The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1916-03-16
CHAPTER TX
The Speedway

IL 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 Brouillard began to lose his nick
name of "Hells-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
1y believable. But hastily sought in
terview with the company's president
lcleared the air of all the incredible
ties.
why, my dear Brouillardl what in
Sam Hill do you take us for?" was the
genial retort when the young engineer
had made his deprecatory protest
did you think we were going TO cut
the melon and hand you out a piece of
the rind2 Not so, my dear boy; we
are not built on any such narrow gauge
lines. That's what we are willing to
pay for a 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 kilowatt."
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
We'll" 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"
ION our dam, you mean. oh, any
time soon; say tomorrow or Friday
or Saturday, If that hurries you toe
much. We sha'n't want TO go to work
on it before Monday"
Being himself an exponent OF the
modern theory that the way to dc
things is to do them now, BrouillarC
accepted the hurry order without com
plishment that was almoA magical
had become the Metropolitan order o
the day. Plans conceived overnight
1eaped to their expositions in thing
done as II the determination to d.
them had been all that was necessar,
to their realization.
you shall have the report tomol
row" said the newly created consult
ing engineer. but you can't go {
work Monday. The labor market 1
empty. and I'm taking it for granite
that you're not going TO stampede m
shovelers and concrete men"
on no" concluded the city builde
I'VE sha'nt do that. You1 admit
your capacity of government watcl
dog--that we have played fair I'm tht
game We have imported every worl
man we've needed and we shall IN
port more. That's one thing none
us can afford to do-buil the lab,
market And II won't be necessary
we have q trainload OF Italians ar
Bulgarians on the way 90 Quesado &
day, and they ought 70 be here ?
Monday"
you arc a wonder Mr. Cortwright
was Brouillards tribute TO the work
or modern miracles. and he went h
way % ride to the upper end OF q
valley for the exploring purpose
On tho Monday as President Col
wright had so confidently predictr
tho train load of laborers had march
fn over enc War Arrow trail and d
work on The aux1iary power dam W
begun ON the Tuesday "a small arl
cf lnomon arrived to set Che Dol
and 70 string the wires for the He
ing OF the town. ON the Wcdnesd
I fhore were ff68h ocetsslohs rs {
army OF builders and The freightcrs
the Quesado trail reported "a atoa
stream of artisans pouring in 20 ru
the citymakng.
On the Thursday the grading o.
paving OF ChigrinRo avenue was
gun. and true to li8 promise. Mr. Ga
wright was leaving n right of way
the street for the future troll
tracks And q was during this eve
ful week that the distant thunder
the dynamite brought the welco
tidings of the pushing OF the railrc