The lustre of that becoming virtue modesty, dims not if blossoming in a railroader’s physique, but when a prominent man like John Francis, General Passenger Agent, Burlington Route, side steps a niche in “the hall of fame”, deprecating the reproduction of his photographed features, and explaining,, “Twenty years have elapsed since I faced a machine that would stand for such an operation”, his bashfulness checks “Over” and generates regret. The baptismal archives at Longueuil, Quebec, record the initial appearance of Mr. Francis, but he has been “Present” many times since and proven an entertaining raconteur. Frank F. Barbour, retiring G.P.A., Rutland Railway, was cradled at Montreal, and east of this former possession of King Louis, at Newport, in the maritime “finnan haddie” province of Nova Scotia, Eben E. MacLeod was born. The path he traversed to Chairmanship of Western Passenger Association led through Eastern Canada and eight different ticket office positions in various states. Mr. MacLeod courted responsibilities, always received a square deal under the Stars & Stripes and the end is not yet, as he is in his prime and looks the part.
The hands of destiny which mold futures, often weave a woof of inscrutable, unfamiliar design. Had James Webster, the persistent Owen Sound student, been informed by D. McNicol in olden days when they were together on “Toronto, Grey & Bruce”, that his horoscope prognosticated “Freight Traffic Manager” in 1918, “Jimmie” would have scorned the soft impeachment and played sluggard in swallowing the Scotchman’s capsule. Yet, James Webster, master of detail, the Nickel Plate graduate whom “N.Y.C.” has exalted, deserves a bronze in the gallery of immortals to radiate encouragement for the struggling faithful and confusion to grumblers. Mr. W. A. Terry, Asst. Freight Traffic Manager, N.Y.C. Lines, Chicago, spent some time in his youth in Canada. Minus the sustained efforts of these officials, of their passenger confreres and the gentlemen comprising the solicitation staff identified with the traffic departments, the railways could boast of gilded coaches and a nickel rail and then be doomed to failure, notwithstanding the swan songs sung by some of our operating friends, declared a very prominent traffic officer in the Northwest.
It is estimated by financiers that $500,000,000 were to be spent in Canada during 1910 to meet proposed expansion by the Government, great corporations and railways. Expectations did not bulk so large when W. D. Carrick, who is Genl. Baggage Agent, St. Paul Road, resigned from the Great Western Railroad in 1879 to obey Horace Greely’s command. Excepting five years in “G.W.R.” service, where was laid the foundation of practical knowledge, his career has been one of continuous devotion to a single company. You will observe, if you have seen him, that the cares of state make scant impress on the features of this wholesome looking gentleman who considers riches but the baggage of fortune.
Mr. Carrick came from Galt, Ont., and the brothers Albert and Thomas H. MacRae who manage and edit the popular employees magazine of the Santa Fe Railway also originated there. From prosaic Guelph, where bare-footed boys duck in the deep holes of the Riverlet Speed, came C. E. Dutton, former Genl. Agent at Helena, Mont., for Great Northern Railway. Eugene Duval, Omaha, A.G.W.A., of C.M. & St.P.R., years ago thrived lustily on the ozone of Quebec and Colonel W. J. Boyle, G.A.P.D., Milwaukee, now and then harks back to former days in Chatham, where also Charley McPherson and Geo. J. Ryan—recently Genl. Industrial Commissioner of “Great Northern”, now with the Soo Line—learned their P’s and Q’s. To this incomplete catalogue of aspirants to stellar honors who investigate balances, tariffs and interlocking switches, as bees do the flowers, may be included J. H. Ellis, from Belleville beside the placid “Quinte”, Secretary of “L. & N.”, Louisville, F. W. Main, Toronto, Auditor “C.R.I. & P.”, Kincardine’s standard bearer, W. Hogarth, Auditor El Paso & Southwestern, and Charles A. Gormally so capably representing the “G.T.R.” in the heart of things at Chicago. Affable Alex. Macdougall, D.P.A., I.C.R., St. Paul, John W. Kearns, D.P.A., P.M.R., Detroit, and C. R. Graves, C.P.A., Salt Lake Route, Los Angeles, when punching the time limit at the ticket window in days gone by, may remember the colloquy—“Can you direct me to the best hotel in this town?” asked an unacquainted railway man of another as he stepped off a train. “I can brother,” said he going away, “but I hate to do it.” “Why?” “Because you will think after you have seen it that I’m a liar”.
1. Charles A. Gormaly, Commercial Agent, G.T.R., Chicago, Ill.
2. John W. Kearns, District Passenger Agent, Pere Marquette Railway, Detroit, Mich.
3. Geo. O. Somers, Secretary, “U.S.A.” Government Northern Railway Committee, St. Paul, Ex-General Freight Agent, G.N. Railway, Ex-Traffic Manager, United Fruit Co.
4. The Late Alex. McIntosh, of McIntosh Brothers, Milwaukee, Railway Contractors.
5. John McCraw, Traffic Manager, Groton Iron Works, Groton, Conn., builders for United States Shipping Board, Ex-Superintendent Central Vermont Railway, New London.