Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1905-08-22

state of Maine. That interesting event
occurred 50 years ago, so Mr.. Stevens
is IL years beyond DR.. Osler's limit
of usefulness" glance at Mr.. Stew
ems is all that is needed in the way of
refutal of the sensational words Of
the facetious man of science.
In his youth the new chief engineer
of the canal served as assistant en-
gineer OF the city of Minneapolis. At
the expiration of two years in this po-
sition he began his railroad career
with the Sabine Pass & Northwestern
galway as engineer and superintend-
ent of surveys, remaining in this post
three years. We next hear Of him as
assistant engineer of the Denver & Rio
Grande, then as assistant engineer of
the Chicago, Milwaukee & st. Paul
In 1880 he became connected with
the Great Northern, and Is years later
had risen to be their chief engineer.
He remained with the road in this po-
sition until 1898, at which time he re-
signed to enter the railroad contract
ing business. In 1899 he was again
the Great Northerns chief engineer;
in 1903 he became chief engineer for
the Rock Island system, and presently
second vice president.
The work in which he made a rec
ord was when he was with the Great
Northern. 1t was in 1899, as engineer
of construction, he started for ASST
boine to lay out the western extension
to the coast, His party consisted Of
two Indian guides and himself, pack
mule, part of the outfit. The guides
deserted him, the pack-mule died. but
Stevens persisted in the accomplish
ment of his task, located the line as it
now runs. We may guess at the hard
ships passed through in this successful
undertaking. Stevens Pass, in the
Cascade mountains. is a tribute to him.
Although used to the real thing in
roughing it, Mr.. Stevens leaves a home
of beauty and luxury for the sure
hardships and unhealthful climate of
the canal region. His residence on
the Lake Shore drive in Chicago is
most attractive; it bespeaks comfort,
the pleasantest of social life.
Mr.. Stevens is essentially a social
man as well as a hard worker Mrs.
Stevens is prominent in society circles
of the north shore, and both have
made many friends since coming to
Chicago. 1t is not the intention of
Mr.. Stevens to take his family with
him to Panama, although he hopes
they will sometimes visit him in his
tropic exile. He has son that is now
employed as railroad engineer in Kan
sas, and it may be he will be called by
his father to add to his experience in
observation of work on the great
canal.
Mr.. Stevens has a salary of 100000
a year, somewhat more than that al
which Mr.. Wallace was engaged. His
position of chief engineer of the cana
is looked upon as a promotion, fol-
when it was proffered Mr.. Stevens he
was in the employ of the government
held the post of supervisor Of railroad
construction in the Philippines. II
was intended, It is said that Mr.. Stew
ems accompany the Taft party to the
Philippines, and that very hasty
change On plan had to be made, the po
sition being accepted on the eve of the
start of the party for San Francisco.
Many tributes have been paid to the
new chief, Chairman Shontz gives
witness that Mr.. Stevens as a con
structive engineer has no superiors
} and calls his work on the Rocky Noun
tain division of the Great Northern
road "as fine a piece Of constructive
engineering as is in the country.
James ]. Hill declares that OF the
5000, 900 spent by the Great Northern
} in surveying its line, not dollar wal
? wasted by Engineer Stevens, and tina
the company never changed a singh
mile of tho track he leid out.
AS Mr.. Stevens sayB. before him 1
4 work, woCt. work But high honoTu
too, II he eapceQds.
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