Evening journal., 1913-11-28
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The WearIed Looking sigma
ture Of E. H. Hartman
By Holland.


There will always be preserved
among the archives OF both the Union
Pacific and the Northern Pacific rail
road companies lengthy document in
duplicate appended TO which are the
sigaturcs, also in duplicate. OF Edward
II. Hartman. The particular contract
which is set forth in this document
may at some time in the future be
cancelled. IL may last for ages. for
il is nominated in the bond to have
an existence OF Tine hundred and
nincty-ninc years.
But even today and certainly in
years TO come there does and viii at
tach a sentimental interest in Mr.. Har-
riinan's signature. IT was written with
hand which was plainly controlled by
the win of the man who held the pen.
The strength OF the hand and fingers
was not equal TO the will power There
hrc the Signatures are not easily to
be dcciphered. The various letters ~
Mr. Harriman's name are written with
faint, struggling, scrawl-like character
as il with q paralyzed arm or as a
the signature was the work OF blind
man who felt his way with the pen
In the days of his physical strength Mr..
Harriman's strength could properly be
accepted as typifying his imperious will
and his strength of character
ln the spring OF the year Of Mr..
] Harrimans death he was much occupied
| with negotiations with those who were
in the executive management OF th'
Northrn Pa nc Railroad Company
These negotiations centercd upon the
possibility of entering into contract by
means OF which the Union Pacific aud
the Northern Pacific would have rights
in common for the use Of the railroad
tracks which connected Tacoma Will
Portland Oregon Both Mr.. Hartman
and the Northern Pacific management
realized that IL would be commercially
ineNpedicnt to build a rival railroa,
paralleling the road already constructed
which connected Tacoma with Portland
During one OF the discussions Mr.
Hartman said that he was satisfied
that the standard rate Of interest was
then aud was TO continue TO be ioui
per cent
"But Mr.. Hartman was the reply
"nobody can tell what the standard rate
of interest viii be within the year. IL
may 70 as low as three and onc-hall
or even three per cent or it may prove
TO be considerably greater than foul
per cent"
The great railroad constructor was
seated all curled up in his arm chair
! lie looked like withercd counterfeit
of Il. II. Hartman in his prime Tic
was plainly suffering great pam. Nhat
was left of him was his viii and ms
great brain. lie was 40 sail for Europe
in day OF two in the hope that he
would find there treatments whici
! would master the then mysterious m
ternal disease from which lac suffered
ON the day before he sailed he sal
linn. apparently all Gagged in, in hr
chair and said to the Northern Pacific
representatives. "Ncll,n he said, 81 viii
let il 20 at four and hall per cent
rot iarthing NOR"
He meant that his corporation wouh
agree to pay Tor trackage rights owe
this railroad at the rate OF four an
half per cent on the valuation OF th
property, although he had stpbbornl
insisted for several weeks that four pc
cent was great enough.
While Mr. Hartman was in Europ
the counsels to the two railroads pre-
pared the elaborate aud somewha
lengthy contract. The papers Wer
ready Tor his signature upon his re
turn. A day or two before his dealt
they were laid before him. lie read tn
contract carefully and then with almos
palsicd hand signed his name.
"That." said Judge Loyett, who sue
cceded Mr.. Hartman, as the eNecutiv
authority over the Union Pacific, is tn
last signature d. II. Hartman eve
made. aud the faint and wearied'look
ing letters OF his namo in this last sie
nature were far different from the char
acteristic autograph which Mr.. Harr
ma had appended TO documents repre-
scntine hundreds OF millions OF do
lars"
Copyright, 1918, by r. T. Edwards. a