Omaha daily bee., 1908-09-20

are under his direct supervision. The superintendents of the five
divisions report to the general superintendent and the operation
of all trains is handled from his office. All trainmen and engine
men and operators report all their grievances to the general super
intendent, who makes their scales of wages and handles all matters
in connection with the men employed in operating the road.
Park Hill, near Elmira, N. Y, is the scene of the early child
hood of w. L. Park, his ancestors having obtained from the govern
ment a large tract of land in Chemung county, through the con-
struction of military roads in the latter part of the seventeenth
century. A portion of this land is still retained by the Park
family. Colonel Josiah B. Park, father of w. l., moved with his
family to Ovid, Mich, in the lts sos, where he engaged in civil
engineering and the construction of railroads, until the breaking out
of the civil war, when he was elected and commissioned captain
of Company D, First Michigan cavalry, August 22, 1851. Colonel
Park was soon promoted to major of his regiment and February
IS, 1862, was commissioned lieutenant colonel of the Fourth Michi-
gan cavalry, retiring at the close of the war as colonel of a regi-
ment Of engineers.
Family Comes to Omaha y
The Fourth Michigan cavalry was dsting uished by the capture
of Jefferson Davis. president of the confederacy, May 10. 1865, near
Macon, Ga, Lieutenant Colonel B. D. Pritchard being in command
at the time. Colonel Park was O the staff of Generals Sheridan,
Stanley and Thomas, was posi- commander and superintendent of
Notifications at Franklin, Tenn, during the battle at that point
and was with General Thomas at Chickamauga The Fourth Michi-
gan, Seventh Pennsylvania and a squadron of the Fourth United
States cavalry held a part Of Braggs army, consisting of 10000
men, from crossing Reeds bridge on the 18th for several hours and
made a spectacular crossing of the creek on a narrow bridge to
the federal side. They were highly commended and given the
credit of saving Rosecran's army from being more seriously COM
promised.
After the close of the civil war Colonel Park moved his family
to Omaha, arriving on a steamboat at the foot of Douglas street in
August, 1866, there being n o railroads across Iowa at that time.
He formed a partnership with Henry c. Campbell of Fontanelle, and
engaged In the survey OF government lands In Nebraska until lis
death in June, 1873, which was prematurely caused by wounds e.
ceived at Winchester while reconnoitering on General SANKEY'S staff.
Arriving In Omaha at such a youthful age W.. L. Park can
truthfuHy be said to be a product of the west. a s he gained his
early education in such schools a the west provided at that time.
He first attended Mira. McCunun's private school and later went
to seagraves academy, which was located at Thirteenth and Far
nam street. While at this school he had as his playmates the chill
dren OF the leading families Of Omaha and still numbers among
his Omaha friends a number Of men who were boys in school at that
time. Later, when, Colonel Park found It more convenient to have
hts family near his work. he moved to North Platte at which time
young Park attended public school, and later took a course in Bay
Hes Commercial college at Keokuk, Ia.
Colonel Park was associated with Guy G. Barton in several
business ventures, and one night they were called upon to rescue
from the hands of an indignant mob, the editors of a pioneer news
paper that had become too personal. During the period when Colonel
Park retained the newspaper, which extended over several years
young Park obtained a good knowledge of the primers craft and
newspaper work. I, is conceded that Mr.. Parks ability to put his
ideas on paper in magazine o II newspaper work, as we'll as in bust
ness letters, has been a strong factor in his success, He looks
back with much satisfaction to his apprenticeship a a devil" and
the print shop as one of the best schools he ever attended
Training for the Future
Ever mindful of his chosen
Park took up. among other studies at Baynes college. a course in
telegraphy Although attaining the ordinary proficiency OF a be-
ginner, he decided to take up train service al affording the most
advantages in acquiring a thorough knowledge Of railroadng from
the ground up. Entering the service of the Union Pacific a a
brakeman. he rose rapidly to a position as freight conductor, in which
capacity he was employed at the age of Is, and as a passenger con-
ductor at %. running between North Platte inc Laramie Wyo'
There was at this time but one Overland passenger train across the
continent and It's charge was considered one of great responsibility
and no little honor. Mr.. Park val transferred to the Denver line
at the opening of the Julesburg cutoff in 1882, and returned to
the main line when the first Overland Limited train in the west was
installed, running from Council Bluffs to Cheyenne, wyo.
While in the train service Mr.. Park took up the reading of
law and employed his time generously in other studies, in the c
quirement OF general knowledge as wen a a more extended knowl-
edge of railroad work. The new standard rules for the operation
of railroads came into effect in 1885, and after an examination of
Park by the superintendent, the latter walked into the office of the
chief dispatcher and throwing the book on his desk, said: "f you
lose LnhI FdIh "a WIt0 q HuOlhS Nc Tue WuOle
thing verbatim"
Mr.. Park was married to Miss Laura Frances Dill at North
Platte, December "a, 1882. Three boys. Edward A., P. Jay and w.
Lee, and two daughters, Evalyne and Myra, compose the family, all
residing at the Park home in the Hanscom park district, with the
exception of the oldest son, who is married and lives at Sterling,
Colo.
MI. Park was one of the youngest officials of the Union Pa
cino. having been appointed assistant superintendent Of the Ne
braska division Mt the age OF 80, In 1900 he was transferred to the
Wyoming division a superintendent, some very difficult operating
problems having arisen through the reconstruction of the line in
that territory. In June, 1904, Mr.. Park was made general super
intendent of the Union Pacific. which position he now holds.
Originator of Mileage Pay
While employed as conductor W. L. Park, as chairman Of the gen.
eral committee, representing the conductors and brakemen, arranged
with S. T. Smith, then general superintendent, the first mileage
basis of pay for trainmen. The brakemen Of Wyoming repudiated
the settlement, and went out o n a strike, which was quickly settled
by showing the men interested the advantage of this method. EN-
ployes of other roads Jaw the advantages of this system and it soon
spread over all the railroads OF the United States and has been salts
factory to both the railroads and the employees ever since.
Having thus represented the men and the stockholders as we'll
and sat in conferences on both sides of the table, MI. Park has &C.
Quired an expert knowledge OF wage schedules and the adjustment
of differences. His fair dealing endears him to the men in his service
and 1t is said that no employee has ever been dismissed unjutsly by
his direction IT consent. While a strict disciplinarian, and believing