JAMES E. DIXON.
Mr. James E. Dixon, of Providence, R. I., belongs to that class of men who are helpful to my book in enabling me to demonstrate that the colored people are entering all the professions and business walks of life in which white men enter and succeed.
J. E. DIXON.
Mr. Dixon went to the North from Richmond, Va. Having lost both his parents at a very early age, it left him to look after himself, just at the time when a loving mother is most needed. What he has in the way of an education was obtained at New Bedford, Mass. But having a desire to travel, he accepted an offer to go to sea, which vocation he followed for a number of years, rounding the globe at least seven times, visiting one or more parts of every continent, inclusive of Australia, New Zealand and a number of Islands in both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Finding it to his advantage, he hailed from an English port, and stuck to the English Merchant Service. He secured a mate's certificate, and worked himself up to a position as chief officer of one of the finest sailing ships under the English flag. But by an unfortunate accident in Calcutta, July 4, 1884, he lost his right arm. He then returned to New Bedford, Mass., and after a hard struggle against big odds, mastered telegraphy. The Western Union Telegraph Co., in recognition of his services in their main office, appointed him on June 11, 1889, as manager of their branch office at the Parker House, New Bedford, which place he held until he resigned June 3, 1893, to take charge of his present position at Signal Tower on the main line of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Rail Road, at Providence, R. I. Some idea of his work and responsibilities is given in this statement. In 1894, 34,284 trains passed this point, and the number is never under this. The operator has to know and report the exact condition of every train. In addition he has to give a signal to each train whether or not it is all right to go ahead. The position held by Mr. Dixon is indeed one of great responsibility, and should he fail to discharge his whole duty in giving each train the proper signal, great loss of life and property would result. So well has the company been pleased with his work, that they offer employment to other members of the race when they can show that they are properly fitted for duty.
PHILIP J. ALLSTON.
Mr. Philip J. Allston, of Boston, Mass., is holding what I consider a very unique position. After leaving the public school of Boston he accepted a position in the firm of Weeks & Potter, wholesale and retail druggists and chemists of that city. He was first employed as a bottle washer in 1878, but had not been in the establishment very long when he had learned the business of manufacturing the famous articles sold by that firm.
