The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-20
OVERALLS TO PRESIDENT.
Rapid Rise of l.. T.. johnson from
Fireman to Chief Magnate.
New York Telegram.

New York Telegram.
1t is a long distance from the greasy
overalls and grimy face of a locomotive
fireman to the position of president of
a great railway system Yet the distance
was traversed by Lucius Z. johnson, who
has just been chosen president of the Nor
folk & Western Railway. He made quick
trip of it.
Mr.. Johnson is not far behind his fiftieth
milestone. His energy and activity are
those of a man twenty-five years his
junior: These qualities he will possess
until he dies.
as fireman on the Chicago, Burlington
q Quincy. He fired" until he was given
an engine. and was engine driver a
year or two. His superiors had had their
eyes on him He was seen to be of no COM
mon stuff. His intelligence, industry, pro-
clivity for hard work and devotion to the
interests 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 a
place In the general offices OF the road.
Promotion was steady until he became
master mechanic at Aurora, ILL.,. and in
1856 superintendent of the ST Louis d.
vision OF the road. In two years he was
made superintendent of the Chicago di-
vision, the most important the road.
He was by this time man with a repu-
tation. His genius for organization and
his ability to direct men had attracted the
general attention of Western railroad men.
The Manhattan Central got him as a gem
eral superintendent in 1890. In less than
three years he accepted the position of
superintendent of the most important di-
vision on the Lake Shore & Michigan
Southern.
Mr. Johnson's reputation had Travelled
eastward. The direction of the Norfolk
& Western were casting about for a gen.
eral superintendent. Somebody suggested
Mr.. Johnsons name. Investigation of his
record led the board to believe that he was
the man for the place. He was offered the
cd xrrallh he Ial
it may be judged by the fact that in two
years he was made vice president and gen.
eral manager of the road.
In the first week of last month Mr.. john
son was elected president of the railway
to succeed the late f. j. Kimball. 1t is
understood that his election was unani-
nous.
1t is said that nobody has ever known SO
much about the Norfolk & Western Rail-
way as L. L. Johnson. Every detail of the
business. the condition and features of
every mile of the track from Norfolk
through all its windings among the coal
fields of the Virginias. he seems to have
in his head. ready for instant use.
Mr.. Johnson made an argument before
the committee on taxation and finance of
the Virginia constitutional convention.
Prominent railway men from all over the
who had devoted their lives TO study of
corporations. had appeared before that and
other committees of the convention. But
none made an argument which attracted
much attention as that of the former
locomotive fireman. He is not an ornate
talker, but his speech has the power of
directness.
To a nonrailway man Mr.. Johnsons man.
ner of talking is his chief charm. The
listener may be ignorant of what the rail-
way president is talking about, but the
way in which Johnson is saying things is
convincing. One feels that one is listen
ing to man who knows what he is talk
ing about. Mr.. Johnson does.
Mr. Johnson's career is remarkable in
- hot he lick
by brains and industry alone. He never
had a pull. His career extending from the
locomotive cab to the private car of the
president of the road, is an inspiration to
every man under him.