The Washington herald., 1911-07-02

motive came and carried him to the next
station, three hours behind his schedule.
In all of his experiences. both as an au-
tomobilist and a balloonist, that was his
\ only accident
! From Messenger Boy to Financfer.
During his youth MIR. Glidden was a
messenger for a telegraph company in
Lowell. He was born in that town. Now
he is financier, for want, he says, "of
better name" He retired from busi-
nesss eleven years ago. at the age of
forty three Learning biography as q
boy, he was the manager OF an ofice in
New Hampshire at the time A. Graham
Bell was trying his newly invented tele-
phone in Boston. Glidden and Bell made
some long distance experiments together.
That was in 1876. Mr.. Glidden told me.
I'VE used the Montreal telegraph wire
/ between Lowell and Boston. The distance
| was twenty-six miles. was skeptical,
but heard Prof. Bell, and he heard me.
The plan of the telephone pioneer was
to lease Instruments and wires for pri-
vate lines between the homes Of business
men and their ofilces and factories. 1
went to Boston and suggested the build
/ ing of an exchange In Lowell. In a re-
cent history of the telephone, I was de-
MED the credit of the exchange idea. It
was my own, nevertheless. was told
that II 1 obtained fifty subscribers that
the company would act on my proposal.
l solicited the subscribers in person go
| ing from store to store like peddler.
So I was first in that particular field
of electrical endeavor. But New Haven
got its exchange in operation a little
ahead of any other city.
''The Bell people asked me to organize
company. and buy the exchange at
Lowell. talked with my grocer. and
he promised to put Asome money into the
speculation. Other men, agreed to take
chance II didn't ask for too much. /
was then without borrowipg ability at
the banks. Jointly we gave our notes and
thus procured $1,000 Such was the be-
ginning Of the Lowell syndicate We obs
tanned control Of other New England ex-
changes, and extended our operations into
| the West In all, we raised $4,000, 900.
At one time I managed one-sixth OF the
Bell interests IN the United states.
Built the First Long Distance Line.
ssThe first long distance line was built
by myself. / got the right Of way over
farms and along roads from Boston to
Lowell, riding the route in a buggy. be-
cause. in those days, there were no auto
mobiles The original exchange in Lo-
well started with 5000. borrowed at q
bank. as / have said. was later turned
over to the Bell Company OF New Eng
land for $4,000. In 1900. being an In
dependent man and not desiring to lose
my identity IN the final consultation OF
all the Bell properties, withdrew from
active business.
And since then. remarked. you
have been hlgh-toned sportsman7
Not at all. Mr.. GlIddsn replied. i
have been busy IN legitimate directions.
/ first, h developing the automobile. but
not as g manufacturer. and afterwnrd
lin experiments with aerial navigation.
II have made forty-eight balloon nscen-
| lsicns-1hree IN France. four in England.
I and forty-one Ia Massachusetts, I am
q recognized balloon pilot becerse 4
/ have made at least ten ascensloue. one
iof witch, BY the rules Of the 1uterna-
lionaI Aeronartfco1 Federation. must be-
let night. and two HIihoif any one else
in the basket. have Travelled l.t0o
miles. By aif-ilne measurement and
ifty-fvs passengers have accompanied
me-
! What started you around the world
In an automobIIelr asked
oh. Il was a pleasant Inspiration that