Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1903-12-18
FROM LOCOMOTIVE
TO PRESIDENCY
LucIus G. Johnson, Head Of Norfolk and
Western, Has Risen Very Rapidly.

! Luclus E. Johnson, Head Of Norfolk an
Western, Has Risen Very Rapidly.
The New Y ork Herald's Norfolk col
respondent says:
1T is long distance from the greas
overalls and grimy face of locomotiv
fireman to the position of president O
a great railway system. Yet the dis
tance was traversed by Luclus John
son, who has been chosen president O
the Norfolk and Western railway. H,
made quick trip of it.
"Mr. johnson is not far past his SOIL
milestone. His energy and activity
are those of a man Is years his junior
These qualities he will possess until be
Idies
"Mr. johnson began his railroad
career as fireman on the Chicago,
Burlington and Quincy. He ''fired'
until he was gwen an engine, and was
an engine driver a year or two. His
superiors had had their eyes on him.
he was eesn to be of no common stuff.
His intelligence, industry. proclivity
for hard work and devotion to the in
terests of the company were qualities
that could not fail to attract the official
eye. He was too valuable man to be
Kept on an engine. he was promoted
to place in the general offices of the
road. Promotion was steady until he
became master mechanic at Aurora,
ILL.,. and in 1886 superintendent of the
st. Louis division of the road. In two
years he was made superintendent of
the Chicago division. the most import
ant on the road.
He was BY this time man with q
reputation. His genius for organiza-
ion and his ability to direct men had
attracted the general attention of the
Western railroad men. The Manhat-
tan Central got him as a general su-
perintendent in 1890. In less than
three years he accepted the position of |
superintendent of the most important
division on the Lake Shore and Michi- |
gan Southern.
"Mr. johnson g reputation had trav- !,
elled eastward. The directors of the
Norfolk and Western were casting
about for general superintendent.
Somebody suggested Mr.. Johnson's
name. Investigs ton of his record led
The board to believe that he was the
nan for the place. He was offered the
position and accepted it. How we'll
le filled it may be judged by the fact
hat in two years he was made vice
PRESIDENT and general manager of the
Dad.
I'm the first week of last month Mr..
ohnson was elected president of the
ailway, to succeed the late F. j. Kim
all. 1t is understood that his election
Vas unanimous.
ut is said that nobody has ever
nown SO much about the Norfolk and :,
Vestern railway as L. E. johnson.
VERY detail of the business, the condi
lon and features of every mile of the =
rack, from Norfolk through all it's :,
among the coal fields of the
irginias, he seems to have in his
cad, ready for instant use.
"Mr. johnson made an argument be =,
IRE the committee on taxation and VI
nance of the Virginia constitutional y
invention. Prominent railway men y
ON all over the country. as we'll as -
'ay headed lawyers who had devoted :.
leir lives to study of corporations -
I'd appeared before that and other ., :,
'mmittees of the convention. But VI
me made an argument which attract
as much attention as that of the ne
rmer locomotive fireman. He is not a,
! ornate talker, but his speech has co
le power of directness. an
ITO non-railway man Mr.. John. se
MS manner OF talking is his chief SO
arm. The listener may be ignorant ed
what the railway president is talk ca ca
g about. but the way in which John. DR.
n is saying things is convincing err
ne feels that one is listening to man ed
10 knows what he is talking about. ~
r. johnson does. t,c
''Mr. johnson 8 career is a remarka ult
g instance of what may be accom- we
ished by brains and industry alone. or
e never had a pull. His career, ex hma m
hulng from tne locomotive CAB to the by
ivate car of the president of the
al, is an inspiration to every man
lder him."