The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-25

Europe were watching with intense
interest the developments which we're
making towards q reorganization OF
the Richmond Terminal system, perhaps
the greatest in mileage In the world, ana
involving nearly half billion dollars, Mr..
Qakman was selected ss president OF the
Richmond Terminal company. His re-
Jay Gould had ever had Afterward, when
In the course Of litigation, some of these
properties we're placed IN receivers hands.
Mr.. Oakrnan was appointed to that oifice,
and he is now . power in the railway world,
When Oakman was an obscure railway
empioye he fell in love with very beauti:
full young woman. the daughter of one OF
the most distinguished men Of his time.
She was . quiet, hofne-loving maiden,
who had no fondness for fashionable
life and cared not to avail her
self of the opportunity which the
would have brought to her. Her uncle
had been twice governor of New York. and
vas the candidate of bis party for the
presidency in 1868. Her father ruled his
party in New York state and was its can
didate for the presidential nomination in
1876.
The young woman, however, had given
her heart TO this then OBSCURE railway en-
ploye, and when his position was little
bettered she married him quietly with no
fashionable show, but ner father was not
at the wedding. A few days after dis-
tinguished senator met her father and con-
graduated him upon the marriage, adding
that his daughters husband was likely to
make name for himself, mentioning Mr..
Oakman's name.
"Sir." said Roscoe Conkling, for he was
the father of the bride, az know not the
man" Had Roscoe Conkling lived long
enough he must have fels that his daugh-
Hnv ~ Int hat han IN
and he could not have failed to feel proud
of his son -in-law, who has won battle
and made . career for himself before he
was 40 years of age.
Recently there has come another Illus
tration Of the truth that merit wins in the
railway business. Some twenty years ago
young man was appoin ted station agent
in little town IN Central Connecticut.
He had served in sort of substitute
capacity as conductor Of freight train and
had occasionally run passenger train. He
was q whole-souled fellow, fond OF fun,
but he was also fond of his business, and
even in that little station where he was
placed he did three or four things which
attracted the attention of the managers to
him. So, of course, he was promoted until
he became general passenger agent of the
road. In that capacity he did some
things that opened the eyes Of manag-
ers of greater roads, % that he began
to receive offers of responsible posts
carrying high salaries. He went to Bos-
ton, then to Canada, each time being adj
vanced, and when the traffic association
which existed few years ago looked for .
man to handle its intricate affairs it Sc
before had been humble station agent
When the New York d New Haven
railroad began some five years ago to
expend millions in laying four tracks
and in buying up railways sufficient to
give it practically o through line to
Boston, the management casts about for Q
man whose executive ability would be
great enough 10 manage these colossal IN
terests, and it pitched upon Lucius Tuttle
and secured him. He Is now the execu-
tive head of that great corporation, draw
ing . salary greater than that of q su-
preme court justice or . cabinet officer,
and il justifying the expectations Of those
who put him in this place Of RESPONSE
bility.
Mr.. futile il one Of those who believe
that the railway business offers splendid
opportunities far greater than those of
professional life to young men. and there
are others. men of wealth and high pro-
fessional standing. who take this view.
way business. although more in the way Of
railway financing than of practical man
agement. The Rev. DIR. Greer has put
his son into great railway Office and ex-
Senator Platt has son learning the
business. William D. Howells' oldest
son will probably enter railway employ
ment asa civil engineer; and in ali the
great railway corporations are to be
found men coming from families Of
wealth or. recent graduates of colleges,
who have no other resources than their in
dustry. ambition and ability, who find in
the promise of railway career those in
ducements which a few years ago attracted
young men to the professions.
+. JAY EDWARpo.