The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-12-23
Derrick Personally
Knew Every Empl0ye

\NoHtIHuS0 from page 00o)
did to bear along with stcnograph-
err new at the business. but never
cross word was spoken and much en-
enlargement was given me along the
way until ! had mastered my subject.
II was strange to me that man so
long in the harness, so accustomed
to the daily routine. SO near the end
OF long career and one who had
broken in" hundreds of new men,
should still have that JOb.like pa
thence. we'll recall upon one occa-
sion an agent had written about his
helper, new man, complaining that
it took too much Of his time to teach
him the work. When Mr.. Derrick
read the letter he was indignant. "He
doesn't remember that he had to
learn once himself" he calculated.
1t showed the character Of the man.
He has built up an organization
that is not dependent upon him and
when he goes his successor will step
in and the machine will continue as
smoothly as If nothing had happened.
During the last two years of Mr..
Derrick's railroad career I have per-
haps been in, closer touch with him
than any other Of his employees. Hav-
ing written or taken dictation for
all Of his business and most of his
private letters, having had access to
all confidential railroad matters and
attended all important investigations
with him. it has been my privilege to
gather much from him relating to his
life and career.
Rather breads Retiring
For the most part ! think the past
Saruc ~ - nnk~ - s,&, Ia
was extremely progressive and alert
to new ideas and that attitude to life
kept him young in spirit. But the
last year Of his railroad service he
became. retrospective. lie began to
realize that his active work was
nearing close and although he had
asked for retirement three years
previously and had been requested
by the officials Of the company to re-
main y few years longer, neverthe-
less I think he dreaded. just q little,
the thought. Of breaking away after
55k years in the harness.
He would often say, II think I have
earned my rest, hut I hate to part
with the boys" BY the boys, he
meant his subordinates and asso-
ciates. He personally knew every
one Of his several hundred employees.
Many Of them had been with him for
years. Fifteen agents have worked
with him for the last IS years and
nearly as many conductors and Sec
ton foremen have been with him that
length Of time. The engineers, for
the most part, are younger men. He
was greatly attached to his men and
when he leaves there are none who
will feel the loss more keenly than
they. In fact, it has seemed to mo
that he Was too lenient with his men.
but for the most part think they
realized and appreciated his kindness
and gave the company q service in
return that more than merited the &C.
| ton.
On our road trips, it was always
hard for me to conciliSts Mis- actions
with his age. He was a constant and
hard worker. At 50 years Of age he
could almost Guido me ut Is. OF
course he could not stand the physi-
! cal exertion that could but re-
! quired good nights sleep; whereas
he often worked late at night burn
.ing the midnight. oil and was up the
NEXT morning ct 8 or $3.50 ready Tor
arcther day Of strenuous work.
He was quick to make decisions and
q tySI0 w SSsVsss SOu0SsV0OAS -
found he was in the wrong. No one
! would more quickly admit an. error
than he. Often II I disagreed with
him on some point ] felt especially
free in bringing it to his attention
II he saw was right he would i'm,
mediately acknowledge his error and
correct Il. He Rad On ability to see
| intD future situations and to act
quickly in emergencies. Upon one
occasion while on the road ne was
going over some papers. while VA
/ typing' across the. car from him. SUD.
! denly. he ran out onto the rear plat
form and applied the air, bringing tne
train to an emergency stop. The
train crew piled out and he met them
saying: "took your train over
boys" They found = brakebeen'
dragging. His keen eye h',d caught
khs faint marks II was making on the
/ ties and his quick action probably
!. averted derailment. very ntue
| missed his eyes on Ms trip over the
road, either in the roadbsd' the