The Newtown bee., 1906-01-19

R. TODD, FIRST VICE PRESIDENT OF
 THE NEW YORK, NEW HAVEN AND
 HARTFORD RAILROAD-wON HIS
 WAY UP FROM THE RANKS-HIs
 WIDE RAILROAD EXPERIENCE-A
 BRIEF STORY OF A REMARKABLE CA.
 REER.
 The great industry of railroading has furnished the world with many men. ti0nable examples of self-made men men who entered the service without money or without influence, and who have won their way up to positions of prominence, power and responsibility and it is perhaps this more than any draws into the ranks of American rail. roading so many bright young men all over the country.
 A man whose life's history can he taken for text and example by the railroad man who hopes and strives to better his condition, is Percy R. Todd, first vice-president of the great New York. New Haven and Hartford sys. tenn.
 Mir Todd is essentially a self-made and practically self-educated man, who started from the very lowest rung of the ladder and who has won his way from the position of telegraph operator up to the vice presidency of one of the worlds greatest railroads in 30 years, a position which carries with it, it is said. the highest salary of any similar position in America, and he wears the same sized hat now as when he manipulated the key up in Canada, 30 years ago.
 MT Todd was born in Toronto, Can- ada, December 4, 1859. He attended the Collegiate Institute at Ottawa un- til he was IA years of age, when he commenced the battle of life as a tel egraph operator for the St Lawrence and Ottawa railroad lnow part of the Canadian Pacific system), where he re- mained until 1875.
 AS an operator he mastered every detail of the business, and it was not long before his work began to attract attention, and we next find him as Canadian agent for the Ogdensburg and Lake Champlain road, and later as general travelling agent for the Nation al Dispatch Line.
 act, the New York, West Shore and Buffalo railroad was inaugurated. The "Glorious West Shore of the noble Hudson river''-America's Rhine-be- came world famous on that account. Handsome passenger stations sprang up with mushroOm-like growth; the Pullman Car Company was taxed to it's utmost in turning out "rolling stOck;" enthusiasm knew no restric- tiOns. Foreign roads were drawn on that the West Shores official person. nel might become second to none. It was at this juncture that MT Todd be- came connected with this road. The Commercial Dispatch, a fast freight line, opened it's office in the City of Albany. It was necessary to obtain a man of experience to look after their was selected for the position. Later, J. D. Layng, first vice-president and general manager of the West Shore, induced him to accept the position of general freight agent for the Canada Atlantic, with headquarters at Otta- wa, Canada, which he resigned in 1899, to accept the assistant general freight agency of the West Shore, at No. $ Vanderbilt avenue, New York, sue ceeding Francis La-Bau, and later on was made general traffic manager, which position he retained until his advent with the New Haven system l which company has not been loath in acknowledging his sterling qualities l 0o LID AdPlO dO fdUSOu4OuU attests.
 The recent action of the New Haver directors in placing MT Todd in charge of operation was wise move; essen italy traffic man, he grasped the de tails of operation with a directnest and force which are accomplishing re suits. The operating web was badly tangled one, but he continued to apply the same intelligent and earnest efOr1 to the task as has characterized hil entire remarkable career, and the serv ice generally already feels the touch O a master hand, and it is gradually, bu surely, approaching an entirely satis factory condition to everyone con cerned.
 In his relations to the rank and filI of the New Haven service, MT Todd has proven himself to be eminentl, fair and just. He applies sound com mon sense to every question affecting the welfare of his men, who hav' learned that, while he is strict disci plinarian, he is, at the same time brought to his attention, and the men just and impartial and will not alloy a single act of injustice to be perpe trated on anyone under his direction no matter how humble his position.
 Several things which MT Todd ha recently done toward the bettermen of the condition of the employees of tn New Haven road are certain to bring about broader and more reciproca feeling than has existed for man. years. New Haven employees in al Todd is dealing with them fairly, an the great rank and file appreciate thi and will, the Employee is confident