, 1897-12-29
NEWS Of THE RAIL.
SOME INTERESTING NEWS CON-
CORNING THE NEW PRESI-
DENT.
lie is of a Retiring Disposition and
Don't Like to Be Interviewed-Al-
though a Little Gruff With Strang-
ers, He Has a Kind Heart and is
Jovial With His Acquaintance.

as a surveyor in the engineering de-
partment of the Northwestern. He was
a young man of good education. clean
habits and a wonderful capacity for
work. He grew up in the engineering
department. from carrying the chains,
being gradually promoted to the SUI
perintendence of the construction of
branch lines. He in turn filleth the po-
%sitions of assistant superintendent and
superintendent of the Northwestern's
lines in northwern Iowa. chief engineer
of the Northwestern system, with head
quarters in Chicago.
1t was while Mr.. Burt was chief en-,
gineer of the Northwestern that he per-
formed the feat that first brought him
into the recognition of railroad en-
gineers and presidents all over the
country. He laid out the immense
trackage of the Chicago railroad yard
of the Northwestern in such an ad-
mirable name that he drew the at.
tention of the foremost railroad men
of the country to his abilities. The
manne in which he did that immense
undertaking was widely commented
on. and the fact that it was done in a
thorough name is evidenced by the
fact that succeeding chief engineers OF
the Northwestern system have W
been able to improve upon the plans
hat Hnrnrn r. Rurt n1nnn rnnpaivai
and carried II to successful compile
ton at that time.
Later he was general superintendent
of the Iowa lines of the Northwestern,
with headquarters at Boone, La. He
was located in Omaha for nearly five
years as general manager of the FIRE.
mont. Elkhorn and Missouri Valley
railroad. and while here established a
reputation for conservative and thor
ough %railroading that caused Marvin
Hughitt to make him general manager
of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis
and Omaha railroad. with headquarters
at St. Paul. He was scarcely ]ensconced
in this position before he a made as
~sistant to the president, Marvin Hug
HIT. for that railroad, and also made
third vice president for the Chicago and
Northwestern system, with headquar-
ters in Chicago. He was pushed ahead
in a manner that broke all previous rec
ords for promotions. He was jumped
over the heads of others who had been
in the employ of the Northwestern sys-
had the favor of Marvin Hughitt and
it stood him in good stead.
TRAINED FOR THE PLACE.
A prominent railroad official recent
ly told the Bee that he believed Marvin
Hughitt had the Union Pacific presi-
dency for Mr.. Bart in mind when he
promoted him from the position of gen.
eral manager of the Elkhorn railroad
in the summer of 1896. He said: Burt
is the idol of Marvin Hughitt's eye, and
he will push him into the presidency Of
Northwestern may control the
ganized road. In this way Mr.. Burt
can be of more service to the Wander
bilt interests than in any other posi-
ton. Another thing, he is as high on
the Northwestern system rs he can
possibly go. He is third vice pres.-
dent. There is another man in the
Northwestern system whom Marvin
Hughitt is training up to be head OF
that road the same as he trained Mr..
Burt to be president of the Union Pa
cifc. That man is Hiram R.. McCul-
Tough, his son-in-law, and now general
traffic manager. 1t was one the hope
Of Marvin Hughitt to train up Edwin
w. Winter to take his place some day,
but Winter left the Vanderbilt inter-
ests to go with the Northern Pacific and
could not be induced to return to rail-
reading, after he had a disagreement
with the Northern Pacific owners and
left that system"
Mr.. BURT'S PERSONALITY.
Mr.. Burt is in the very prime Of life,
bClhS apout ~ Yeas VI d6S. L hoS
a splendid physique and is we'll adapt
ed, physically as well as intellectually,
for the task of ~reorganizing the Union
Pacific railroad. He has always been
a t~ireless worker and he likes every
body associated with him to initiate his
example. While brusque in his treat-
ment of those who know him
best know him to be generous and SYM
pathetic. He has a most retiring dispo-
sition and the newspaper reporter Is
most ardently disliked by him. But
with his friends he is as merry as a
child and is as kind as was his illus
trious predecessor, than which 10
greater compliment could be said. In
politics Mr.. Burt is a republican, but he
has always insisted on the separation
OF the railroad business from the politi-
cal arena. He has always been a rail-
road man. first. last and all the time.
and nothing annoyed him more than
to have his railroad or the employees
under him engaged in political matters.
Those who do not know Mr.. Burt well
are apt to believe that he is intensely
exclusive. This morning there was no
n in Omaha who rejoiced more over
his election than Pat" the well known
Farnam street motorman. In speaking
Of MIR. Burt's election, Pat" said: