The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1906-08-23

made some for Tom Also He then in
vented rail which was also winner.
The young man concluded to start
in business for himself. Borrowing
$4,000 of Mr.. Du Pont, he bought
dinky little horse line of William II.
English in indianapolis. This English
was afterward the Democratic candi-
date for vice president of the United
States, bur johnson should not be held
responsible for that.
Tom L. made his father president of
the road. When the elder Johnson
was asked what position his son held
he laughingly responded. ooh, Tom is
the board of directors!' He was all
that and more. He was the whole
thing on that line. and he pushed it
along at such rate that in few
years he sold it out for over half
million dollars.
Made Money on the Deal.
He then looked for other cities to
conquer He decided Oh Cleveland,
and history began making from that
very hour. The line that Johnson
bought was small and remote from the
center of town. He changed all that.
He extended his road, improved it.
bought other lines and put on a trans
fer system which was then new
thing in Cleveland. Next he proposed
to build a line through long avenue
that was mudhole. an eyesore and
everything else horrible that street
can be- Mark Hanna began cam
paign with the property holders along
the street, and as Il result they OBJ
jected. 1t was Johnson's move, and
he moved. He proposed to pave that
whole street. The property owners
jumped at the Offer The street was
paved. the line was built. and Tom L.
made money on the deal.
Then began merry war between
johnson and Hanna. 1t was the SEN
sation of Cleveland. In the main John
son came out ahead. AT one time he
proposed to Hanna to rent trackage
rights along one of the main streets.
Hanna refused. Then johnson went
before the city council and proposed to
straddle Hanna's line as the only way
of bringing his passengers into the
heat of the city. This threw Hanna
OIL tie defensive and made him appear
in the light of an obstructionist. Peo-
pc along the johnson lines raised such
al outcry that the discounted Marcus
called Il truce and consented to John
sons proposal for renting trackage
big consolidation and Hanna smaller
one. after which there was peace.
Tom L. johnson was one of the first
men to electrify his lines. He saw the
great possibilities of the trolley roads
from the beginning. Outside of his
Cleveland lines he had important street
car holdings in Brooklyn, Detroit, st.
Louis and other cities. He also built
Il great steel rail mill at Johnstown,
Pa, and another at I.orain. o. In con
ncction with the Lorain mill the fol
lowing story is told:
Before any outsider knew Of the pro
posed milf Johnson and his friends
vicinity for the purpose Of starting a
town. Nobody was wise to the move
and therefore the land was cheap
When it came to delivering the goods
one old chap who had large strip
backed out. He wanted $4,000 more
OF course. he could have been forced
to stick by the option. but it would
1, {,,l.,
sons friends. who We're handling the
matter, wanted to start at once. Here
was :; pretty pickle.
In despair they sent for Johnson
| When he had heard the case he ap
preached the farmer in an impetuous
manner and asked him to make goot
I! the option. The farmer refused Pull
| Ing out his watch. Tom L. remarke,
| that lie would give him $3.50 extra Il
carry the contract through and he
would allow him just four minutes t
| decide. III at the expiration of thai
slime the offer was not accepted il
would be withdrawn and suit woulc
be begun at once. johnson began Il
count Off the minutes The old fellow
was SWEPT off his feet by the impetll
osity of the novel onslaught and at The
end of the third minute weakened, ane
the deal was carried through.
How He Became Single Taxer.
The manner of Tom L. Johnson's
conversion to the single tax is indic:
tive of the man. One day newsboy
offered him Henry Georges "Socia
Problems to read OH the train. The
street car magnate refused. but the
conductor. who was personal frient
and single taSer. advised him to reae
it, and he did. from that moment ht
was Il changed man. lie next rea,
Progress and Poverty" went to sc,
Henry George and became his urden
disciple. He assisted George in hi.
first fight for mayor. also in his cam
paign for secretary OF state of New
York. At that time he had never made
speech, and George advised him I.
do so. He tried in Cooper Union aal
succeeded in staying OH his feet fol
five minutes. Later he became an Of
fQctiva c.p rOpoiopor