Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-04-29

O.. - of steady ser
FRED l. BREWER. vice he was
promoted so engineer on a freight
run on the same division After II
wears Of faithful engineering his ser
vices were rewarded by his being
placed on a passenger run. He has
come to be known as one of the most
skillful engineers in the employ of
the company, as has been demon
strated in his selection by the officials
on four different occasions to guide
fast trains on their trial trips.
Mr.. Brewer lives with his family in
Blue Island.
The first of Mr.. Brewers expert
ences on fast runs was the time when
all Chicago anNiously awaited the de
olson of the appellate court ut Ottawa
on the hearing of the great Haymarket
anarchist riot case which decided the
fate of the conspiratOrs. The Rock
Island road was competing with the
telegraph companies in carrying the
valuable news to the Chicago papers.
Mr. Brewer was the chosen man to
guide the IA on this speedy mission.
The decision was received from the
stenographer and the distance was
covered in two hours. scoring COM
plete victory for the railroad, rs the
courts opinion was very lengthy and
could not be handled speedily by the
operator. The speed attained was n
great surprise in those days, and Mr..
Brewers efforts were highly COM
mended by the officials of the road,
as the engine was mere scrap pile
in comparison with those of today.
When the powerful zoos were built
for the Rock Island, Mr.. Brewer was
selected as the man to test the speed
and durability of these monsters.
The 1101 was the first one built, and
the trial trip was made three years
Iago. The trip was made in a thor
oughly satisfactory manner, and the
party of officials who accompanied
the train were elated over the run.
Speed as high as 81 miles an hour
was attained. On Jan. when
the Rock Island was competing for
the United States mail contract be-
tween Chicago and Omaha, MIR.
Brewer handled the HOP on this trip.
After long delay before leaving Chi
cago, the train steamed into Rock
Island seven minutes ahead of time
High Rock Island OmoiaIs.
ItliDn A cleCJet
second vice president of the Chicago,
Rock Island " Pacific, and given the
duties of general manager, is New
Yorker, but he has passed the greater
part of his work life within the con-
fines of Illinois. 1t was on the very
road of which he is now vice presi-
dent and general manager that he
began his railway life as chairman in
ha iy-is
neer. During the 80 years since |
then his career has been one of steady |
climbing and of earnest work, nearly |
all of the time with the Rock Island |
or some one of its subsidiary lines, |
and ALWAYS rs resident, division, as |
Sistant or chief engineer. lie is not |
stranger to the duties or title of |
general manager, for in addition to
being chief engineer he filed that po- |
sition on the Chicago, Kansas IL Ne
braska railroad IL years ago. As |
assistant to the president of the Chi |
he has had many duties which are |
commonly outside of the Office of an
engineer, and he has shown his ability |
To meet any requirements that may
be made of him. During the last few
wears MI. has DttH CpuS
Ously identified with the track eleva-
tion in Chicago. and the success with
which that work has been carried out
is due largely to his management.
Warren g. Purdy. who became pres
ident of the Chicago, Rock Island ~
Pacific less than wear ago, has been
with that road since 1867. He began
As bookkeeper in the cashiers office
in Chicago. Within year he was
made cashier, and within ten years he
had risen To the office of local treas
urer. with headquarters in Chicago.
Eight years more of work earned for
him the Office of general secretary and
treasurer He was made second vice
president in 1887 and first vice presi-
dent in 1897.
Heard Around the Depots.
Business is increasing on the Rock
Island.
Engineer Bob Atkinson of the Rock
Island Is taking q lay of.
H. Miller, night car cleaner on the
Rock Island has. resigned
Conductor John Mack, of the Rock
Island, will have charge Of one of the