The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-06-27
RAILROAD NEWS.
Man Who Helped in Survey of
Rock Island ScOrned.
Officials Turn Down Pass Re-
quest of Old DIR. Hull.
RAN ON FIRST TRAIN.
But Law Does Not Permit TOpe-
ka Officials to Favor Him.
Other Items of General Interest
in Railroad World.


There are lots of people in Topeka
Who feel the effects of the railroad
anti-pass laws But probably there is
no one who has missed the free trans
portation as keenIy and painfully as
old DIR. william Hull Grieved by the
death of his faithful wife, stranded
without enough money to take him to
mis- old home and friends in New York.
DIR. Hull called at the office of ]. B.
Smalley, general superintendent of the
southwe stern district of the Rock Is
land the other morning. And it was
with regret that George Hetheringto on,
chief clerk to Mr.. Smalley, found it
necessary TO turn down the plea of the
cid man.
According to his story this is the
first time in his late years that the
Rock Island has refused to grant the
old doctor a pass to any station of
their 5000 miles of lines. Despite the
fact that he had helped in the first
survey of the Rock Island out of Chi
cago in 1S49, had stayed with the engi-
1eers until the road had been pushed
through to the Ohio river and finally
had entered the ranks of the trainmen
and spent years IN the early service of
this great company, DR.. William Hull
of Topeka was unable to secure trans
pcrtation to the Windy City.
The veteran railroader was stunned
end almost ins1lted when Mr. Hether-
ington had refused his request for a
pass. and not until the strict Kansas
laws had been explained to him did he
realize that it was not the fault of
the company that had been attended as
an infant by his surveyors transit and
finally mis- ''captainship" of the early
trains.
If anyone ever deserved pass from
the railroad it was DR.. Hull. Bur
stopped with age and weakness the old
nan left the Rock Island offices with
the determination to ind labor that
woul,l bring him the desired amount of
fare from Topeka to Chicago.
First Days of Rock Island.
DR.. Hull tells an interesting story of
the en- rly days of the Rock Island. at
was al )out 1S49 when we started out
of Chicago to the west" said DR.. Hull
in spea. king of the first experience with
the railroad. "A large party of us
worked right through from Chicago to
Peoria And let me tell you 1 will al
ways remember Peoria. While we were
working through the land of a wealthy
land owner he would come out watch
US One day he took a liking to me
and asked me up to his magnificent
mansion for lunch. went That night
he asked me to stay with him. At
breakfast the next morning saw
across the table one of the prettieSt
girls 1 ever laid eyes on-and we fell
in love at first sight. will never
forget that. first meeting with this
sweetheart of mine
And as. balm for the manner in
which the Rock Island has refused him
transportation, the old doctor bowed
his head in memorial of the girl that
the road had given to him through
his. experience In its employ.
LAS soon as we had gone through to
the Ohio river and construction gangs
had followed at our heels 1 decided
that I would start out on the road as
& trainman and I went to work at
once I not only saw the first stake
driven for the Rock Island but L was
the proud brakeman who stood on top
IF the first freight car leaving Chicago
for the west
The refusal Of the Rock Island to
grant DR.. Hull n pass to Chicago from
Topeka seems to be but a part of the
i'll luck that has followed him through
life.
First Overland Express.
AT one time 1 owned one-half OF the
entire townsite of Minneapolis said
the veteran. But it was taken away
from me. And in 1857 l could have
purchased the entire TOWNSHIP of st.
Paul but I squandered my money in
an overland cxrress instead.
This overland express was driven
from St Paul to Pixies Peak. 1 or
Eanized the company in 1850 during the
big gold excitement and everything
was going our way. 1t was the first
overland express of this kind in the
country and looked as though it would
make me rich. But again 1 was cheat
ed and my partners took everything. y
DR.. Hull says that he watched the
surveying and the construction of ev-
cry railroad out of Chicago. He knows
every one Of them, can tell their pro-
posed routes, the ambitions Of their or
Eanized companies, the sales of thei1
lines and the final success and wealth
secured by the builders.
Il have never before been refused
transportation by the Rock Island,
1noaned the old man. But I guess they
have to follow the law. If 1 were only
in Chicago now 1 could secure a pass
without a minutes notice. Everyone
knows me there and they all realize
that I am the only man left who really
knows the infant conditions of the
great Rock Island"
Their he hobbled down the track thai
gave him the free use of their ties
and that was all.