The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-09-09


kindness than have been.
IF I should he asked to express an
opinion as to Mr.. Harriman-s chief
characteristics. or those Y hich have had
q direct bearing upon his success, l
would say his marvellous head for fig
Ures, his quick grasp of facts laid be-
fore him and his faculty for getting at
the very Kernel of them, his unfailing
estimate of men and his insight into
the future.
cat figures he is a veritable wizard.
Lay before him a maze of figures and
estimates and in a flash he will have
solved the knottiest of problems and
shown precisely where every penny of
the sum estimated can be expended to
the very best advantage. Just take,
for instance, what he has done for the
west and northwest! OF his direc-
tior more thar $500 900 600 has been
spent in the transmissouri country.
What has been the result? That
section is booming today as never be-
fore The Hartman lines spanning it
are among the best equipped roads In
the world today, and when I say this
do not except the New York Central.
OF course other roads and other men
have helped wonderfully in the develop
ment of that country but don't lose
sight of the fact that Hartman was
the pioneer-he blazed the trail.
Go west today and the prosperous
farmer. rancher, manufacturer or mer-
chant will tell you that Hartman
primarily made it possible for others %
achieve success, and this because he
supplied them with railroad facilities
unsurpassed in any part of the world.
Although educated in Wall street,
Mr.. Hartman has none of that provin-
cialisn attributed to the New York
pred man. He was always in sympa-
thy with the west and readily grasped
its needs. If it was a question Of irrl-
cation. he had his experts on hand to
further those ends. If it was stock
raising, again his experts were at the
disposal of those needing advice, and it |
is always thus. He is in thorough
from whom his railroads and his inter- |
ests draw their support"
Asked as to Mr.. Harriman's method |
of work, Mr.. MiIlar chuckled and his |
eyes twinkled as he replied:
Just works, that's all; doesn't seem
to have any method, but always ac-
eomplishes what he sets out to do"
Continuing and waxing serious |
again, Mr.. Millar said:
mo, like all truly great and big |
men, Mr.. Hartman is not what you |
would call a 'methodical business man. |
He comes and goes as he pleases. |
arrival and departure from his office |
do not vary moment. That might be |
attributed to the train service to and |
from his estate. But when he settles
huns and is in action every second.
Knows What He Wants.
''Mr. Hartman invariably knows
what he wants. That makes it easy |
for those who must execute his orders.
Like a general who has mapped out |
his policies of offenSe and defense be- |
fore entering battle, Mr.. Hartman has
outlined his course before he takes his |
seat at his desk.
In the fewest possible words, brief
Iy, concisely and explicitly, those or
ders are issued. Then he awaits re-
suits. If there is one weak spot in |
their execution he is the first to know |
it, and then explanations must fol- |
low.
1.-The very enthusiasm with which |
Mr.. Hartman works is an inspiration i
for his subordinates. We recognize that
his capabilities and his capacity are
unlimited. In consequence every man
about him is inspired with a desire to
10 and to please, and under such con-
1itions and in such an environment,
even though a man fails, he at least
has done his best. Mr.. Hartman
Knows it, too. and none is quicker to
observe, appreciate and laud where due
han he.
IS hard as he works? Well, to tell
you the truth, I never saw him at
oiay. At one time he was passionately
'ond of trotting horses. He still is,
believe, but he does not devote as
much time to them now as formerly.
yachting? He has a yacht, of
,ourse. but I don't think he really
ares for life af1oat. 1t is too inactive
o suit a man of his nervous tempera-
rent
Asked how Mr.. Hartman had
unused himself while housed for three
weeks at the Semeripg during an in
,essant downpour of rain, Mr.. Millar
aid:
Playing with his children. He gets
pore pleasure out of that than any
hing else in life"
Continued on Page Eight.)