The evening star and Newark advertiser., 1907-09-14

George Kid McVey. the veteran pas
senger conductor of the Newark and New
York branch of the Central Railroad of
New Jersey, has been railroading forty
nine years, beginning as a brakeman, and
serving as a conductor for almost forty
five years He has Travelled back and forth
on trains more than 100000 miles, and.
roughly estimated. he has punched tickets
ana fares from more than 12,000000 pas
sengers. This is a record that few railroad
men nave excelled. He was fortunate in
never having wreck of any train he ran.
For dozen years Mr.. McVey rode as
brakeman and conductor an average of 200
miles day on the run from Baltimore To
Philadelphia and return, and on the Vir-
ginia roads he averaged about half that
many miles daily for a couple of years
Therefore in his first fourteen years as a
railroader he Travelled upward of 900 600
miles. He has made six round trips daily
between Newark and Jersey City, about
Iltteen miles to trip, or ninety a day
for thirty-hve years lacking a few months
Deducting vacations and Sundays he has
covered more than 1000 900 miles on the
Newark and New York road, or grand
total of close on 100000 miles in forty
nine years
During that period he was a passenger
conductor for forty-three years. and the
eight years he was with the Baltimore,
wilmington and Philadelphia road he
carried an average of 800 passengers daily
on the round trip, about 10000 a year,
making total of over 100000 for the
eight years. On his six round trims daily
between Newark and Jersey City II is esti-
mated that he has carried an average of
fully 1000 passengers a day, or a total
of at least IL 100000 In thirty-four years
and six months. and a grand total of more
than R.OO0.000 since ne became a passenger
conductor forty-three years ago.
Mr.. McVey was born in Cecil County
Maryland, seventy years ago last month
But he Is as active in his business as mer
twenty years his junior. After learning
the RS at a crossroad "deestrict" school
young McVey worked on a farm until he
was nearly 21 years old. Then he got a
position as brakeman on a freight train
on the Philadelphia, Wilmington and
Baltimore Railroad, and in a few years
was made freight conductor.
During the closing year of the Civil
War, when the Army of the Potomac
under General Grant was preparing for the
campaign which ended with the fall of
Richmond and the surrender of General
Lee and the remnant of his army y.-McVey
was in the service of the Federal Govern
ment running a train between Harpers
Ferry and the camp of General Hancock S
corps near Winchester, Virginia, carving
provisions and ammunition and other sup
plies to the camp and taking sick or
wounded soldiers back to Harpers Ferry.
After General Lees surrender McVey was
transferred to the Alexandria road to
carry the victorious Union soldiers to
Washington for the grand review that
was held in that city at the close of the
war.
Mr. Mcvey then entered the service of
the Philadelphia Wilmington and Balti-
more Railroad again as passenger con-
ductor. He made the round trip between
Baltimore and Philadelphia daily for eight
years in all, and during that period he
carried on his train the more eminent off,
GERS of the army and navy and the lead
ing statesmen of this country, besides for
| eign ambassadors and ministers and their
suites
| In March, 1878, McVey came to Newark
| and entered the services of the Newark
| and New York Railroad as a passenger
l conductor. After the death in the spring
of 1906 of Captain Benjamin w. Hopper
/ superintendent of the road since It was
/ opened in 1869. McVey became the oldest
| employee Of the road the last of the
| "Old Guard" of conductors. He makes siS
round trips daily between Newark and
Jersey City, taking the $50 o'clock train
out from Newark each morning and re.
turning to Newarls on the last trip at 2:3t
/ O'Clock In the afternoon. He has a per
sonal acquaintance with all the conductors
and many of the transient passengers on
his train
| Mr.. McVey has cosy home at II Penn
| ington street. where he lives with his fouT
adult children. His wife died twenty years
ago. He is a quiet but conpanonable
man, courteous to all, and loyal to friends
| and to his duty as a conductor. and has
the confidence of his superlors and the
good will of all the employees on the
road.
I consicsr the public press the very best ad-
vertisinR medium Manager Howard. Bryson.
Graham c.. Ottawa