The Washington herald., 1910-03-13
By JAMES B. MORROW.
Coresnnndsncs Tha Washlngton Herald.

WEIu Ll4 DdukS Oh lilo lA400lHSlHuAs OD~
Ilquely across the uninhabited prairies
10 a point near the lead mines of Ga
lena ana Dubuque over the river in
Iowa
It was eleven years before the survey
Of the route was fully mapped and com
pleted. The engineer who directed the
work was given $3.50 a day for his ex-
pert services. From Chicago TO Elgin
forty-two miles in distance. the road was
made of yellow pine rails. six inches
square. spiked TO the ties. on which there
were thin ribbon" OF oak and an iron
7late two and a half inches in width
and three-fourths OF an inch in thick
ness.
Such was the problematical and diff
cult beginning OF what is known to-day
as the Chicago and Northwestern Rail
way System. with its 1000 miles OF main
track in nine opulent States and $780,
100000 passenger station that viii be-
soon ready for business. Samuel J. Til
den, Jay Gould, and Russell Sage were.
one after the other, directors OF the cor
poration. Marvin Hughitt is now presi-
dent. He was ten years OF age when
the chief engineer, at $3.50 a day, sur
veyed the line from Chicago TO Galena-
r-cKinIey Consulted Him.
il William Mckinley wanted sound
opinions on the railroad question. he sent
for Marvin Hughitt. So did Mr.. Roose-
Welt There was a conviction at the
White House during the administrations
of both Presidents that Marvin Hughitt
would never suggest or argue anything
that was Injurious 10 the public inter-
est. But Mr.. Hushitts most intimate
comrade in political life was Mark
Hanna. He wrote Hanna so early as
1884 that Mckinley. as the high priest
Of prosperity, ought TO be nominated for
President. Afterward he put his advice
into the more advantageous form Of I'M
obtrusive work and quiet negotiation.
Outwardly stern man, Mr.. Hughitt
has the brown and twinklng eye of
Hanna, and a rare quality of wit that
makes him the best of companions
Among his friends he occasionally offers
quaint observation concerning the
wordy output Of certain oracles. BE
--N-Nf t+E N4Ai say Oh AVeiAAla6 l4DW 4dl III
ers should farm, hens lay eggs, and won-
en- bring up their children, Solomon has
again spoken"
Working in silence - he never writes
articles for print or delivers addresses
Mr.. Hughitt. while president. has multi
piled his main track two and a half times
and the revenues of his traffic CORE
spondingly. He is one Of the really great
railway managers Of America. Better
still. he has kept within the law and has
treated the people up and down his road
decently and justly.
Strategy Is Tried.
I was notified that he would meet me
with dignity and courtesy, but that he
would lose his voice when he discovered
me to be a professional interviewer.
Therefore I tried strategy confessed
when the conversation was over-blurring
my errand as we'll as I could and talking
Mckinley and Hanna. SO the gates OF
speech were opened, and found a human
and friendly personality.
4 was in Washington on business" he
said, and, on receiving a note from
President Mckinley called at the White
House and spent the evening. Referring
TO his plans. the President spoke Of his
prospective visit to Buffalo, that he might
give day TO the exposition. I protested,
saying: You appear to think all the
cranks are dead OF have moved to another
country in which belief you are sadly
mistaken. Your friends are distressed at
the unnecessary personal risks you take |
and, when they learn of your intentions. |
viii join me in begging you TO stay away
from Buffalo aid the exhibition
Mr.. Mckinley laughed at my fears /
Lifting his hands as high as his head. 10 |
give the depreciation of GESTURE to what |
was said. he exclaimed: I am safe 7 1
assure you. No one would think Of doing /
any harm to the President of the United 1
States. 1 never saw him again."
Knew William H. Seward.
The first important public man with |
whom you were acquainted" I remarked.
was William Henry Seward. to whom /
you carried telegraph messages as a
boy?"
THAT is So Mr. Hughitt replied. Mr..
Seward, after serving two terms as gov
ernor of New York. returned TO Auburn.
where he practiced criminal and patent
law. I was very young boy at the
time. of course. My family soon after
ward moved to Chicago. and I didn't sea
Mr.. Seward again until I was q man of
twenty-three and the trainmaster. and su-
perintendent of what is now known as
the Chicago and Alton Railroad. While
on his way from the Chicago convention
70 Springfield where he was to nav his
respects to Abraham Lincoln, who had
defeated him for the Presidential nomi-
nation. Mr.. Seward stopped at Blooming
ton, where lived. and had dinner at the
depot restaurant spoke to him and he
recognized me at once. seeming pleased
TO know that I was reasonably. prosper
Gus and successful
When did you learn teIegraphv?"
''Oh. picked it up. letter at q time
while carrying messages in Auburn. Then /
I went to the capital of the State and
was an operator for the New York.
Albany and Buffalo Electro Magnetic
Telegraph Company, which had q single
wire from Wall street up the Hudson
through Poughkeepsie and Troy. thence h
westward by way OF Schenectady. Utica II
Rome. and Rochester to Buffalo II I
were at key. I could give the old
telegrapher's call for every Office on the
line
Enters Railroad office.
when 7 was seventeen years old nv
father brought his family to Chicago and
I found employment with the Illinois and
Mississippi Telegraph Company There
were only three commercial operators in
the city in those days, and was one Of