Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-08-24
OPERATION FATAL
T0DARIUS MILLER
President of Burlington System
Dies While on Glacier
Park Tour.
BEGINS AS STENOGRAPHER
Career One Of Most Striking 10
mances Of Success in Annals OF
Railroad Business.

Darius Miller. president of the Chi
caro. Burlington & Quincy railroad
died AT 1910 o'clock yesterday morn
ing following an operation for appen-
dicitis.
HIS death was announced by tele-
graph from Cedar Park, where he mad
been spending his vacation
Mrs. Miller and several railroad or
fcials. including Louis ". Hill, presi-
dent of the Great Northern railway
and J. NJ. Gruber, vice president were
AT Mr. Miller's bedside.
Mr. Miller was touring the park
and apparently was in good health
when he was stricken suddenly last
"Wednesday. Special trains carrying
physicians made record runs TO the
mark from St. Paul, Seattle and Great
Falls.
Declines After Operation.
A consultation was held and it was
decided that an immediate operation
was imperative. II was performed at
$3.50 O'Clock Saturday afternoon and
appeared 10 have been successful, but
the patients condition became worse
shortly after midnight, when a steady
decline began.
The body will arrive in Chicago to-
morrow. when arrangements for the
funeral will be announced Services
probably will be held in Trinity
church and burial will be in Rosehill
cemetery.
The story Of Darius Miller's rise
from a humble position as stenog-
rapher in a freight agents Office to
the presidency OF the great q" sys-
TEN is one OF the most striking TO
mances of success in the annals Of
railroading. He was born in Prince
ton, Ill, on April 3, 1859
A common school education, a
grounding in stenography and lib
eral supply of ambition were his en-
tire capital when he was employed by
the Michigan Central railroad shortly
after his 18th birthday.
Goes After" Promotion.
For three years he kept his nose to
the grindstone, fguratively speaking,
then decided that it was time for a
change. Promotion not having come
to him. he went after promotion, He
went to work as a clerk in the general
freight Office OF the St Louis, Iron
Mountain & Southern railroad. and a
year later became chief clerk TO the
general freight and passenger agent
OF the Memphis & Little Rock line
One year later. in 1882. he married
Sue c. Brown OF Morris, Ill. With
the spur of responsibility and the lash
OF ambition. he settled down to learn
every intimate detail OF the railroad
business
He did not stop at doing his own
work, but was Unsuitable in looking
for opportunities to do the work of
others.
When he encountered any phase of
the business he did not understand,
he studied It carefully and put his
knowledge TO the test at the firsS
opportunity.
Others were not backward in shift
ing their burdens TO Miller's willing
shoulders.
-Four years of service as chief clerk
equipped him for his next step up
ward. His opportunity came when the
general agency of the St Louis, Ar
kansas & Texas system was vacant.
He went after it. got IL and rose to
the position OF traffic manager.
Proves Ideas Sound.
II 4SoV the queen q OIc5GenL IOule
needed traffic manager. The time
had gone by when Miller found It
necessary 70 seek the position; instead
the position sought him The road
made overtures 20 him and he accept
ed. STIMULATING that he be permitted 70
try out some OF his theories without
interference. The soundness OF his
ieeas was shown when the Missouri,
Kansas &c Texas, seeing the results
he obtained, took him over as vice
president IN charge of traffic.
we must have that man." said
James J. Hill, the railroad master OF
the northwest. and IN 1898 Mr.. Miller
became second vice president OF the
Great Northern In four years he be-
came first vice president OF the 90"
Eight years later he was chosen
president OF the road. reaching the top |
OF the ladder just 33 years after he !
began TO make pot hooks as stem
ographer in the Michigan Central /
freight Office. His new position in
cluded the p-csidency of the Colorado /
& Southern.
All