The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-12-25
Ex-sUPERINTENDENT DAVID
 SON. ." -4@
Sketch of the Career of Valued Rail- rad Official. :.

Sketch of the Career of a Valued Rail-
 rad Official. .5
 Charles s. Davidson, who retires Jam liary 1 from the position of superinten- dent of the Hartford division of the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad, has been with the road so long, managing his end of 1t so ably, and is .a citizen So closely identified with Hartford interests, that his retire. nent will seem like severing a strong tie between the city and the great rail- road which passes through it. .
 MT. Davidson was called to New Ha- ven yesterday and was informed by General Superintendent O. M. Shepherd that by reason of his age he was to be retired on half pay January l, 1904.
 Superintendent Davidson was born in East Haven November g, 1929, and is therefore seventy-four years old. He graduated from the Lancasterian school in New Haven in 1S45, standing second in his class, as at that age he gave eTi- dence of the ability and devotion to work which have always characterized him.
 xALLGI #MOihlllS5 tli 1NCW IldNSH lDl oCFN eral years MT. Davidson went to Spring field in 1S48 and learned the machinist's trade in the American Machine works. In November, 1851, he entered the re- pair shops of the New York, New Ha- ven and Hartford Railroad company in this city, forming a connection which has been maintained for fifty-two years.
 Master Mechanic E. M. Reed was quick to appreciate Mir. Davidson's qualities and, after acquiring a reputa- ton on the road as a skilled and fear less engineer, he was made the general utility man on this section. He filled in turn nearly all the positions between engineer and general superintendent of the division. Tn 1856 he had narrow escape from death, his train being ditched at Longmeadow. He stayed in the engine cab and was pulled out more dead than alive.
 During the civil war Mir. Davidson's experiences on the road were varied and exciting. He took nearly all of the vol Gnteers from this section out of Hart ford, and in 1862 was made assistant superintendent of the road, with formal charge of the transportation of troops. Tn 1872 MT. Davidson was made super intendent of the Hartford division of the road, the position from which he now retires after filling it most honora- ply and acceptably for thirty-one years.
 Not only as mechanical engineer have his services been of value to the read, but he has solved number of puzzling railroad problems which come under the head of civil engineering.
 Although essentially 8 railroad man, MT. Davidson is connected with some : of IIartford's leading institutions, being. an honorary member of the City Guard and having been a member of the First company, Governors Foot Guard. He is a Mason ofNlong standing and high degree, having been eminent command CT Of Washington commandery, Knights Templar, and later attaining tie Thirty-second degree in Masonry.
 Tn 1878 he served the city as fire commissioner, in 1890 as 0 street com- missioner, and in 1893 Mayor Hyde made him a police commissioner. Su- perintendent Davidson is known and honored from Springfield to New Ha- ven, the limits of his division, and his reputation as veteran railroad mana ger and citizen of high character and integrity is more widespread. His in- innate connection with the city of Hartford during the years that have been devoted to the railroads interests has been a source of qualification to Hartford residents, for it is not often