The morning call., 1895-01-13
PRATT'S RETIREMENT.
Thirty Years Spent in Active
Service
ON THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC.
A Splendid Testimonial From His
Associates.
SOME FEATURES OF HIS PAST WORK.
lie Was First Superintendent Of the
Dutch Flat and Bonner Lake
WagOn.ROad.
SOME FEATURES OF HIS PAST WORK.

OOupduys prdCtlCdtlY iCbi1Cu liUn tuat
position on the first of the year, no formal
recognition of that fact was taken by the
officials OF the company until yesterday
afternoon, when that gentleman was
ushered into the directors room in the
Hobart building, where he met about forty
of the head officials and other attaches of
the company.
The object in calling the meeting was to
present Mr.. Pratt with testimonial OF
the esteem in which he is held by his
former associates, which took the shape
of splendid tea and coffee service of nine
pieces, all of solid silver, and magnificent
cabinet containing a fine carving set. two
dozen knives, the same number Of forks.
three dozen spoons for tea and table use,
and a full complement of ladies', ETC., all
of solid silver. Upon the large tray which
formed part of the set was engraved the
words: "To Robert Henry Pratt, as
sistant general Superintendent of the
Southern Pacific Company, as a memento
of thirty years association and as token
of esteem, from his fellow-officers. San.
Francisco, December 81, 1894"
Besides the articles mentioned an en-
graved testimo nial had been handsomely
prepared and signed by all the gen lemen
who took part in the presentation. 1t bore
the inscriptions:
To Robert Henry Pratt-DEAR SIR: The
lapse of thirty years since you became assocl-
ated with the Central Pacific Railroad Com
pany and its successor has but served TO foster
the esteem IN which you have ever been held
by your brother officers, and in your retiring
from the services In which you have been en-
gagged during the greater part OF your active
business life the Undersigned, your associates,
beg you will accept the gift as an expression OF
their sincere regard and unqualified appr cia-
tion OF your sterling worth, uniform, fair deal
ing and high sense OF honor and justice.
This testimonial was signed by officials
of the road. including the general officers,
their assistants, all division superinten-
dents, master mechanics. resident en-
ployes and minor other officials.
Upon Paymaster j. n. Hartford devolved
the duty of making the presentation
speech, and his remarks, which follow,
Pratt, which will be found Of interest:
"Mr. Chairman and fellow-officers of the
Southern Pacific Company: In pausng
while from our daily duties to pay will
ing tribute to our friend and business as
sOcia e. who has chosen to sever his official
relations with the officers of this company,
one who has been prominent in the rail-
road business and has devoted a large part
of his eventful life to continuous service
in the great work Of transportation, we
naturally feel sadness akin to that feel
ing of final separation of friends.
1.-The least that we, who have been CO.
workers with r. II. Pratt IN the cor
porate service, can do Is to extend to him
an earnest friendship and well-wishing,
evidenced by some little token delivered
in remembrance of his faithful discharge
of duties. his frank and kindly manners,
his honesty and efficiency and his cour-
teous conduct toward all. 1t is not ne
cesssry to refer to the personal integrity
Of our co-worker, for that is far beyond
ms ha hot
review through the many years of his
corporate employment will not be un-
interesting.
I'm 1865 we find him foreman OF con-
struction and supelin tendent of the Dutch
Fiat and Bonner Lake wagon road, an
allied road aud forerunner of the Central
Pacific Railroad. When that wagon road
bad outlived its usefulness. we find him in
1868 manager of supplies, the most needed
being fuel. Soma of US can call to mind
The busy scenes at Pratt's camp in that un-
inhabited, desolate and worthless region,
the PeQop Mountains. where be with many
teams and hundreds of men was hauling
out roo OF and branch. every tree, bush and
shrub for miles away, bringing them 10
the line OF the railroad to supply the loco
motives.
"a fter that needed service was finished,
we find him in 1869 superintendent of
track, with roadbed then laid with Do
to 80 pound soft iron rail-so different
from It's present condition, with the 70 to
100 pound steel rail.
'As if promotion for him had not vet
ended, we find him in 1872 called to the
train service as superintendent OF the Salt
Lake division. So faithful were his SER
vices, and with such untiring zeal did be
perform his duties that in 1879 he was
transferred to field of greater care and
esponslblllties-the Sacramento DIVISION
to do battle with the numerous difficulties
in railroading over the snowbound Sier-
ras.
"The continuous and rapid extension
of the railroad increased the duties and
cares at the general Office, and in 1881 he
was called to the position OF assistant
general SUPERINTENDENT Of the Central Pa
clflc Railroad, which position he held. dis
charging its duties with that same earnest
ness and fidelity that had in the past char
acterlzed his business and official career,
until 1885, when the Southern Pacific Com
pany came into power and possession of
the many miles of road and its equipment.
in which company he was chosen as It's as
sstant general superintendent, holding
that position until the close of the past
year
For nearly thirty long years has he
continually aided IN the great work of
railroading. l we'll remember about a
year ago a conversation with him. in
WuiCu CA pI6osou uoSlTc 10 QlScOn u6
his railroad service, and thereafter |
learned that he had decided to retire from
active affairs and rendered his resignation,
which, however, at the earnest solicitation
OF the president and board of directors of
the company, aid not take effect until De-
cember 81. 1894. The circumstances re-
cited of the early business associations
with Mr.. Pratt are fresh In the minds of
many of US, and the later aud more
numerous transactions are familiar to US
all and reviewed with pleasure, because of
that true manliness and ever helpful and
affabe conduct evinced by him under all
circumstances, no matter how trying"
Turning 10 Mr. Pratt, the speaker then
said:
Mr. R. FL. Pratt, assistant general
superintendent Southern Pacific Com
pany: BY this well-earned Official distinc-
tlon we lake pleasure in addressing you.
The officers of the Southern Pacific Com
pany have invited you to this gathering TO
express to you their sincere regret in sew
ering that long pleasant business assocla-
ton with you and to testify to you and to
the world that you leave behind you an
official record Of untring industry, of
fdeiity, honesty and efficiency. =
In The administration of high and re-
sponslble duties devolving upon you, you
nave combined frmness with mildness,