The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-06-25

faith In that young man. and II the faith
Is justified by his works, promotion Is as
sure as the sunrise after the night.
Some years ago rather diffident, seri-
ous-faced young 81. Paul lad named Frank
E. Ward. went to work for Hill as his
personal stenographer. Times had never
been easy with the boy, and this led him 10
approach his duties with terrible earnest
ness. From the first Hill was interested.
He noticed in particular that the boy al
ways had ii book handy. which he pored
ever whenever there was a minutes res
piie. One day the president picked up the
book. II was not a work of fiction, but on
Algebra. and no objection was made to its
continued study. 1t IL Hiles custom, when
ever travelling over his road. to sit at the
rear OF the train and make flying inspec-
ticn OF the tracks and the right-of- way.
TN Frank T.. Wards time. HHl had al
ways insisted that whoever was with him
on trip Of inspection should also watch
the tracks. but he made an exception In
the case OF the young stenographer. He
was allowed ana encouraged to study when
making trips. All the same the boy kept
a pretty close watch on everything per-
tanning 10 the road and Its operation. as
Hin found out from time to time by talks
with him. One day the stenographer was
promoted TO be the presidents assistant
Later, when Htll saw that the lad, now
grown TO be a man. was competent TO
work alone. he was promoted again, and
he now writes general superintendent
after his signature The story that Great
Northern clerks have taken up the study
OF algebra extensively since Wards pro-
motion Is probably not true. but /. r. GER
tain that hts rise has been an excellent
object lesson all along the line
Though circumstances have sometimes
been against Hill. II is true that luck has
generally eeen with him. Thus while the
81. Paul 4 Pac.fc, the FIRST link Of the
Great Northern chain. did little business
the year before he acquired its control its
business increased several fold the year
afterward. This increase was "A piece of
luck and not Of MANAGEMENT due 70 the
first big Manitoba boom The business Il,
engcoSerst rad 80 so over Hlifs road
fer there was 30 other thoroughfare for
H. Six months before IiEii got the road
one or two trains day were counted goot.
business; six months afterward the line
was choksd with trains from terminus TO
terminus and big gangs Of men were kent
busy building st6ings over which the trans
might pass ore another
From the beginning az his active life
Hili has constantly sought for shorter
ways of doaug things. for schemes Ia save
labor and so make transportation rates
cheaper. His first warehouse. built on the
St Paul ievst more than thirty years ago
hong Before he owned an inch of rail is
a case in point, All previously bal. ware
houses in 81. Paul stood SO far back from,
the river tina, goods uaicasied from IN.
steamers had 30 tie deposited on IN.
whasSes in the cr~n aiF sssl they comb, ssa
carried into the WAREHOUSES thus being
handled twice. asiss warehouse was
nasls at the waters edge. Sc that goods
eaula be enisaadsd into IL directly from
the steamers Men laughed at she war;.
house while 10 xas berg huii+, exactly
as they did at fitIfs announcement later
tAat hs waS going friS shs railroad bust
ness Eventually they stopped IaaShiasr
ant took n9 Initiating him. Confidence r.,
the country, push. perseverance and shs
sort 81 common sense shown in the gora
ssan IF this warehouse have been great
factors III TIE building gp Of the Grea,
Northern railroad system.
Mr.. Hut told the writer tas other asy
.sat he found eat kaug ago tast Transport
satlon is nothing more nor less ssan ever
caasing ire law cf xrAyt.s:ioE- Were ~
not 50. carrier pigeon enuli move as
much as locomotive. TaAs explains xhy
fss aeS 50 Invariably sought for low grade.
hss idea ssirg 10 make his read as nearly
sesei rs ya~ bic. he has personally ex-
amins5 every fooi % territory shroash
which every Geeas Northern i1ns has oeer