The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-07-30
STEVENS A MAN WHO
 ACCOMPLISHES THINGS

ToLEDo. o.-(special to the Louis-
 vile Courier-J Journal )--"You may
 be sure that John F. Stevens will surmount all difficulties and build the Panama canal,' asserted Judge R. K. Kinkade one day this week, speaking of the new chief engineer appointed by Pres ident Roosevelt who sailed for the isth- mus on the steamship Mexico with Theo- dore P. Shonts of the canal commission.
 Stevens doesn't bother with the little frazzed ends of any proposition. He has no regard for red tape, and is man who does things, as I know from intimate acquaintance with him." continued the Judge.
 Seventeen years ago Judge Kinkade and MT. Stevens had headquarters together at Marquette. Mich. As principal assist ant engineer of the Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic railroad Stevens located the right of way for the company and Judge Kinkade as general attorney, bought it. The road was built by syndicate, head ed by Calvin S. Rrice of Lima, O., and Gen. Samuel Thomas of New York, both of whom are now dead
 In reminiscent mood. Judke Kinkade related two hitherto unpublished anec- dotes of the man who has just undertaken the greatest engineering proposition in the world indicating that he is a type after the Presidents own heart, accustomed to the rough life and capable of welding the big stick when occasion requires.
 Mr. Stevens connection with the Du- luth, South Shore and Atlantic railroad was from 1887 to 1889. At one time he had charge of the construction gang of sev- eral hundred men who camped in tents on the railroad right-of-way, many miles from the nearest settlement in or near Ontonogon county, west of Marquette. They were making big cut and opera tions were expensive because all camp provisions had to be hauled by teams overland long distance
 The work progressed satisfactorily un- til fellow possessong more enterprise than principle appeared upon the scene to profit by trading upon the vices of the la borers He erected rude shack and stocked it with vile whisky The men having no other place in which to amuse themselves or spend their money, patron ized the saloon so freely that the gang soon became demoralized. It was cost " proposition for the railroad company
 The saloon was not located on railroad lands. so Stevens had no legal authority to rid himself of it, and generalization with the proprietor who was coining money faster than a government mint. was of no avail
 Finally Engineer Stevens made a per- sonal visit to the saloon and engaged in a personal interview with the proprietor.
 When are you going to leave here?, demanded the railroad official
 When l get d-n good and ready" was the surly response of the saloonist.
 am going now" laconically -retorted Stevens, and so saying he urew from his pocket mammoth dynamite cartridge. scratched a match on his corduroy trous- CTS ignited the fuse threw the missile of destruction behind the bar and ran. The saloonkeeper decided that he was quite ready to go also, and didn't argue the proposition. r- .rty seconds the shack was blown to pieces. and business was not resumed at the old stand.
 Soon after lnls occurrence a man an peared in the camp carrying in big in receptacle which he had on his bacx a considerable amount of whisky which he was retailing to the men, ell had besn in business but short time when Frenchman, snarpshooter acting under Stevens orders. plugged the can length wise while the owner was carrying it on his back. The bullet made two holes in the can The whisky gtirgled out and the thoroughly =s s.~..-.ened owner must have been convincted that he was nm against most effective anti-saloon law That was the end of the whisky business during the regime of Stevens.
 These acts. said Judge Kinkade,