William J. Jackson,
President, Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railway.
The operating department of the railroads seems to have had a special attraction for the capabilities of many Canadians, which is born out by the outstanding examples mentioned in this partial resume. Samuel G. Strickland, General Manager, C. & N.W.R., was reared at Lakefield, Ont., in Kawartha Lakes locality and it takes a good man to please the veteran Marvin Hughitt who always expected a high quality of service.
Yet another United States railroader who was cradled in Canada is W. J. Jackson, former Vice-President of the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railway, and now President and Receiver of this property at Chicago, who has recollections of earlier days when he was “Johnnie” Jackson, working on the “inwards” desk with the “G.T.R.” at Toronto before he went west with the late George B. Reeve when the latter was traffic manager with the Chicago & Grand Trunk Railway.
There comes to mind the names of half a dozen operating officers located at different points of the compass beginning at the “Atlantic” with John McCraw, Superintendent, Central Vermont Railway, New London, Conn., born at Craigvale and well trained in all departments by the Grand Trunk Railway. He knows the game from billing express, handling the throttle or shifting a bridge at night, and by his urbanity and quiet effectiveness made a reputation along the Sound. George Reith, Superintendent Virginian Railway at Norfolk, Va., who gravitated from unobtrusive Hensall to scenes of greater scope; John T. Lewis, Superintendent Tennessee Central Railway, Nashville, Tenn., from Hamilton, who did not “pass the buck” but shouldered his responsibilities; A. L. Boughner, a son of St. Thomas, now Superintendent of Terminals for “M.K. & T.” at St. Louis, the road that operates the “Katy Flyer”; W. H. Jones, formerly with “O.S.L.”, Pocatello, at present Superintendent of Southern Pacific Ry., Riverside, Cal., and J. D. Brennen from Brockville, beside the St. Lawrence, Superintendent at Sacramento, for the same extensive system.
Indexed with Uncle Sam’s adopted sons let us register the names of Arthur G. Wells, Los Angeles, California, General Manager, Santa Fe Coast Lines, the son of a Guelph, Ontario, postmaster, whose work in Detroit, Toledo, Cincinnati, &c., helped him to climb the ladder like a fireman at a fire. Likewise, his brother, R. E. Wells, a general manager with the San Pedro System, genial Geo. W. Hibbard, formerly A.G.P.A., C.M. & P.S.R., Seattle, and A. D. Charlton, A.G.P.A., Northern Pacific Railway, Portland, Oregon. There are several others who have found a field for congenial labor along the Pacific Slope where perennial verdancy carpets each beautiful valley and after a business trip in that region Mr. Geo. T. Bell, P.T.M., G.T.R., told me after returning, some time ago, that “the woods were full of them”. No doubt, he had in mind the case of Mr. D. W. Campbell. Born in Hanover, Ont., about 1858, this village boy moved along step by step from quiet surroundings to a place in the sun that demands accurate judgment in conserving public safety and promoting the expectations of capital. Durham was where he learned the difference between an engine cab and a coupe, how to abstract way bills and also prime the telegraph battery jars with blue stone. He dispatched trains with the G.T.R., at Stratford, with the C.P.R. at Moose Jaw, the C.B. & Q.R. at Dubuque and the N.P.R. at Missoula, Montana, gaining confidence and reputation. For some time his headquarters was at Tekoa on the “O.R. & N.Co.” As Superintendent of this line he was transferred to Portland and to Seattle. Later the Southern Pacific Railway engaged his services for executive duties at terminals beside Puget Sound, which were the forerunners of assignments in California, culminating in the berth of Asst. Genl. Manager, Southern Pacific Ry, Los Angeles, as gazetted in the current issue of Official Guide.
Geo. W. Hibbard,
Of Geo. W. Hibbard Co., Brokers, Seattle,
Formerly A.G.P.A., C.P.R., Montreal, and G.P.A., Puget Sound Route.