Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-06-27
w. c. BROWNS ADVANCEMENT.

w. C. BROWNS ADvANc CEMENT.
The announcement Of the election
of Mr.. w c. Brown, to the Office of
Vice President and General Manager
of the Lake Shore railroad is matter
of not only wide general, but of deep
personal interest to Ottumwa. 1t is
safe to say that not patron or en-
ploye of the Burlington railway but
will regret the resignation or MI
-,rown as General Manager of that
great system. 1t is equally true that
his personal friends will rejoice in the
recognition by the Vanderbilt inter-
ests of Mr.. Browns abilities as a rail-
way manager. The Vanderbilt people
are business men through and through,
and they did not come to
the west to find manager
for one of their most inn
portant lines, without good and valid
business reason for doing so. That
reason was found in recognized abil-
ity, as proved again and again in the
hard schools of actual experience,
On December 10, 1895, the Courier
in referring to the appointment of Mr..
Brown as general manager of the Chi
cago, Burlington and Quincy railway,
SAIL editorially:
There are two especial reasons for
General Manager Browns success. He
took whatever duties were assigned to
him and gave them his very best eff
fort. He never scornel any task how
ever humble, the drudgery of which
would have made other men resign.
His methods have always been clean
and honest and his treatment of the
public and subordinates have been
been based on exactly the same cour-
tesy and candor which he would afford
his superiors in rank. The Courier
3congratulates Mr.. Brown and the @.
road. The selection will result in mu-
tual good fortune"
The record made by Mr. Brown dur
ing the past five years, more than JUS
titles the prediction then made. Dur
ing this period, he has been been a
most important factor in bringing sthe
Burlington railroad to it's present high
physical condition, and the stock Of
the company has more than doubled
in value
The story of Mr.. Browns business
life reads almost like a romance. But
in it there is the greatest incentive to
youth for hard work, intelligent effort
and clean methods in whatever they
undertake.
w. C. Browns Railroad Career.
The statement that Mr.. Brown be-
gan his railroad career working on
the section and wooding engines, is
hardly warranted by the facts. 1t is
true that as boy he did some odd
jobs of this character for the purpose
of earning pocket money. But he be
Z gan his railroad life by taking posi-
ton as telegraph operator for the Mil
waukee and St.Paul railway at small
station. in March, 1870. Mr.. Brown
was then 16 years of age.
From April, 1871, to June, 1872, he
was night operator at the train mas
ter's office at Minneapolis. He ther
went to Waterloo, Iowa, as train dis
patcher for the Illinois Central rail
way, remaining there three years. II
1875 he went to Wilton Junction, Iowa
and served in the same capacity for 6
year on the Rock Island road. II
June, 1876, he was employed by the
late Tom Potter as train dispatcher
on the Burlington, commencing worl
at Ottumwa. He remained here onl.
few weeks and then went to Burling
ton. For the Burlington road he sery
ed as train dispatcher for the Iowa d.
vision for about four years; chief dis
patcher for the st. Louis division TO
one year; assistant superintendent q
the st. Louis division for three years
superintendent of the Iowa lines 70
about three years; general manage
of the Missouri lines for five years
and general manager of the G. B.
@. main lines for five years.
He now goes to the Lake Shore raj
way as vice president and gener;
manager at salary commensurate
the duties and responsibilities of tt
position, with bright prospects for tt
future, embracing within their ranl
the very highest positions that are
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