The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1914-03-13
THE OBSERVATORY.


representative OF class; good RAN
road man and a gentleman; there
was a time when it seems to have been
expected that a good railroad man
must be rough, perhaps uncouth and
not unfrequently profane; not simply
under great prOvocation, but habltu-
ally, on all occasions; | have met and
! known both classes; one who has
bulked large in his day began his
railroad training the same year and
/ in the same city where | began my
! higher education; and | have known
! him all these years; and from first to
/ last he has been the courteous gentle
man; when he had become the head
of the passenger department of a
great road, when such officers were
/ Just beginning to have entire direction
of passenger traffic, he had his desk
placed in full view from the main door
OF his room; when | spoke of his be-
ing accessible to everybody, with ev-
cry sort of an errand, he told me that
was his desire; he wished to have his
official desk where every patron of
the system could easily get to him !;
and without his advertising that fact
it soon became known in all the re-
gion, and was in marked contrast to
the official of a competing line; he
wished all who had business with him
to be able to come to him directly
and easily, believing that thus it
would become known that every re-
quest and complaint would have full
and speedy conside alton; and the
spirit in which that plan was made
and followed had its effect; before
that time the travelling public might
be INDUCED with a hearing as a favor
tnom the officials; now they under
stood such hearing was their right to
be freely exercised; he felt it his duty
to know the desires of the patti ons of
his road, and to serve them to the
best OF his ability; that made them
the friends OF the system; and now it
is generally understood in railroading
circles that the goodwill of the pat
rons OF a road is a a st valuable
asset. n passing | may say that this
man OF whom have thus spoken
went to the very head among rail-
road men, ever respected and trusted.
! met John Sebastian of the Rock
sIand road just once; but that one
time revealed the man to me; bunch
OF men in the same calling with my
self felt that a certain rule of the
great lines out of Chicago had been
made under misapprehension of the
facts.
And passing through Chicago the
week Mr.. Sebastian had been appoint
ed General Passenger Agent, / called
on him. | have ever found that |
could accomplish the best results with
the highest official to whom | could
get access. AS | entered the main Of
hce an elderly clerk asked me my bus
mess; | replied | wished to see Mr..
Sebastian; | was then asked what my
business was; | said it was to CON
Ter with Mr.. Sebastian; the elderly
gentleman scowled at me and asked
me if | had a card; upon producing
that he thawed at once, took il TO
the inner office and returning he Jerk
ed his thumb over his shoulder. saw
ing In there" AS | entered Mr.. Sc |
bastian rose. and greeted me cour-
teouSly, motioned me to a seat and |
inquired my business. stated it in
a few words, when he called his chief
clerk, saying, Mr.. Smith, please 90
over the matter with Mr.. o. and see
II we can comply with his request"
MT. smith was evidently brisk, alert |
wen posted, gentlemanly, with all the
strings ot the Office in his hands; |
went into the matter a little further
with hm, when he called DEPART
ment clerk Che was another M
SMITH and asked him to show me-
the rule; this he did carefully, en-
planning 1t fully; | asked a question
or two and discovered what SIM
posed, he knew nothing except the
rule and he had nothing to do with
me rules except 10 promulgate and
2oey them. | had accomplished moth
ing. But | had not been rather init
mate with big railroad men for some
years without learning a thing or two
SO | thanked him, went out, the frst
Mr. Smith asking kindly if [ had
learned what | had desired, re-
Piled that | had reviewed what I al
ISe3uy knew. Then | approached Mr..
oeoastian desk again, and with an
tpoloey asked II he would give me
iNe minutes; that | knew he was verv
'uSy; but | telt the matter important
ma was long way from home. He
laid down his pen, and
'"S an attention. | told him | had Il
(,een shown what | already knew. hnt
NAT my errand was to ascertain i
NAT rule could not be changed. Il
hought there were good reasons wby
might be, with no harm to tbe
abroad. had not used more tbon
hTee minutes when he stopped me-
allied his chief clerk, Mr.. Smith tbs
lrSt and said to me Mr.. O.. | am
lew to this Office, having lust enter-
"a on my duties; Mr.. Smith has beer
leTTe long time; we will have he
Judgment and advice" And then he
aid to Mr.. Smith, Now listen TO NJ
,. Then went over the snbiect
gam when he asked the chief rIerL
Would such rule as Mr.. 0. desireS
'holly comply with the law" He
vas told 1t would. Then he ino,;rad
there was any inter-railroad agree-
nent 1t would violate. He was IA
nat none existed Then he astnd |
Dir; Smith ii it was not reasonnbIa
nd tar ruling, and he had TO arknnu.
edge he thought so. Then said ~
eoaStlan: 1T commends itself To me-
]