Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1917-02-09
HAVE HUMAN Side
BlG RAILROAD MEN NOT ALL
WITHOUT HEARTS.
AS a Proof of 1t, a Transaction In
Which the Late James J. Hill Fig
ured Is Recalled by One
Who Knew Him.

Who Knew Him.
'rPerhaps you think the hard-headed
iions of the railroad game have no
hearts?"
The speaker was prominent execu-
tive of the New York Central and
Hudson River Railroad company. For
40 years he served several Of the big
transcontinental lines of America and
his acquaintance with kings Of the
steel rails is large.
"Any man who is acquainted with
the hurly-burly of your exacting bust
ness" l replied, "would imagine that
they need their hearts for the sole
purpose OF pumping energy"
"That is the common conception"
> he pursued. THE public reads of the
relentless warfare for business, of the
iron fist exploited in deals and in di-
rectorates. SO people doubt the eXis-
tence of the human side. Yet if you
pause to think, this human side must
exist or the whole fabric-which is
built upon personal cooperation Of
appreciation and service-falls to the
ground.
II knew the late James ]. Hill very
well. Two years ago I was in the
employ of the Great Northern, with
headquarters in st. Paul. Mr.. Hill
then was supposed to have retired
He had retired like the boys in the
European trenches did after the peace
notes and terms were submitted to the
neutrals.
"Jim Hill was very unusual man.
He never bored anybody. Men alter
nately hated and loved him. Many
spread broadcast the misinformation
that his heart simply served as n
ticker.
''There was a reason for this. He
would find an employee reniging on
the job. This employee soon would
kiss his job good-by with an impetus
that would jar his back teeth loose.
Thereafter he would tell everybody
that Mr.. Hills heart was made of the
stuff you put in the top Of refriger-
ators.
"Mr. Hill did things that proved the
contrary, but he never megaphoned his
good deeds. Here's a story that fell
under my notice. 1t shows the soft
side Of Jim Hill.
"Some years ago a boy of twelve
years stealing ride on one of the
Great Northern trains near st. Paul
fell under the wheels and lost q leg.
In few days an adjuster of the Great
Northern interviewed the boy. He
asked the little fellow what he thought
the Great Northern owed him.
"That's all right replied the little
chap. You see 1 hadn't any business
to be on the car. I'd run away from
home, an I'd stole the ride on the
railroad, an I just got what was
comm to me, that's all. No. the road
don't owe me nothing
"The adjuster, marveling, went away.
He told the story at the office and in
time it reached Jim Hill.
Somebody who admits that rail-
road doesn't owe him anything| Mr..
Hill asked. SIS he human
"Less one Leg he was told. of
course, he's only boy. That might
account for It,
"T never met a young boy yet who
didn't consider that the world owed
him everything replied the trail
blazer. I think this youngster is
worth Investigating
"He Investigated him. AS a starter
he bought him the best artificial leg
that money could buy, and he pur-
chased bigger legs as the boy grew.
He put him through preparatory
school and college. Mr.. Hill figured
the boy worth a substantial start in
life and reports are that the young
man is developing as the veteran ex-
pected.
Moreover, Mr.. Hill looked up the
boys father. He was q discouraged
struggler. He started him in business
and he is prospecting. That particular
family is numbered among the myriad
Hill rooters today"