Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-01
SILVER SERVICE FOR
PRESIDENT STEVENS
Officials OF Chesapeake and Ohio Re-
member Their Chief on His
SiNty-Fourth Birthday.
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS WITH ROAD
Began His Railroad Career as Mes
senger in Telegraph Office on Balti-
more and Ohio-Ninn Who EN-
ployed Him Attends Presentation.

Upon the occasion of his sixty
fourth birthday and marking the COM
pletion of his twenty-ifth year as an
official of the railroad of which he is
now head. President George w. Ste
Hens, of the Chesapeake and Ohio
Railway. was presented with II hand
some silver service by officials of the
company at his country home Virginia
Manor. near Greenlce Rockbridge
County. Tuesday. Mr.. stevens had
planned TO spend his birthday quietly
at virginia Manor, and was taken
completely by surprise when a spe-
cial train. carrying twenty-five or
thirty officials, arrived
T. y. Goodwin, superintendent OF
freight transportation, presented tho
silver service. reading n high tribute
10 MI stevens, written by James p.
Nelson. OF the valuation commission Of
the railroad. 1t was a beautiful trib-
ute on behalf of the officials to Mr.
Stevens rs their chief" as n rail-
road man and as citizen
c. w. Bradley. superintendent of
telegraph. who. in the COS. gave Mr.
Stevens his first position on a railroad
that of messenger in n telegraph Of
flee on the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
road-also spoke. Mr.. Stevens was
greatly affected at the evidences of
esteem in which he Ia held. and with
difficulty was able TO express his ap-
probation. On the silver service was
engraved the names of the donors,
about thirty in all.
GOODWIN PAYS HIGH
TRIBUTE TO STEVENS
In his address. Mr.. Goodwin said:
MI Stevens, bear with us a mo-
ment while our hearts speak to you.
You came to us a quarter of CEN
fury, and more, ago. stranger. To-
day YOU are our chief.
But what Is more, you are our
friend in all the beauty, the strength,
the breadth, the depth OF the meaning
of that word
we bear in our hands an all-too-
meager token of our love-our birth
day gift. 1t is our love for you that
brings us hero; let that love speak
The wide world of business knows
you as an officer ever faithful to a
great trust. Tho world knows you as
wise and safe guardian OF q large
property. In letters OF gold your
name Is written In perpetual memo
rial upon the rolls of your company.
You came to Virginia, stranger
virginia to-day, with pride. calls
YOU her son.
This is as the world sees YOU
But 70 us has been given the high
er privilege OF knowing you, the man
IF we have been loyal to you in
our services, 1t has been because YOU,
the man, evoked that loyalty
Your patience with us when We
have failed has aroused us to do bet
ter work. Your tireless energy has
stirred us 10 more strenuous labor
Your courage has cheered our hearts
when they were faint. You have made
our dark hours bright. You Lave
helped us when help was most needed
we speak rs officers of the COM
pany whose chief you are: but when
ever your name Is spoken on our road
there YOU have those who love YOU
The lone Waterman, who safeguards
the track, even when the night is cold
the way deep with snow: the man
whose brave skill drives the engine:
the humblest laborer on the linc-they
know you and honor YOU because
| though their chief. you are their
friend
This is why we are here to-day.
For. while We leave with YOU this gift
as q token of our love, we leave with
you larger gift. not to be measured
by gold or silver or precious stones
but gift, the greatest Of all that even
heaven itself can Give-the love of
every servant of this great company
God grant you length OF years to
come and hours serene God grant
| YOU all prosperity and Joy. God grant
you. most Of all. that which is Justly
yours, the peace that belongs to
The man, wise, generous and lust;
The man, beloved of all who know
him:
The citizen. an honor to his State:
The workman, not ashamed OF his
work"
STEVENS CAME TO CHESAPEAKE
AND OHIO IN 1900
Mr.. Stevens came to the Chesapeake
and Ohio in 1890 as general superin-
tendent. and six months later became
general manager. On February I, 1900
he was elected president of tho road
He was born at Utica, O.. June %. 1851
His first six years as n railroad man
was spent with the Baltimore and Ohio,
from which road he went to the Pitts
burg, Cincinnati and st. Louis Rail-
way, rising to the position Of train
dispatcher. From 1873 to 1890 he was
with the wabash. st. Louis and Pacific
Railway. and its successors as follows:
eight years as train dispatcher. two
years is superintendent OF Ohio and
Indiana Division, three and a half years
as superintendent OF the Eastern Divi-
, sion and the remainder of the time as
assistant general superintendent
Few men, not native-born. have be-
como so thoroughly identified with the
interests Of Virginia as has Mr.
| stevens.
PROMINENT OFFICIALS
ATTEND PRESENTATION
Among the officials from Richmond
who went to virginia Manor" for the
presentation of the silver service to
Mr.. stevens were i. NJ. Whitaker. vice
president In charge of tramc; r. W.
Grice. assistant to the president: Gar
rett p. Wall. assistant to the president
! T.. i. Goodwin superintendent Of
| freight transportation; G. c. Walker,
superintendent Of passenger transpor-
tation: j. a. Hancock. assistant treas
urer; c. w. Bradley. superintendent of
/ telegraph: F. j. Cabell, chief engineer:
John p. Potts. general passenger agent,
l II OF