unobtrusive personality, and would be
likely to be amazed if told that this man
carries the colossal part of the Western
Union company in his head. so to speak,
and had made of it so perfect a machine
that it obeyed his will as easily as q Morse
instrument responds to the touch of an
operators key. The man who steps into
a telegraph office in Denver, for instance.
that he may send message TO PASSPORT,
Me-, writes his message OUT gives it to the
operator and pays the toll, in perfect con-
fiience that within an hour or two this
message will be at its destination, but he
does not know that ii is the genius of
Eckert which has made so perfect an or
ganization that this thing can be done.
Gen. Eckert is of Ohio birth, and he was
just old enough at the time when Morse
gave his instrument to the world to be one
OF the first who mastered it, He not only
mastered it, but he loved it, and ne was
soon recognized as one of the ablest oper-
ators in the West. That meant promo
ZION. of course. He was put in charge of
an Office and afterwards became the gen.
eral superintendent of the company which
operated the telegraph along the line of
that railroad which is now called the Pan
Handle. running from Pittsburg TO Gin
cinnati. Here, IN 1889 he made the ac-
quaintance OF Arson Stager and J. h.
Laying. all three OF them afterwards to be-
come famous and influential. Mr.. Laying
was the general manager of this railroad
and Stager was an expert electrician. They
were young men, and they had their
careers 10 make and made them conspic-
uousiy afterwards. When the war broke
out Eckert became an associate of Charles
A. Dana in the war department. where he
organized and had charge OF the i'm
rorsant Geographic service of the army,
and perhaps il was here that his
extraordinary executive capacity first
attracted the greater capitalists of the
East. However, Eckert was led astray for
a nile. Somebody came 10 Washington
City with marvellous and dazzling tales Of