The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-09
Withdrew From Bond as Post
master Because They Were Dis
satisfied With Methods.
RE-ENTERED RAILROAD FIELD.
Success Followed and He Steadily
Arose Until He Was APP
pointed Traffic Manager
of Gould System.

Withdrawal of Presbyterian Church dea-
cons from the bond of A. c. Bird when he
was Postmaster at Pana. ILL.,. because they
disagreed with his manner of business, is
in degree responsible for his now being
traffic manager Of the Gould system. and
ore of the bes.-known railroad men in the
United States.
Had Re continued TO hold his position as
Postmaster. NJ. Bird might now be high
official IN the Post Office Department or a
well-to-dO merchant in the Illinois town.
Losing the postmastership forced him back
into the railroad business and he secured
a minor position in an Office in one of the
roads running into st. Louis. From that
point he has worked up to his present po-
sition.
The Post-Ofice incident referred to hap
manager was tegianing his business career.
His father and grandfather were Presby-
terlan ministers. Bird was working in the
office of the old ST. Louis and Alton road
The salary he received as assistant agent
was so small that he was unable TO support
himself and wife. He cast about for more
lucrative position and through the EFFORTS
Pana. His ooDdsmen were deacons of the
church and others who had helped to Sc
cure HE appointment.
BEGAN CHANGING PLANS.
On entering upon the duties of his office.
an "oid-fgy" manner. and at once SET about
changing and improving the matters In the
Post Office. Not long after he had, taken
wanted a voice in the management of affairs
and he was unwilling to let them have their
way.
Bird intirnated that he was the Postmas-
ter and intended placing the office on an
up-to-date basis. The result was that. his
bondsmen were dissatisfied and withdrew
from his bond. He then resigned his posi-
ton and came to St. Louis where he
entered a railroad office.
It was not long before he became man
Of prominence I'm local railroad circles Then
his friends who had formerly been on his
their visits they limited that he was in a
position to help them in the matter OF Tree
transportation. Bird opened his arms and
declared that he would always be willing
to help them as. by Withdrawing from Sc
curity for him. they had caused him TO
leave Pana and enter a successful career.
AS AN INVENTOR.
Bird is the inventor OF the tin seal for
freight cars. which has saved many thou
eands Of dollars 10 railroad companies. He
Invented this while working in st. Louis.
He also invented a system OF tracers for
following up lost freight. The tracer is
book Of stubs which is sent to agents along sn
seriblng the missing freight.
Each agent was obliged to I'LL out the
blank and return It to the central office.
the road. This takes the place Of man
and excellent results were obtained.
A striking feature Of Mr.. Birds person
ality IS his power of predominating
managers attended by Mr.. Bird his infiu-
ence was always strongly felt. Frequently
he has held the chair In the assemblies, put
even when simply delegate he was much
upon the floor. and his arguments were OF
such convincing kind that everything
carried before them.