Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-11-03

MIR. DEPEw IN HIS OFFICE.
 partments of finance, law and accounting are in the command of the first vice presi- dent, Mir. C. C. Clarke. These arc tho most important departments, for tho en- tire road depends upon the judgment, foresight and accuracy of its financial head. Mir. Clarke is little known to the general public, but there's not one banker or broker in Wall street but recognizes him and knows he's there on big business.
 The second vice president of the New York Central, Mir. H. J. Hoyden, com mands the departments of traffic and sup ply. Under his supervision the rates, n vital part of every railroad, are fixed, claims adjusted and all materials pur- chased.
 The third vice president, Mir H. Walter Webb is well known to the general pub lie by virtue of his duties as commander of the departments of road, equipment and transportation. MT. Webb comes in closer and more frequent contact with the people than any other officer of the road. He it is who looks after the building of roadways, bridges and buildings, sees that the road is properly equipped with cars, engines and boats, keeping meanwhile n wide open eye to the comfort of the public in the matter of service. MT. Webb, when in town, docs an honest days work in his office from 10 till I. About once n week he makes a journey of inspection from New York to Buffalo in his private car. This journey Is like that of n great general reviewing his troops.
 The government of any railroad is vest ed first of all in the stockholders, but the stockholders share in governing Is merely nominal. Supposed to have all to say, they really have nothing to say. They simply elect their representatives, com monly called the board of directors. The board meets only once a year, but mean while it has elected chairman, or rather the man who holds the most stock elects himself chairman, and he, as cz-oflcio member of all committees, is the active practical head, the highest officer of rail road company.
 In many railroads the chairman is also the president, but when these offices arc divided the president is subordinate to the chairman. Holding to the New York Central as n representative of all roads, Mir. Depcw is not first in command, as is generally supposed but is a sort of adju- tant general under Mir. Cornelius Wander bilt, the chairman. Mir. Vanderbilt, like MT. Dcpew, is hard worker. Nine o'clock Is not too early tO find him at his | desk in the Grand Central station, and there he remains all day, giving his timo | to this or that committee and looking aft l cr HIS HluIttuulIlOus uutlCS Us Cnalrlllan | not only of the New York Central, but of II other roads. Hero in Mir. Vanderbilt's office all the work of organization of the | New York Central system is carried on, and every clerk in that particular office | you may be sure is an expert in some par ticular branch of railroad work. Rigid Rules of the Company. And in this office, too, all the rcd tape | of the New York Central begins, and all though the public snarls and kicks against rcd tape it is a truth nevertheless that the more the rcd tape the finer the organi- ration that uses it. The New York Gen. tral, generally conceded by railroad men to be one of the very best organized roads | in the country, holds its end in this way chiefly with use of rcd tape. So fine arc the lines drawn that Mr.SVanderbilt him. | self cannot send out for even n lead pencil and charge it to the company. If he wants a lead pencil, he must make acquisition for it through the proper channels.
 As to what MT. Depew docs for living, or rather what he does to earn his salary, | the same salary he would receive us prcsi- | dent of the United States, I asked him personally. IIo had turned his room in the Grand Central depot into a temporary observatory. I found him squinting through long brass telescope, which was mounted like a gatling gun and aimed | thEouen tne "luuo" pdsl tuo -hurray iilil | hotel direct at heaven. Not a star could he sec, for it was only o'clock in the afternoon.
 What arc you searching for, Dr. De- pew!'' asked.
 His answer was not intended for publi. cation, but-''I am searching for my chances of the governorship." he said, and incidentally am hunting for my friend Platt"
 | With of tk characterizcs his smile he explained that the telescope was for his ''boy'' and drop ped into leather chair before his desk, saytng, Now, what can I do for youi''
 Define your duties as president of the New York Central railroad, describe your days work"
 once of President No slnccure.
 Well" he began. my duty lies in the general control and direction of tho com- pany's business in all it's departments. As e result of this. I am interviewed, con- ferred and consulted with in this rooIa from morning till night. I get here about 9, and after attending to n mail l2 inches high look over the reports from every point of the New York Central and its branches, ascertaining the exact condition of the road. Then the heads of depart | ments come to me for consultation. Ii there has been an accident, explanations are made to me here; if thcro has been q falling off in tho amount of traffic, the cause is investigated; if there's an in crease. we look to sec how it can be made permanent.
 ''Then the presidents of somo of oul connecting or rival roads come in every day, sometimes three or four at a time for a conference relating to matters ol common interest. As their time is valu able, sec them before all other caiierA