The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-01

ger conductor upon the Chicago, Burllng-
ton and Quincy railroad. Thirty eight
years ago the President Of the Chicago
and Alton Railroad was an assistant
engineer in the construction Of the Illinois
Central railroad and served his appren-
ticesfip with the rod and chain, and his
vice president. thirty years ago was a
station agent at Springfield, Illinois. My
earliest recollcctions OF the president OF
the Michigan Central railroad IL in con-
nection with n subordinate position held
by him On the Chicago, Burlington and
Orkney in Chicago The president Of the
Cleveland. Cincinnati, Chicago and st.
Louis railroad Company. was an obscure
young lawyer twenty-five years ago, who
with Unusual ability has concentrated
into 4 successful and compreh snsive sys-
TEN a number Of lines OF railway most OF
which were previously unrenImerative
The president Of the Louisville and Nash
Vile Railroad Company, ripe in experie zee
from nearly forty years service. sprang
from the ranks The chief executive office
OF the Chicago Milwaukee snd ST. Paul
railroad Company was fifteen years ago
struggling in Cairo. Ill. with the varying
fotunes or rather misfortunes OF the Cairo
and Vincennes road, about leo miles long.
The president Of the Mobile and Ohio Rail-
road Company, formerly president OF the
Illinois Central, drove a team on the tow
Iath OF a canal, then worked as a track
hand. then fired and subs squently ran
locomotive engine. The Pennsylvania
system furnishes many examples OF exc
cutive and department officers growing
up nearly from boyhood in that great
railway family and being transferred
from the ranks Of the workers 10 the
sphere OF larger responsibilities where
their experience and training might be
Of mutual Der eft 10 the company ard
fits men. The New York Central and Hud-
son River Railroad has been controlled
and directed by substantially one interest
for a long term Of years and in many
Instances 1t IS differed by those who
have virtually grown up with it and It's
vast army OF workers. l might multiply
these illustrations and show that the
practical operation OF the greater portion
Of our railway mileage arc directed by
men who have risen from the ranks and
who are familier with the details Of rail
road life and railroad work.
1t is because L know so much about and
am so intimate with the miseries that
come from unemployment 20 the family
OF the man who is unfortunate enough to
be hurled out into the cold, ttat l take
the grt atett care and have given rigid
unless there Is a good and sufficient cause
for Il. II may be that unfortunate condi-
lions arise where business falls Off and
there is no employment for a large num-
Der OF men. but that cannot be hel ed.
II man is discharged by the order
Of his superior, when there is work, and
some other msn must take his place.
n at superior must have the very best
reasons for his act before that discharge
can be justified
1 had a peculiar illustration of that In
England last summer The most sue
cessful railroad man in England is Mr..
Forbes. He asked me 10 so with him for
an inspection on his lire. | saw him pull
out a watch-a nickel watch-One | should
think was a Waterbury worth about 80.
with which the purchaser would expect
a suit Of clothes before he would take II.
I said. that Is an extraordinary watch
for a railroad man like you 10 carry l
never saw one on a railroad man before
But" he said, that is the kind we
give our conductors" But" l said, ian
American conductor who had watch
OF that kind would be discharged from
the sevice."
He said: There Is a history con-
nected with that watch which mas had
n great effect on the railroad service in
England The story reached France and