Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-05-31
STONE REELECTED
ELooN MAN RETAINS POSITION
AS CHIEF ENGINEER OF
BROTHERHOOD.
Chosen on First Ballot at Annual Meet
ing at Los Angeles, Calls Well
Known in ottumwa-A Big Man.
Modest and Full Of Energy.

NY al GoS Angeles, Walls wei
Known in ottumwa-A Big Man.
Modest and Full Of Energy.
w. S. Stone of Eldon, was Saturday
afternoon reelected to the office of
chief engineer by the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers at the annual
meeting of that association which was
held in Los Angeles, Cal. Mr.. Stone
whose popularity is attested by the
fact that his reelection took place on
the first ballot, is well known in OF
tumWa and is frequent visitor at the
home of Attorney and Mrs C. d. Full
len, 311 North Marion street.
Since his election to the Office of
chief engineer about one year ago Mr..
Stone has been prominently in the
public eye. The same modesty and
repressed energy which had always
characterized him are still the most
noticeable traits in his makeup.
He is big man six feet one inch in
height and muscularly and solidly
built. He has dark hair and mustache
both tinged with gray. His eyes are
blue and as is usual with men who
nave spent years watching signals,
they are keen. He has another trait
characteristic of engineers he is
alert. He impressed one as man
who knows his business.
my history?" he said recently, when
approached by newspaper man, ooh,
/ have none.'
Stone talks in low modulated voice.
He has firm mouth, over which his
heavy mustache droops and square
jaw.
Il was a farm boy and with six 9TH
er brothers helped my father till 500
acre farm in Washington county, Iowa.
said Stone. when I was 16 I went
to Washington academy for two years
then to Western college, Western, Ia,
for one term. After that my railroad
career began. l started firing on the
Rock Island road. All my railroading
has been done on this system, and on
one division between Eldon and Rock
Island, Ill. Four year after l entered
the service was made an engineer.
/ ran an engine for nineteen years. l
never had a wreck, but had many mar
row escapes. Some of my gray hairs
come from the shock of these. After
| had been an engineer two years |
was made assistant chief engineer of
the division, my first Office in the
brotherhood. Seven years later l be-
came chief of the division, four years
ago | was elected chairman of the
board for the lodge of the system. but
continued as an active engineer until
two years ago. when my position was
made salaried one. The system had
become greatly enlarged and the work
took my entire time"
The engineers of the Rock Island
system are paid the highest wage
scale of any road east of the Rocky
mountains. This was brought about
largely through Stones generalship.
Three years ago the scale was accept
ed after a nine week session Of the
brotherhood's board and two months
consideration by the road officials. All
the negotiations between the two bod
les were carried on by Stone. Stone
has four brothers connected with rail.
roads. One of them was until recently
superintendent of the elevated road in
Chicago.
Rock Island Survey.
The Rock Island Railroad company
will not be cut off from its Gowrie
line and northwestern connections no
matter what the Hooley syndicate
does.
A survey for an interurban electric
line is being made which parallels the
Rock Island to Grand Junction and
Gowrie, and right of-way is now being
secured. If the Rock Island company
should fail to get the old Fort Dodge
line at the expiration of its lease next
year then this right of-way could be
taken over and new line be built
within four months and be ready for
use by the Rock Island
Progress on the Survey.
The survey has proceeded through
Dallas Center, Minburn and Perry and
work is being done on beyond The
work is being done for the Western
Iowa Interurban company, but no con-
struction will be attempted this year.
The change of the route of the inter-
urban to run north from Dallas Cen
ter instead of west, and to exactly par
allel the old Fort Dodge road, is re-
garded as significant, in view Of the
sparring which is going on for con-
troll of the stock and bonds of the Des
Moines & FIT. Dodge.
Two years ago when it first became
apparent that brokers were in possess
sion of a majority of the stock of the
Fort Dodge company, persons promi-
nent in the Rock Island declared that
they would not be forced to pay an ex-
orbitant price for the Fort Dodge road,
but would prefer to build a new line,
as the old one would have be rebuilt
at once when sold.
The annual meeting Of the Des
Moines & Fort Dodge is to be held
June 2 in Des Moines 1t is probable
that nothing new will develop at that
time 1t is known and has been known
for more than two years that brokers
We're specializing in the Ft. Dodge stock
with view to making good sale
when the Rock Island lease expires,
but the stock is of little value and it
is believed the property will sell for
but little more than the bonds.
Andrew Carnegie has SO far given
s1,068, 500 for libraries in Iowa.