Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-07-09
AMONG THE
MAKERS OF THE
GOLDEN WEST

A railroad man who holds n posi-.
tion OF the greatest responsibility In
The Hartman system is J. p.
O'Brien, vice president and general
superintendent OF the Southern Pa
cihc. HIS first experience was gain
ed as telegraph operator, and all his
spare time was put in educating
himself In the last detail of the
transportation business He had a
practical training ag general mana
ger OF the Iowa Central, road run
ming from Mason City TO Marshall
town, and on southwest. It had
branches TO Fort Dodge, and other
good towns I'm central Iowa, but IL
was sandwichcd In between the Chi
cago and Northwestern and the MIL
NgRnkee and st. Paul. so that II had
TO rustic for business. O'Brien
proved a mighty good rustler for
traffic, and used 20 run whole train
Aoads of fat stock out OF the terri
aory OF his rivals. lie also built up
~ hhh fbhi bhninfb1 blu 1nOMNu dUll-
Aty TO get business in so many ways
that before many years he was
spotted FOR position as trafc man
ager on one OF the transcontlnentaI /
lines. His promotion from tho o.
II. & N to the general suporintcnd-
ency OF the Southern Pacific lines
in Oregon is matter OF recent his
tory. 10 should also be understood 4
that the construction of tho new
fines from Drain 10 Coos Bay, known
as the Oregon Western, and the
lino from Natron TO klamath Falls 4
md across the state to Ontario. 4
known az the Oregon Eastern. are
not In charge Of Mr. O'BrIon, but v
under the construction department Il
presided over by Chief Engineer "
Hood OF San Francisco. Only after IA
those limos are completed will they
be turned over 10 the operating de- n
partment. MIR, o'Brien makes con- n
racts reaching into the millions. l.
having recently bought coal In Aus is
ralia. Vancouver and Rock Springs In
he same day. The coal from Aus ge
ralia, 5000 tons, ls To arrive at
by steamer. as does the
90 barrels OF oil used daily. From
he smallest matter OF locating or
witch for sawmill siding To the le
argest affairs OF construction. Mr.. lol
''Brien gives the business his per- We
onal attention. Ono OF the secrets nj
I Mr.. O'Brien's success II his uni ab
,rm disposition TO be fair and cour- nj,
'ous. ana look at a matter once In est
while and oyon oftoner from the co
her fellows standpoint. That IL no
hat "a great many men connected lin
ith management of corporations pl,
Ist and west have never learned 20 I'm,
'aotiee 10 any great extent. Mr. liar
'nrien says one OF the greatest of
'Oblems OF railroadlng IN to get 'liq
boring men To carry out the Inn wIl
oyements that the company no nh;
presents would really like to ito
AXE. Ito says that over two mill for
ms dollars of expenditures ordered trt
Oregon are untouched because Il the
= not been possible Ia get the work ces
rried out by any contractor Mr., VOL
nrien was recently elevated 10 the han
esldency OF the Corvallis a East gen
a road, lie says Il will eventually Pul
extended into the Bend country his
a through Crook county. aud that nes
will become great wheat aud IN 4
lie line. The timber business he rela
~ not look upon as the principal non
let OF the roads traftie. but fayors
xed farming. that requires more ~
,ple. more small farms. makes o,,,
re business az all times OF the .or,
'r. ani Is the best territory TO sup ,t,'
4 railroads. ,..
-, ~
''''''" NV" "'' '''''"'"s "'''" cept