Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1916-06-30

case OF Henry WillmerinE, expert wit
ness In the Arkansas rate cases won
in the United States Supreme Court,
expert in the Oklahoma rate cases
and candidate for corporation commits
siOner. to succeed George Henshaw.
Met the Giant Early.
Mr.. Willmering was born in Louisa
county, Iowa, in 1870 His father had
been for years prominent grower and
shipper OF live stock. His earliest
business impressions, received while
yet spending spare hours fishing and
playing towu-lot ball, related to his
fathers problems of live stock trans.
portation, rates charged, losses in tran
sit, cost OF loading, feeding, etc. I'm
consciously, he began applying his
young but naturally analytical mind
to these matters, and II was natural
enough that, at the age of Is, while yet
In high school, he became connected
with the Burlington, Cedar Rapids &
Northern Railroad, as station helper in
Port Allen, Iowa. Here he came into
contact with records dealing with the
originating, shipping and receiving OF
many kinds of traffic.
Seeks a Bigger World.
Business reverses which overlook
his father made 1t necessary for him
to increase his income. This fsct and
the realization that his home town af-
foTded little opportunity for develop
ment OF ability in has chosen line
prompted the young man to go to Chi.
cago, where at the age OF 20 be became
q yard clerk for the Pennsylvania Rail-
road. Here he found traffic in un-
limited volume and an opportunity to
develop his initiative in improving the
systems in use for keeping dranspor-
tation records. His ability bepng recog.
nized promptly, he found himself at
:2l assigned to the task OF developing
actual costs of handling tonnage in
and out through the great Pennsyl-
vania warehouses. For more Than ten
years he applied himself to the sOIu-
tion of statistical problems on the
Pennsylvania and the Wabash.
In 1902 OklahOma's FIRST oil boom
attracted him to the coming state.
Placed in charge OF the station at
Cleveland by the NJ, X. & r.. he
handled successfully one of the heav-
lest congestions in freight traffic ever
recorded in the southwest, and laid the
foundation for his present high stand
ing in commercial circles of this state.
Takes Up Peoples Fight.
A believer In fairness in all matters,
Including railway rates and service,
and convinced OF great opportunities
for good in the jurisdiction conferred
by the oklahoma constitution on the
Corporation Commission, and having
been always an active and effective
worker in the party that wrote the con-
stitution, Mr. Willmering applied for
and secured the position of statistician
and rate expert when the Commission
vas organized. In 1911 he accepted
more remunerative position with the
local gas distributing company in Ok
lahoma City. as its auditor. A pro.
vision in his contract enabled him to
assist the Corporation Commission at
any time in its rate cases. This pro
vision has given the state the benefit
Of his counsel at all times. without
cost.
Has Family and Farm.
At The request OF Chairman Jack
Love and the other commissioners he
accepted an appointment by Attorney
General Freezing in February this year
as consulting expert in the present
Oklahoma rate cases.
In Chicago, in 1891, he married and