Evening journal., 1913-12-13
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
How hgar Van Etten'S Lack
of Schooling Helped Him
By Holland.

one Of the ablest of the railway
operators between 1865 and 1895 was
the late William Toucey. He began
his career with Commodore Wander
bilt and had part in the tirst work un-
dertaken by the commodore for the
unihcation OF a single railway sys-
tenn between New York City and Chi
cago. He began in the ranks. The
commodore's observant eve was
speedily fixed upon young Toucey.
Therefore, OF course, the young man
was promoted, and as he never failed
TO meet his responsibilities TO the
commodore's satisfaction, he at last
became practically the operating head
OF the New YORK Central railway sys-
tenn.
Mr.. Toucey was a plain, matter-of-
fact man. He knew how to be a per-
feet democrat, not using that word In
It's partisan sense. while at the same
time commanding and maintaining
efficient discipline throughout the en-
tire organization
He was a sort of farmer in his ap-
pearance, plain in his apparel, al
though always with immaculate
linen, plain spoken and without the
slightest assumption of undue dignity
or apparent self consciousness of his
great power
But like all men Of very great abil-
ity, Mr.. Toucey had certain eccen-
tricities which distinguished him.
Among others was his profound con-
Viction that the successful operating
railroad manager was one who began
at the bottom even as a section hand
or as telegraph operator. and gradu-
ally worked his way up.
There came into the employ of the
New York Central at the time of the
presidency OF William II. Wander
bilt an executive officer who had been
trained in the technical schools Mr..
Ioucey could not get along with him.
he professed to have contempt for
the railroad operative who had
worked his way up from section hand.
MIR. Toucey, on the other hand, did
not always try to conceal his distrust
OF operating executives who had been
graduated from the technical schools
TO railroad employment.
The man who was professionally
trained and with whom Mr.. Toucey
could not agree was at last offered
an important executive post in the
offices of the railroad company some-
what remote from New York City. |
His resignation left a vacancy, and |
Mr.. Toucey was asked to find just the |
man who would fill it.
There were many applicants. The /
first question Mr.. Toucey asked Of |
them all was: Where did you begin 2"
II he was told that the first training 4
was In a technical school, Mr. Toucey
at once waved his hand to Indicate
that he did not want the services of
that man. At last Edgar Van Etten,
who afterwards became very promi- 4
nent as a railroad manager, made ap-
plication. Mr.. TOucey said nothing
Tor three OF four minutes, but with I
penetrating eyes seemed to study the
applicant so that he might have some 4
knowledge OF his temperament ano
ability. AT last Mr.. Toucey said:
Did you graduate at Troy Poly
technioT'
"No, sir"
Did you study at Stephens Insti- +
tute or at Sheffield or at Lehigh or
any of those places?''
NO, sir"
Then how did you begin
II began as a telegraph operator"
what next?" ff
They made me a station train dis
patcher and then I became full train
dispatcher. Then they put me in
charge OF a section"
so you worked your way up from
the bottom?"
''Yes. SIR"
well, you, can take off your coat.
IN fnfn that of IA. he !
and consider yourself put ON the job"
And that was all Of the conversa-
ton which led to the employment or
Edgar Van Etten in high executive
capacity on the New York Central
system. He was subsequently placed
IN complete control of one of the most
important of the allies of the New
York Central.