The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-10-21

Ealtto;p0 track, prOceeuS 70 Als ASprS
His work looks to be lowly, and while
important to safety of riders on tne
lightning fast trains that will shoot
over 1t, nevertheless labor that any
body else could do.
But it would be unsafe, even IN
mind, to think lightly OF this mechanlc
in the o~il-stained jumper.
He Is the stuff of which the future
presidents OF the ccuntry's great rali-
way systems are recruited.
This is the kind of material that dc,
velops into the maj of weight anu
great desk in one of the huge buildings
in which the Dad have their head
quarters.
He who would get into h inner por-
tai must a influence. He must pass
Il battery of clerks, attendants n coz
fidential secretaries.
The man who conducts h railroad
with all its vitality important details
and all the great problems that con-
stuntly impose their strain on his
Knowledge must he the man who knows
the business from the ground up.
Nobody else has much Of a chance.
And IL there is any disposition to
doubt this general statement, enough
Instances can be offered to establish IT
indubitably.
tatiun man in h United States today
is conceded to be James J. Hill. He has
attained to a position where he not only
is conceded to be abundantly able to
protect his own interests, but he mas
so completely mastered the subject OF
transportation that all men look to him
as an authority, n are glad to take
RS hnal his opinion on any question In
volving railroads or steamboats,.
Hill was picked to speak at the Seat
tie exposition opening, not only
was it recognized that he deserved q lot
Crv m thn UW0fStON6o nf the na0uIa FOR
what his roads had done to open up the
country, but also because his name
stood for supremacy along a line OF spe-
cial knowledge.
Mr.. Hill didn't go to any school to
set his knowledge of ra%ilroading. He
didn't take any home study course. He
got out among locomotives and steam
ships and there learned the business
from the ground up.
Leaving his fathers farm, Hill work
cd In railroad offices at a meager sal
nry. Schemes of transportation on a
scale yet undreamed of came to him.
Blu In his minds eye as the plan I'M
folded he saw that 1t was not enough
to know ~railroadfng Alone. With the
great lakes lying across the pathway
from one important section of the coun-
dry to the other, he Who would go to
the limit in transportation mastery
must also be a steamship expert. So
ne entered steamship Offices at q small
rate OF remuneration ana mastered tfat
branch OF the business.
Then he emerged thoroughly equip
ped. He Vas ready to tackle the job
of establishing great railroad systems.
lie became president of the entire Great
Northern system and the Great North
crn Securities company.
1t woul take a section hand of some
tcnerity to try to deceive President
Samue, McCrea, Of the Pennsylvania
railroad, as to the way a piece of work
should be DONE.
Mr.. McCrea started his connection
with the road in that very position.
The man who is now the supreme pow
or i'll what is generally admitted to be
the best handled railroad in the world
was a rodman. He has held every po-
sition, he went gradually through all
the executive berths and various vice
presidencies till at the death OF A. j..
Iassatt he was elevated to the topmost
place, and by those who are competent
10 speak of the workings of this re-
markable system it is generally adj
mitted that it was never better nan
died.
Mr.. McCrea is practical and business
like. He bothers nothing about politics.
He is interested only in the proper con-
duct OF the road, and he has improved
it's working details in a manner truly
he knows all the steps.
Marvin Hughitt, president of the
Chicago & Northwestern railway,
knows all the steps, too He began as
a telegraph operator, q line of. work
thu, brings its votaries into close touch