New-York tribune., 1909-09-12

vass the successful business men OF the country
who had passed the prime Of life and ask them If
they thought they could accomplish such a journey
the Weston had set out upon. A reporter
reached Mr. Hartman and propounded the Ques-
ton to him. Mr.. Hartman looked at the man for
moment and then snapped out:
'Yes-if put my mind it,"
Mr.. Hartman did not believe there was much OF
anything he could not do If he put his mind on it.
Early in 1898 Mr.. Hartman made trip over the
Union Pacific of which he had recently come into
control. Things in pretty thoroughly run
down condition and delay after another tried
the temper Of the impatient new master Of the
line.
What makes this delay?' he demanded during
one particularly long stop
Engine taking water. SIR replied the division
superintendent
why not make the feed pipe bigger" snapped
Hartman.
Cant be done. sir.' was the reply. Engine
wouldn't take any larger feed pipe"
Then We'll get some bigger engines" Hartman
announced with that explosive emphasis OF his.
and he did.
An example of Mr.. Harrimans independence in
court as we'll as Of his irnpatience with inexact-
ness occurred during the trial over the Sidney
Webster letter
Did you read this letter to any outside OF
: your Office asked the opposing counsel.
DO you mean?' Mr.. Hartman retorted. that I
took copy Of the original letter outside Of the
Office and read it to somebody
Il feel that Shall have to be more precise in my
/ questions" said the lawyer.
you have TO ask me questions I can under
stand" snapped the witness.
Toward the close of the two days Of testimony
before the Interstate Commerce Commission Com
missioner Lane tried TO find out how far Mr. Har-
riman would go in his purchases of other railroads
If he were left unhampered. The railroad man re-
piled with all the artless earnestness of a child:
II would go and buy some more things
would go on long I live
When Mr.. Hartman came back from San Fran
cisco after the earthquake in the shortest time
record. he met by crowd OF newspaper men
at the Grand Central Station who wanted to know
all about the feat.
"Oh, Of what interest is the time made coming
across the continent?" he exclaimed irasciby. Il
wasn't trying TO make a record anyway. I was
only trying 70 keep an important business engage
ment here"
And that's all he would say about it. He had kept
his engagement-that the thing. That he had
established railroad speed record was mere
incident.
While Mr. Hartman himself was not a college
man. he did not deprecate the value of such train
ing in business. THE Yale Daily News last jan
uary asked for his opinion the subject. In his
reply the railroad said college education
was all right If it hadn't driven mans arithme-
tic and other fundamentals out of his mind.
Otherwise, he believed it more hindrance than
help
Mr.. Hartman cared little for superhuous luxury,
and when he tenting, in Texas last spring he
resented the stories that his camp was equipped
with all the comforts Of palace When a news
paper man visited him there the first thing the
railroad man did 70 show him the tents.
After exhibiting the bare pine floors and plain
cots he said:
1T guess that puts an end 70 all this talk about
luxury"
He was proud OF the fact that he was living in
practically the same style as that OF the most
humble camper.
MFR. Hartman found IL extremely difficult To take
e. real vacation Eyen when ho formally stopped