Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-05-18
CHAPTER TX
The Speedway

It was In the days after he had
found On his desk long envelope in
closing certificate for a thousand
shares Of stock In the Niquoia Electric
Power, Lighting and Traction company
that Brouil1ard began to lose his nick
name Of "Hell's-Fire" among his work
men, with the promise of attaining, in
due time. to the more affectionate
title Of "the Little Big Boss"
At the envelope-opening moment,
however, he was threatened with an
attack of heart failure. 1t was scarce
ly believable. But hastily sought in
terView with the company's president
cleared the air of all the incre6ibili.
ties.
why, my dear Brouillard! what in
Sam Hill do you take us for?" was the
genial retort when the young engineer
had made his deprecatorv protest
did you think we were going to cut
the melon and hand you out piece Of
the rind? Not so, my dear boy; we
are not built on any such narrow-gauge
lines. That's what we are willing to
pay for good, reliable government
brake. It's going to be your business
to see to 1t that the reclamation serv-
Ice gets exactly what its contract calls
for, kilowatt for kilcwatt"
I'D do that, anyhow, as chief of con-
struction on the dam"
You mean you would try to do it.
AS an officer Of the power company,
you can do It; as an official kicker on
the outside, you couldn't feaze us a
particle. What? You'd put US out Of
business? Not much, you wouldn't;
we'd play politics with you and get a
man for your job who wouldn't kick"
WELL" said the inheritor of sudden
wealth, still matching the promoters
mood, you won't get me fired now,
that's one comfort. When will you
want my expert opinion on your aux
Hilary damn"
"On our dam, you mean. Oh, any
time soon; say tomorrow or Friday
or Saturday, II that hurries you too
much. We sha'n't want to go to work
on 1t before Monday"
Being himself an exponent Of the
modern theory that the way to do
things Is to do them now. Brouillard
accepted the hurry order without COM
ment. Celebrity, swiftness of accom-
plishment that was almost magical,
had become the Metropolitan order of
the day. Plans conceived overnight
1eaped to their expositions in things
done as II the determination to do
to their realization.
you shall have the report tomor-
row." said the newly created consult
ing engineer, but you can't go to
work Monday. The labor market is
empty, and I'm taking it for granted
that you're not going to stampede my
shovelers and concrete men"
'Oh. no." concluded the city builder,
I'VE sha'n't do that You'll admit-in
your capacity of government watch
dog-that We have played fair in that
game. We have imported every work
man we've needed, and we shall i'm
port more. That's one thing none Of
US can afford to do-bull the labor
market. And 1t won't be necessary;
we have trainload Of Italians and
Bulgarians on the way to Quesado to-
day, and they ought to be here by
Monday"
"You are a wonder, Mr. Cartwright"
was Brouillard's tribute to the worker
OF modern miracles, and he went his
way tn ride tn the INNER end of the
valley for the exploring purpose.
On the Monday, as President Cort-
wright had 80 confidently predicted,
the train load of laborers had marched
in over the War Arrow trail and the
work on the auxiliary power dam was
begun. On the Tuesday g small army