Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1916-04-07
CHAPTER TX
The Speedway

~ WAS III Tue udyS aILeT ne udu
found on his desk a long envelope in
closing a 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. "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. II was scarce
ly believable. But a hastily sought in
terview with the company's president
cleared 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 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 a good. reliable government
brake. It's going to be your business
to see to It that the reclamation serv-
ice gets exactly what its contract calls
for, kiIowatt 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 q
particle. What? You'd put us out oil
businessP Not much, you wouldn't;
we'd play politics with you and get q
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 fred now
that's one comfort. When will yot
want my expert opinion on your aux
iliary dam?"
"On our dam, you mean. Oh. any
time soon; say tomorrow or Friday
OF Saturday, IL that hurries you toe
much. We sha'nt want to go to worl
on ii before Monday"
Being himself an exponent Of the
modern theory that the way to dC
things is to do them now, Brouillart
accepted the hurry order without com
ment. Celebrity. swiftness of accom-
plishment that was almost magical
had become the Mirapolitan order o
the day. Plans conceived overnigh
1eaped to their expositions in thing
done as If the determination to d,
them had been all that was necessar,
to their realization.
you shall have the report tomor
row." said the newly created consult
ing engineer, "but you can't go Il
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 mem"
"Oh, no." concluded the city builder
I'VE sha'n't do that. You'll admit
your capacity of government watcf
dog-that we have played fair in tina
game We have imported every worl
man we've needed, and we shall in
port more That's one thing none G
us can afford 20 do-bull the labo
market. And IT won't be necessary
we have a trainload of Italians an
Bulgarians on the way to Quesado Il
day. and they ought to be here b
Monday"
"You are a wonder. Mr.. Cortwright
was Brouillard's tribute to the workt
Of modern miracles, and he went h
way to ride to the upper end of th
valley for the exploring purpose.
On the Monday, as President Cor
wright had so confidently predicte
the train load Of laborers had marcht
in over the War Arrow trail and Il
work on the auxiliary power dam W;
begun. On the Tuesday a small arm
Of linemen arrived 70 set the poll
and to string the wires for the ligt
ing OF the town. On the Wednesdt
there we're fresh accessions to Il
army OF builders, and the freighters
the Quesado trail reported a stea,
stream Of artisans pouring in to rui
the city-making.
On the Thursday the grading al
paving of Chigringo avenue was |
gun, and, true to his promise, Mr.. Co
wright was leaving a right of way
the street for the future troll
tracks. And it. was during this evel
full week that the distant thunder
the dynamite brought the welcor
tidings of the pushing of the railro
grade over the mountain barrier. AL
but this was an item Of minor /
portance-it was on the Saturday
this week that the second tier of forl
was erected on the great dam and t
stripped first section of the massi
gray foot.wall Of concrete raised its
In mute but eloquent protest again
the feverish activities of the miraC
workers. II the protest were thre
It was far removed. Many thir
might happen before the gray W
should rise high enough to cast
shadow, and the shadow Of the conn
end. over the miraculous city Of
plain.
1t was Brouillard himself who