The sun., 1903-07-05
STARTED AS A SECTION HAND,
". Y. CENTRAL'S NEW GENERAL
MANAGER WORKED HISWAY UP.


He Says. I'm Accounting for His Rise:
81 Always Tried to Deliver the Goods."'
It was just twenty-five years ago last
April that Alfred Fl, Smith began his career
in railroading. He was then IA. and wa.
messenger in the offices OF the Lake
Shore and Michigan Southern line at Cleye.
and. He is now 80, and last "Wednesday
he began his duties at the Grand Central
Station in this city as general manager OF
the New York Central and Hudson River
Railroad.
His rise has been due to his own exer-
tions and not to influence used in his behalf
His story is therefore of special interest
now, when some people think there are
fewer chances than formerly for young
men.
He began by getting his first job BY hir
own efforts. His pay was "a week,
He worked hard, and in four years was
railroad Office clerk.
Then he took a survey of the horizon
and did not like the outlook As far as
the eye could reach it was dead routine
calm OF clerkship, and nothing but clerk.
ship.
To get ahead he found that he must
turn around and 60 back to begin over
again in a path that led somewhere elsa
than into the routine Of clerical depart
ment. So back the young man turned
--cheerfully and full Of the enthusiasm
that brings results.
He applied for employment to tho con.
struction department. He wanted to learn
the railroad business literally from the
ground Up--from the ground on which the
ties were placed to the complicated mechan.
ism Of train moving and traffic handling.
The engineer in charge OF bridge con-
struction gave him a chance. With hi,
hands still soft from four years of inside
office work he went out to Michigan and
took job at bridge and track making.
In the interval between 1882 and 1890, under
Mr.. Newell's presidency, there was vast
deal OF construction work on the latest
principles done on the Lake Shore. Into
this the young man jumped with ardor.
He learned to swing hammer and criys
spike with the best trackman on the
line. He worked long apprenticeship
at track laying as section hand at 81 20
a day.
Then opportunities began to show up
made him gang foreman. Then bigger
chance came along and made him general
foreman. He worked in all capacities in
the construction department from laborer
through all grades of foremanship, for eight
years.
Then chance bigger than any that had
gone before landed him Ia the superin-
tendency of the division, about 100 miles
in length. between Elkhart and Grand
Rapids. 1t was W. II. Canniss. now presl-
dent of the Nickel Plate road. who steercd
the chance ;,.io Mr. Smiths way this time,
aud Mr.. Smith still! refers 10 the rircnn,-
stance as the one great surprise of his lii.
when II came to him.
1t was not very difficult for man who
up to date had never made a failure to
score another success in his first position
OF serious responsibility. He knew fhn
road and the business from the roadbnd
to the place he had reached.
Furthermore, he knew the men under
hlm-knew every man jack of them. Nor
over, they knew him-knew he was square
dealer himself for those who were above
MIN, and that he would have n square re- deal
or nothing from those who were below him.
The verdict Of the men on the division
after few months experience with the
new superintendent was that he was "fair
but strict y
This Mr.. Smith now refers to as tho
best compliment he ever had. II was pre-
clsely what he had aimed to he all his Iitc
fair and strict in his attention to his duticl
under others; fair and strict in dealings
with those under him.
1T is all very simple matter" he said
the other day when with some reluctance
he consented to speak of his work. at ~
perfectly simple. | always tried to deliver
il nd al
take any notice of how much time, more or
less, 1t took me to do it,
Then tried always to be fair and SQUARE
with the boys working with me and under
me. That is all the secret there is in what
l have done: And it's little have done
nothing, in fact"
From the Elkhart and Grand Rapids
division. after one year. Mr.. Smith was
promoted to be superintendent Of tile
Lansing division. Then, in 1893, he wns
made superintendent of the Youngstown
division, between Ashtabula Harbor and
Youngstown; Ohio still another promo
ton Then he went step higher and Was
made superintendent of the Michigan
division, between Toledo, Ohio, and Fix
hart, Ind.
From the Michigan division he was
moved to Cleveland, after four years. ard
made assistant general superintendent.
That was in 1901. In the same wear ia
was made general superintendent Of the
Lake Shore, and, in 1902 general superir,-
tendent of the New York Central Aud
now, in this first half of the year 1908, la
has been made the New York Ccntrals
general manager.
And il is all a very simple matter, he ssvs
just case OF always trying his level best
10 deliver the goods.
1t should he mentioned. though. in gcr-
ting at the key to rise so steady ard 20
rapid. that ne is equipped with a par
ticularly frank and friendly address. With
a good-natured face of the laughing. cor.
dial type to go with it. That has donS Q
deal for man in getting on in the world
before now, and II will continue so doing
as long as hllmnp pafpro ;e ,rb,, - ;e