Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1905-05-04

One dark and stormy night several
years ago the overland Limited" was
humming along on the Union Pacific
between North Platte and Kearney,
when suddenly the engine broke down.
The engineer took his tools and
crawled into the machinery and began
to fix it,
A burly stranger. muff1ed up in a
coat and SLOUGH hat appeared by the
engine side. and watched with interest
in the dim light OF the torch, which
the fireman was holding. The stranger
asked several questions. but of course
the trainmen did not deign to answer
him. Finally in evaporation at a per-
sistent questioning the engineer re-
sponded:
Go to hi"
Calmly the mysterious stranger
reached under the engine, took the en-
gineer by his coat and deposited the
surprised trainman in ditch at the
dropped under the engine, took the
tools, and soon had the crack train
ready for her eastward journey.
The mysterious stranger was Horace
G. Burt, president of the Union Pacific
railroad, and the man whom President
Roosevelt considered for supreme COM
mand of the Panama canal digging
Whether or not there Is any truth
in this story, it is one that is told on
the streets, in the clubs and hotels OF
Omaha to illustrate the character of
this iron listed man who made the
Union Pacific railroad pay dividends
after 1t was taken out the hands of the
government board of directors. y more
truthful incident to show the character
of President Burt could not be told, at
any rate.
Uncle Hold" is the nickname of Mr..
Burt around Omaha, but unlike most
nicknames, it is not given out of kind
ly feeling and good fellowship. For
two years before his retirement from
the presidency of the Union Pacific Mr..
Burt ruled the big railroad headquart-
esr at Ninth and Farnam in Omaha
like an ogre. No other word will so
we'll represent the popular idea of the
deposed Union Pacific president.
Horace q. Burt is past all doubt a
man of the highest engineering ability.
self wilfuly cast aside the velvet glove
when he forced Ed, Dickinson, the
general manager OF the chief Hartman
line. to resign several years ago, when
they clashed over the proper method
of handling the Union Pacific shopmen
strike.
When President Burt drove Ed Dick
so to help A. +. Stillwell build the
Kansas City, Mexico and Orient rail-
road he dug his own grave. The strike
had dragged on some time. and the
diplomatic Dickinson was for a COM
promise which would put the rolling
stock of the road in good condition,
and heal the scars which had been
made in the strike.
But with characteristic bullheaded-
ness, President Burt persisted that he
would handle the shopmen in his own
way. At one time General Manager
Dickinson thought seriously of resign
ing and going east to fight Burt for the
presidency itself. Later he abandoned
this and resigned when he saw that the
course of President Burt was bound to
lead to ruin.
The resignation of General Manager
Dickinson was pathetic incident,
which few people. even in the close
circles Of the Union Pacific railroad,
realized at the time, though 1t has
come to be more generally appreciated
since he left.
Big Ed" as General Manager Dick
inson was known to every brakeman
was the most popular man on the
ton boss on the system but would pull
off his coat and fight for Dickinson.
Consequently when the word went out
that Burt was opposing Dickinson the
employees, from chiefs of departments
to the section bosses. Immediately took
up arms against President Burt. and