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

which railroad companies ~ competitors
Of other railroad companies are con.
stantly fighting.
In New York Maj Webb is well known,
but elsewhere, although he has gained
within three years wide reputs, there il
little knowledge Of the manner of man he
is. The story of his career contains much
that is instructive and very interesting.
Maj. Webb is one Of the sons Of that
distinguished politician and editor Of the
time when the Wing party was fighting
its battles, Gen. James Watson Webb.
Great as were Gen. Webb's achievements
in the political world when he came to
old age he took greater pride in the prom
Use which was already beginning to be full
filled OF raising . family of boys who
would gain distinction perhaps equal to
that which was gained by the famous
Field or Washburn or Sherman or VOL
colt families.
Walter Webb in his youth showed
some taste for engineering, and he was
placed in the Columbia College School
of Mines, which is the scientific depart
ment of that institution, and was at the
head OF his class some twenty years
ago. After graduation, however, young
Webb felt some inclination toward .
career at the bar. He gratified it TO the
extent of studying, being admitted and
| hanging out his sningle for brief time.
His legal education was of value to him
| though only in other achievements to-
| ward which he began to drift soon after he
| opened his office An opportunity opened
| for him to go into the banking and broker
| age business, and for some years he WAS
| busy in studying the mysteries of Wall
| street and in learning the market value Of
| the securities there bartered in.
Almost incidentally he drifted into the
| railway business. His brother, DIR. Seward
! Webb who had married one of the daugi-
| tiers of William II. Vanderbilt, became in
| interested in the palace car company
| which the Vanderbilts controlled. and
| when Webster Wagner, the president ri
| the company, met his sudden death, hav-
| ing been crushed between two OF his own
| cars in a railway collision, DIR. Webb be-
| came president of the company and IN.
vited his brother to accept an official posi-
in connection with it. Walter Webb
| had not been in the railway business .
| month before both he and his employers
| discovered that he had peculiar quaiiiica-
| lions Tor this business. 1t seemed
| to fascinate him. He was no pompous
, official fond OF sitting in richly carpeted
| rooms and issuing orders with heavy
| dignity. He was everywhere. He studied
| the science of railway car building, no
| skirmisbed around among the shops; he
was not afraid Of dirt, nor of putting On
Jumper and pair of overalls ii necessary,
and as a consequence he soon had NOS
only mastered those dnties he was en-.
ployed to perform, but being full OF sug.
cestlons and devoted to his avocation be
was rapidly promoted. He served really
while an officer an apprenticeship, work.
ing harder than any other empioye, never
thinking about hours or salary, out only
bent on learning the business
In the railway business such Q person
moves rapidly toward the top. The his.
tory of railway corporations in the United
States furnishes many such instances.
Social influence, political pulls as they are
called, family prestige. count Tor nothing
in the development OF railway men,
Nothing but fidelity and capacity has any
influence with directors in the selection OF
executive officers. Any other course would
Therefore. when the time came for this
| corporation, one of the greatest in tho
world in railway management, to place
competent man at the head OF its frame
business, Mai. Webb was selected, ana 70
thoroughly mas he justified that choice
| that at the time few months ago when
| President Chauneey NJ. Depew Was con-
| sidering the invitation of President Har-
rison to become the successor OF MI. Bia,ne
as secretary of state, 1t was understood IN
| railway circles that Maj. WeDp Wouia pe
! chosen president OF the New York CensrAi
| in case Depew resigned that office.
Chief among Maj. Webb's quaiihca-
tions for this work is his devotion 10 bnsi-
ness. His college training as an engineer
has served ham well, and his legal KNOW
edge mas been Of great yaine 70 hiIn 10 ~, - 2 2
| two crest emergencies which he Was called
| Of : sudden 70 face when many Of the en-
nloves of the road went out on strike He
| lives not i've minutes walk from his OF
| fee. and he is frequently there a. early ~
o,eIock in the morning. IN tho summer
when he is at his country place ne taxes
the 6rst train into the city, while the
bankers and brokers and professional men
| Who live near him do NOT follow until I've