The Topeka state journal., 1914-01-27
Essentials for Success in the
Railway World.
General Superintendent Parker
Of Topeka on Idea.
MUST RECOGNIZE AUTHORITY
Keen Power of Discrimination
and Judgment.
Other Items of Interest I'm the
Traffic World.

r. J. Parker, general superintendent
OF the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe'
in Topeka, has written of the qualif-
cations necessary for success in the
railway world. His ideas follow:
No industry demands more OF a man
bent on success than ra1irosding, nor
asks less in the beginning; but to get
beyond that point one should sa5urade 5
himself with the knowledge OF railroad
ing from the bottom up; read it. talk
It, study 1t, live it. Don't waste time
learning to play a fiddle o. toOt horn.
studying the genealogy OF apes, OF
something else equally as irrelevant.
the operation Of railroads. You may
not be able to converse fiuently with
your neighbor about higher eugenics,
or even current events, but the chances
are you can meet an emergency Win
surprising dexterity when one rises in
railroad president was ever Jack OF
all trades and good at none" He spe-
cialized from the start.
The featured essentials for success in
the railway world. should say. are:
Application-Embraci desire, will.
determination, concentration, patience,
perseverance. health.
Adaptability Embracing subservi-
ence, tact, talent. genius. special1za-
tion, initiative. strife, emulation. cour-
tesy, enthusiasm. loyalty.
Executive power-Embracing expert
ence, ability, discrimination. judgment,
fairness of mind.
Without a desire to do a thing one
could scarcely succeed in applying
oneself, much less attain success, and
even though one has desire for ac-
complishment If it be not supported by
a will determined upon fulfillment, fall
ure is inevitable, and without patience.
the governor Of will and desire. one is
still apt to fail, even though possessed
OF these o-her admirable essentials,
simply because of lack Of persever-
ance, and over all health is indispen-
sable, for, in the end, it is the factor
that governs.
Recognition Of authority, supported
by tact. is one of the prime requisites
of adaptability, for unless one is not
hardly hope to obtain the experience
80 necessary for leadership. and If tai
ent and genius are in evidence, there
will be less occasion for strife In
attaining initiative power, the stepping
stone between mediocrity and excel
lence which. trengthened by entLusi-
asm, loyalty and courtesy. cannot fail
to indiv'dualize and clothe one with
executive power, the succ cssful use o1
which is limited only to the extent oi
ones ability which, unlike the A-B-C's
cannot be learned from a book. but
The successful executive must possess
keen power of discrimination, judgment
and. above all. fairness Of mind. be-
cause no man can hope to successfully
control the mind and Wills Of other men
unless he, himself, is fair to them.
r. J. Parker, general suuperintend.
ent, eastern district, eastern lines O1
the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe rail.
way, was born June q, 1857, at Ros.
coe, MINI. He was educated at the
Shattuck school at Faribault, MINI.
and entered railway service in 1872 a,
q brakeman on the c. M. & ST. P. Ry
In 1915 he was out Of the service, but
re-entered in 1875, occupying the same
position with the same road as before
In 1877 he was promoted to conductor
which position he held until 1881, wheI
he was made conductor of a cOnstruc.
ton train on the Northern Pacific, con
tinuing in that capacity until 1884
From 1884 until 1885 he was conductor
in charge of construction on the Fargo
Southern railway, leaving that position
to accept a similar one with the Atchi
son, Topeka & Santa Fe railway. In 1888
Mr.. Parker was promoted to division
roadmaster of the Atchison, Topeka 4
Santa Fe railway, in which capacit,
he served until his appointment a
general roadmaster of the eastern di
vision at Topeka in 1893 In 1897 h
was appointed superintendent of tn
middle division, with headquarters a
Newton. After having served consec
utively as division superintendent O
the western, Colorado and Missouri di