Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-08-24
DARIUS MILLER SUCCUMes AFTER
OPERATION FOR APPEN-
plclTis.
STRICKEN SUDDENLY
WHILE TOURING PARK
Miller Rises From stenosrapher in
Freight Office to Head Of Great
Railroad system-Proteoe Of James
HiIl-sucessded by Hard Work and
Persistence.

Chicago, Aug. 24.-Darius Miller.
president Of the Chicago. Burlington
and Quincy railroad, died at 1910
O'Clock Sunday morning following an
operation for appendicitis.
His death was announced by tele-
graph from Glacier Park, where he had
been spending his vacation.
Mrs. Miller and several railroad Of
ficials, including Louis w. 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 park from ST. Paul,
Seattle and Great Falls.
The story of Darius Miller's rise from
a humble position as stenographer In a
freight agents office to the presidency
of the great %" system is one of the
most striking romances of success in
the annals OF railroadipg. He was born
in Princeton, ILL.,, on April 8, 1859.
a
grounding in stenography and a liberal
supply OF ambition were his entire cap.
ital when he was employed by the
Michigan Central railroad shortly after
his eis sixteenth birthday
Goes After" Promotion.
For three years he kept his nose to
the grindstone. figuratively speaking.
then decided that it was time for a
tanga prnr,ofjpn ba, an
him. he went after promotion. He went
TO work as a clerk in the general freight
office Of the ST. Louis. Iron Mountain
and Southern railroad. and a year later
became chief clerk to the general
freight and passenger agent of the
Memphis and Little Rock line
One year later, in 1882, he married
Sue c. Brown. of Morris. H. 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 knowl-
edge 10 the test at the first opportun-
ity.
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. Arkan-
sas and Texas system was vacant He
went after it. got it and rose to the po-
sition of traffic manager
In 1890 the Queen and Crescent Route
needed a traffic manager. The time
had gone by when Miller found it nee
essary to seek the position: instead the
position sought him. The road made
overtures to him and he accepted, stip-
ulating that he be permitted to try out
some of his theories without interfer-
ence. The soundness OF his ideas was
shown when the Missouri, Kansas and
Texas, seeing the results he obtained,
took him over as vice president in
charge of traffic.
I'VE 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 60"
Eight years later he was chosen
president of the road. reaching the top
OF the ladder just thirty three years
after he began to make pot hooks as
stenographer in the Michigan Central
freight office. His new position in
Guided the presidency of the Colorado
and Southern.
He was a director Of the Continental
and CommercialsNation Bank and the
Union Trust Company, and member
OF the following clubs: Chicago Union
League, Chicago Athletic Saddle and
Cycle. South Shore Country, st. Louis
(of st. LOUIS, and the Minnesota (of
st. Paul)