The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-20
THE SKYSCRAPER

division on the western plains: but
this was the way Of II:
A man sitting in q little ONCE on
La Sale street wrote a few words on
a very ordinary looking sheet Of paper
and touched a button. That brought a
colored boy, and he took the paper out
to a young man. who sat at the east
ern end Of a private wire.
The next thing we knew orders be-
gan to come in hot from the presi-
dents ofice-the president OF the road,
II O please-to get that wheat IN the
h1yh line into Chicago. and to get It
there quickly.
dents OF motive power, were spurred
with special orders and special bulle-
tins. Farmers, startled by the great
prices offering. hauled night and day.
Every old tub we had in the shops
and on the scrap vas ovSrhauled and
hustled into the service The division
danced with excitement. Every bushel
OF wheat on Il must be In Chicago by
the morning Of May 81.
For two weeks we worked every
thing to the limit. the Skyscraper led
any two engines OF the line. Even
Dad Hamilton was glad to cry enough
and take a helper. We doubled them
every day. and the way the wheat
few over the line toward the lower end
of Lake Michigan was appalling TO
spectators.
II was a battle between two com
mercial giants-and a battle to the
death. II shook not alone the country.
II shook the world. but that was
nothing to us; our orders were simply
10 move the wheat. And the wheat
moved.
The last week found us pretty well
cleaned up; but the high price brought
grain out of cellars and wells. the
buyers said-at least II brought all the
boarded wheat. and much OF the seed
wheat. and the twenty-eighth day Of
the month found nifty cars Of wheat
still In the GAINESVILLE yards. I was at
Harvard working on a time card when
the word came. and behind II a special
from h general manager. stating
there was 1000 premium in II for the
company. besides tariff. II we go that
wheat into Chicago by Saturday MORN
ing.
The train end Of II didn't bother me
any; II was the motive power that
kept me studying. However, we fig
ured that by running McNeal with the
Skyscraper back wild we could put
all the wheat behind her in one train.
As II happened Neighbor was az Har-
ward. toe.
Can they ever get over Beverly
with fifty, Neighbor ?" ] asked doubt
fully.
We'll never know till they try IT,"
growled Neighbor. There's a thou.
sand for the company II they do. that's
all. How'll you run them? Give them
plenty OF sea room; they'll have to
sallop to make it."
o and reckless planning. taking
the daring chances. ~straining the flesh
and blood driving the steel loaded TO
the swapping point: that was what II
meant. But the company wanted re-
suits: wanted the prestige, and the
premium too. To gain them we were
expected 10 stretch our little
TO the uttermost.
I studied a minute, then turned TO
the dispatcher.
Tell Norman TO send them out as
second 4: that gives the right Of way
over every wheel against them. II
they can't make 1t on that kind Of
schedule, 1t isn't In the track"
II was extraordinary business rather
sending a train Of wheat through on a
Passenger schedule. practically as the
second section Of our ~eastbound flier:
but we o the hair lifting chances
on the plains.
II was noon when the orders were
flashed. At 3 o'clock No. 4 was due TO
leave GAINESVILLE. For three hours I
Kept the wires busy warning all opera
tors and trainmen. even switch engines
and yard masters. Of the wheat special
second 4.
The fier. the first section and regu-
lar passenger train, was checked out