The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-04-21
HE PPOGPEO ofA CkWzZEy1A/
PART II s~ GEORGE rzAHON

prove himself, for he entered upon our stud
les with such zeal that he caught up
with me
About this time the business Of the Carle
ton Iron works increased largely, and Cort-
rights services as stenographer came more
and more into demand, until soon we saw
him installed secretary to Mr.. Clarke.
vacancy thus occurring in the Office Cub
Calker brought in to fill it. lie soon
found favor with Mr.. Ball. and gradually
him as Cortrght had formerly occupied.
And Cortright so well availed himself of
his opportunities for grasping every detail
of the management Of the business that when
eighteen months after he became Mr.. Clarke 8
secretary, the Carleton works absorbed
another plant and Clarke became superin,
tendent over all, it followed as matter of
course, that Cortright should become
ger at Carleton. Qualification and pride are
poor words to describe the sensation | felt
when he called me to become his secretary
and confidential man,
[ felt sure that as soon as Cortrlght could
effect it, Il change in our office methods would
be made. For month he made no sign, but
one evening when we were at Cortright, s
rooms he turned suddenly to Cub and asked.
How would you like to become chief
clerk?i'
"Why, what's 30 become of Ball?' cried
Cub. ''I couldn't push him out, you know
50 appreciate your feeling. 1T does yon
credit - said Cortright, gravely, But Ball
has been offered another position and has
decided to accept it. You will therefore be-
come chief clerk. Cummings, you will con
tnuc as my secretary, but shall expect
YOU TO cooperate with Calker and myself IN
reforming office methods. -
Whenever Cortright addressed us by our
surnamcs we knew he was speaking as chief
to subordinates In this mood he as far
removed from as the sun is from the earth.
We realized the gulf which separated us,
and sought not to pass it,
Accordingly it transpired that Ball retired
and Cub Call1er reigned in his stead. And
then came the upheayal. The first things to
go were tho old low desks for the clerks and
high desks at which man could work more
comfortably and to better advantage Then
the old books and files disappeared, and in
their place came modern loose leaf books.
card systems. and filing cases, to suit which
our entire method was changed, so that with
in month we had fewer clerks in the office,
but those few were turning out the work
more promptly and better done than ever be-
fore The next step was to advance the sala-
ries Of those clerks who remained, whereupou
clerks became moro cheerful and energetic
Our system worked Ike a huge clock and the
Office became a source of satisfaction and
pride to all concerned.
During the next two years material
change occurred, nor did any event transpire
beyond what might be expected in the ordi-
nary course Of conducting a great business;
but in tho third year of Cortrigbt S manage
ment the United States Steel corporation was
formed and our plant became of its in
tegral parts.
At first I was trihe uneasy, FEARING that
changes whereby ] would lose rather than
profit might be made; but / soon found that
Cortrght's management was satisfactory to
the higher Powors, and as long he re-
maincd at the helm L felt secure.
My fears wore reawakencd, however, one
afternoon when Cortright summoned me and
announced that he leaving for New York
the 1905 train,
81 must have some one with me, = he said
tECan You make it?''