The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-03-06
ENGINEER NORTON HoNoREp BY
FELLOW EMPLOYEES.
DONE IN SUBSTANTIAL WAY
Presented With Dining Room Set as
Complement to Rich Present
Made Earlier.

ity which was his while a resident
OF these parts has in nowise diminish
ed since w. B. Norton removed to the
extreme western end of the Northern
Pacific, as is evidenced by the fol
lowing, taken from the Tacoma
Ledger of February 26:
A %deputation of Northern Pacific
engineers Saturday evening, accom-
panied by a suspicious looking cover
ed wagon, made it's way up st. Helen's
avenue to 452 South e street, and
there surprised Mr.. w. B. Norton and
family by stopping the wagon and
helping the teamster unload as fine q
dining-room set of furniture as there
is.in the city. This they helped carry
into the house, and then, through En-
gineer H. A. Burke, as chairman Of
the committee. made a presentation
speech as aptly characteristic Of the
recipient of the presentation as it
ment Of the donors.
Mr.. Norton on the 31st of last Aug
ust resigned his position of round
house foreman at the head of the bay
to accept the position of mechanical
Inspector, and on September 1 was
appointed once more a travelling en-
| gineer, this time of the lines north
OF Seattle. Mr.. Norton is probably
L ~
the only travelling engineer in the
world today without legs, he having
been deprived of his in an unfOrtu-
nate accident in January, 1898. The
following year he accepted the posi-.
ton of roundhouse foreman at the
head of the bay, in which position he
| continued his connection with the fire.
men and engineers with whom he had
been previously associated as travel
ing engineer. The presentation OF
last night completes the circle, for
the ~roundhouse employees had already
testified their appreciation of their
| departing foreman by the presentation
of a most elegant cut glass wine
service. The glass service in the cen
ter of the magnificent table, surround
ed by the heavy leather upholstered
chairs, with a still heavier armchair
| for the head of the house, represents
| all the employees with whom Mr.. Nor
ton has had to deal, and as such was
accepted in an a%ppreciative speech.
The character of Mr.. Norton's ruler
ship, and his individuality, are so
happily hit off in the speech OF the
presenting chairman, that this ac-
count would be incomplete without
excerpts. Said Mr.. Burke in part:
"The duties performed in these
days by engineers are of so much con-
sequence that the output of those en-
gagged in other a%vocations sinks into
insignifcance in comparison. 1t will
not take a very lively imagination to
see that when the right men, and the
fellow who can handle them, get on
the opposite sides of a controversy,
the sparks are apt to fly. Most OF us
recall a few spirited moments in your
presence. and we cannot now think
of a time when anything but good re-
suited from the encounter.
"We remember with pleasure that
YOU had an eye single to the better
ment of the service. No mans per-
sonality was involved in your crit
icisms. In the language of the preach
err YOU hated sin but loved the sinner
When time was called, the episode
was closed, and you were then as
ready to bestow a favor as it nothing
had happened.
.eThis is a wide departure from the
customary and generally required pre-
s~entation address. We note the de-
parture with pleasure. The usually
adulatory address would be resented
by you. A simple narration OF the
cold facts of our relationship with
Won leaves us with abundant mater
ial to do you honor. Would that we
could tell he story of your unswerv-
ing loyalty to the duties of the office
which you upheld with such dignity,
and YOUR impartial and painstaking
regard for us. No man ever made a
request in vain for a favor you could
grant consistently with the demands
of the service. In the time of be-
reayement or trouble we will always
remember how quickly and heartily
you responded.
1--WE particularly wish to emphasize
your frankness and candor. They are
traits of character which are well I'M
derstood, much appreciated, and get
ting to be somewhat scarce. You are