Evening journal., 1914-01-26
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
An Eccentric Railroad Fro
motor Of the South
By Holland.

"He was so universally known in
railroad circles as 'Wheelbarrow and
Spade Machin that / never thought
to ask anyone what his first name
was know that he pronounced
his last name with the soft sound
of 'ch' exactly as though It were
spelled Matchin"
In this way Charles Finney Cox
who was for many years treasurer Of
the Vanderbilt lines vast of Buffalo.
began to tell me a story of man
who was perhaps the most eccentric
of all those who have undertaken
railroad development in the United
States
Il heard the particular story which
am now about to tell you from a
Boston banker, who was a personal
friend of Maohin," continued Mr. Cox.
"The banker knew that ] had heard
many things about the eccentric ca
reer of Machin, and the ancedote
which he told me only emphasized the
individual and characteristic quality
of the man.
HE was a native, l think, of one of
the gulf States. He was a tall sinewv
and very slender man. He was per-
suaded that he had special ability for
the promotion of railroading in GER
tain parts of the South. His last pro-
motion was a railroad stretching
from Birmingham, Ala. to Bruins
wick. Ca.
He was called 'WheelbarrOw and
Spade Machin. because these con-
struction implements symbolized his
promotion work. He was able to get
a charter at one time or another from
some legislature without it having
cost him a penny except his hotel eX-
penses. which were light Having q
charter he would go to town and
tell the people that he had a charter
for railroad which would connect
their town with another one, perhaps
fifty miles away Then he would per.
suade some of the people, or possibl,
the town authorities, 70 let him have
some money, and he was never dis
honest in any of his dealings, but h,
was an enthusiast
Having got a little money to star
with, he would organize a construc
ton company He was the cOnstruc
ton company. Then he would begil
actual work of surveying and con
structing the railroad. He would g,
out with wheelbarrow and spade
leading a few laborers, and he IN
spired them with his energy and hil
confidence
Having done a little construction
work. he as the construction compan.
would bond the line. With thesi
bonds he would negotiate small loan
any sum. however small, wa
thankfully received. Once he had
credit for hve thousand dollars in
New York bank but it was rare tina
he had over a thousand dollars. HI
never spent any of the money upol
himself He always put it into con
struction work. In this way he bull
two or three little railroads, bu
never got a penny out of his promo
tions more than enough TO pay hi
living expenses.
"The Boston banker met him a fey
years ago in New York. The greet
ings were cordial. 'Wheelbarrow an
Spade Machin was enthusiastic abou
the success of his latest railroad pro
motion. The Boston banker aske
him what was the condition of tina
railroad property at that time. an
he replied that It was tempOraril
at rest. IL was waiting a favOrabl
moment for resuming oprations.
"Then. drawing the Boston banke
a little aside, 'WheelbaIrow AM
Spade Machin said CONFIDENTIAL,
Between you and me, while my rail
road is resting ! am having som
difficulty in paying my board here.
am at the present time occupied /
selling typewriting machines 4
! Brooklyn. ] make enough to pay IA
board. BY and by, when my railroa
is completed, / shall perhaps have
/ typewriting factory of my own in th
South and can hire some other fello'
To do some of the work"
Copyright, 1914. by +. J. Edward
All rights reserved).