Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-18

guages, is thorough musician. knows
much about art and can say the Lords
prayer backward. The latter is one of his
proudest accomplishments.
Sir William was brought up on a farm
down in VIII county, ILL.,. and learned to
work a telegraph key at country station
on the Illinois Central railroad when he was
only fourteen or fifteen years of age. When
he was seventeen he became cub oper-
ator' on the Joliet division of the Michi-
gan Central. That was in 1858. In 1862 he
was made train dispatcher on the Chicago
and Alton and IN 1864 was superintendent of
a division of that road. He was advanced
in authority and responsibility from time
to time until 1879, when he became general
superintendent of the Chicago. Milwaukee
and st. Paul railroad and in 1882 was pro-
NOTED to the position of general manager
of that system
Called to Canadian Pacific
AS told you in a previous letter, the Do
minion government attempted to build the
Canadian Pacific railway but was COM
PEELED to give it up. In 1884 the company
which had been organized to take over the
contract sent for Sir William to take charge
of the construction department He built
the road and became its president and gen.
eral manager. 1t was one OF the most re-
markable achievements ever accomplished
In engineering and construction; in many
respects more difficult than the building of
either of the transcontinCntal roads on this
SIDE of the border. The opening of the road
was followed by the application of a liberal
and far-reaching policy for the encourage
ment of immigration. the development of
the mineral agricultural and forest re-
sources and the commercial possibilities of
the northwest AS an empire builder Sir
William Van Horne has no superior unless
1t be James J. Hill of ST Paul. They are
men Of similar dispositions and similar abil-
ties Both are inclined to be autocratic,
and neither encourages opposition to his
wishes Both love to solve problems and
overcome obstacles. hav ipha
love of fighting and equally appreciate their
own abilities.
Queen Victoria conferred knighthood on
William Van Horne after the completion of
his great task, but he is no different since
he received that handle to his name. He
stands in the first row of the great men OF
America
Sir Thomas Shaughnessy.
When Sir William retired from the active
management of the Canadian Pacific and
took the position of chairman of its board
of directors, where he is able to have a
hand In framing the policy of the company,
Thomas G. Shaughnessy, who had been his
first lieutenant was promoted to succeed
him. ana a number of other SubordinateS
were showed up a reg. Mr. Shaughnessy-
now Sir Thomas for he. too. has been
knghted by the sovereign of the British
empire-used to sell papers on the streets
of Milwaukee, where he was born and
where his father was machinist in the
employ of the c. NJ. & st. P. road. Sir
Thomas was born October O. 1853. When
he had been graduated from the high
school he got job in the supply depart
ment of the st. Paul road at Milwaukee,
and was promoted from time to time until
he became purchasing agent for the entire
system. When Mr.. Van Horne went to the
Canadian Pacific he took Shaughnessy with
him and gave him a similar position In
Montreal, from which he was promoted
year after year, as his usefulness develop
cd III a mi
director. Hence 1t was perfectly natural
that he should succeed to the presidency
Mr.. Shaughnessy is natural railroad
man. He has never been In any other bust
ness, although he has had interests in sew
eral outside enterprises which have brought
him a handsome fortune.
Mfr. McNicoll. general manager of the
Canadian Pacific. is Scotchman, who
came to Canada before he was of age and
got position on the Northern railway at
Collingwood. From this he worked up UNI
til he became general passenger agent OF
the Canadian Pacific, and he was advanced
with Mr.. Shaughnessy.
Mr.. Robert Kerr, who had been manager
of the lines west of Fort William during
the early history of the road, is now gen.
eral passenger traffic manager. He is the
only Canadian prominent in the official list
of the system.
The New Viceroy Of India.
Lord Mimic, until recently governor gem
eral of Canada succeeds Lord Curzon as
viceroy of India, and his friends here are
wondering whether he will follow the ex
ample of his predecessor and stand up
against Lord Kitchener, or whether he will
| permit the latter to establish a military
despotism. The prevailing opinion here is
| that the new viceroy will pursue whatever
| policy is laid out for him by the secretary
/ of state fer India and the India council in
| Tendon. aord Mimic is not fighter. He is
| a man of tact and of amiable disposition
and more fond of sports and adventure
than of politics. He is as different from
| Curzon as two men could possibly be. The
1 Lat ;c r-tra fhnrn t.crtt