long been ‘President Callaway’, as he was born Christmas Eve, 1850, and
since youth has been a Santa Claus offering to the railways.”
It is related that when William K. Vanderbilt urged Mr. Callaway to
accept the Presidency of the American Locomotive Company, because his
corporation could not meet the princely salary mentioned in the new
contract, the interesting rumor spread so rapidly that it appeared in
the press before the new executive had opportunity to acquaint his
family how he had become a business man with prospects that would keep
the wolf so far from the door that he dare not venture this side of the
next concession. The newspaper references came to the notice of his
son, a boyish wag at college, who immediately wrote home saying, “Dear
Father--I see by yesterday’s paper that you were forced to get another
job owing to the extravagance of your family. I want to congratulate
you on your great success, for, judging from what the notices say, you
have struck an ‘oily’ position.”
Samuel Callaway had spent thirty years of active life time in
the railway’s service and was considered a perfect type of the
administrative American railroading man through inclination and
training from boyhood, conquering difficulties and contending with
stern realities without seeking publicity. He did not like to talk,
but he knew well how to meet the world and writing of him after his
decease, biographers said his business manners were flawless.
When he first went to New York as President of the New York Central
Lines there were some who thought a chill had come over the
President’s office, so long kept beaming--as one writer put it--by
the geniality of Senator Depew. The cool reserve of the new President
was at first misunderstood, but those who had business with him soon
realized that on business matters he was one of the most approachable
of men. During office hours he was never diverted from close attention
to the company’s affairs.
As a thinker who saw clearly for the financial colleagues of a dozen
corporations; as a man of the world discussing big projects in
exclusive clubs of the metropolis, his extraordinary judgment was
emphasized, but the simplicity of his quieter side, his love of little
ones and thought for kith and kin in his native land, were likewise
noticeable.
He counted much on the success of his children and was devoted to
his family, but was not vouchsafed the anticipated pleasure of their
society in later years when his duties would have been less arduous.
At the age of fifty-four, the zenith of capability and ripened opinion,
after completing three years as first President of the American
Locomotive Company, his mighty brain ceased to originate and execute.
To his memory earnest and widespread tribute was paid.
His career was a homily to men pessimistic regarding life’s outlook,
who capitulate to cynicism. The example he set cannot soon be
forgotten, nor should study of the character and purpose of S. R.
Callaway be disregarded by the youth of this generation.
“His life was gentle; and the elements
So mixed in him, that Nature might stand up
And say to all the world, ‘This is a man.’”
❦ ❦ ❦
THOMAS N. JARVIS
An Organizing Genius
From the banks of the winding Avon the boy Shakespeare went forth and
his genius revitalized and gave a tremendous impetus to literature
and the drama. Were you aware that Stratford in the new world long
after produced a son, in youth Tom Jarvis, who is undoubtedly leaving
his impress on the peaceful pursuit of international trade. Contend
if you will, that it is a far cry to the hedge rows of merrie England
for a parallel, for a coincidence; yet there is a modicum of truth in
most generalizations. The elect all sing small in the beginnings. The
journey of the Bard from obscurity to the throne room was tedious and
none the less devious is the pilgrimage from a dingy office in the heel
of a freight shed to the Vice-Presidency of one of America’s great
railway highways.
[Illustration: THOMAS N. JARVIS,
Vice-President, Lehigh Valley Railroad, New York.]
A sprig off the geneological tree which inspired the name of a
Toronto residential thoroughfare, T. N. Jarvis was born and reared
in Stratford, Ont., and at sixteen essayed the study of legal tomes.
This was dry, unremunerative occupation and about 1870 he exchanged
Blackstone for the freight classification, billing desk and, to him,
the less monotonous, more congenial railway atmosphere. He proved to
be anything but “A square peg in a round hole” and earnest endeavor
earned rapid promotions to Paris, Black Rock, Buffalo and Cleveland. At
the expiry of seven years he entered the service of the International
Fast Freight Line; a twelve month later the Blue Line and in 1880 to
the Commercial Express Line. It is related that about this time he
visited Cleveland to acquaint a certain high executive official of his
contemplated resignation to assume other duties. Suspecting the nature
of his errand, every resource of his patron’s diplomacy and palatial
home were enlisted to successfully smother the avowal. Disappointed at
the outcome, the ambitious Jarvis returned to headquarters to find that
a cheque of fair proportions had preceded him as a retainer.
On completion of the “Nickel Plate” in 1883 he organized the Traders’
Dispatch and as manager was the youngest in his class, with a
pronounced penchant for ensnaring traffic netting good revenues. The
Lehigh Valley Railroad Company had been scrutinizing the trek of the
tall, rangy and genial bachelor, Tom Jarvis--with a host of ‘pay
streak’ friends from Frisco to Fundy Bay--and they soon made it “worth
his while.” In ’98, as their General Eastern Agent at New York, his
traveling men garnered cheese, coal, milk, live stock and passenger
traffic _ad libitum_. Circularized again and again, he subsequently
made his bow as Assistant General Traffic Manager, Freight Traffic
Manager, and in March, 1906, Vice-President.
He modestly attributes it all to hard work and the aim to become
familiar with the duties of “the men higher up.” Boys, note that.
Cosmopolitan habitues of the Lotus Club, for instance, and friends in
Ontario watch his progress with pride and await news of further honors.
Now and then they have opportunity to inspect him at close range as
guests in his private car.
While the methods of Mr. Jarvis in business are incisive, crisp and
convincing, and devoid of much flowery phraseology, he possesses the
most approachable and kindly personality, which unconsciously wins the
homage of porter and President’s esteem.
“Honor and shame from no condition rise:
Act well your part--there all the honor lies.”
GEO. J. CHARLTON
Passenger Traffic Expert
[Illustration: GEO. J. CHARLTON,
Passenger Traffic Manager, Chicago & Alton Railroad and allied systems.]
“A pale faced fanatic” Geo. J. Charlton never was and never will be--so
his friends declare. The metamorphosis would too grievously trouble him
in spirit and torture his avoirdupois. Glance again at the features and
physical contour of the Passenger Traffic Manager of “Chicago & Alton,”
the cap sheaf to a cluster of four sister transportation corporations,
and contradict me, ye phrenological bump feelers, if the X rays do
not locate there a large, sympathetic heart, optimism profound, great
capacity for work and the ability to enjoy and “Spend money like a
sailor.”
Ever since the time his education began in the private and public
schools of his birthplace, Hamilton, Canada, where in boyhood he
“Snapped the whip” and operated in the moonlit melon patch, George
Charlton has been in the centre of the doings. His must have been the
hypnotic eye, or he carried one of those heavily charged horse shoe
magnets, for the boys and girls all liked him and gravitated in his
direction without know-why. How many of his classmates have since made
the same good use of their time, think you.
His father was a railroader of international repute, and nurtured in
an atmosphere of “ticket affairs,” it was not unnatural the boy’s name
should first appear on a railway pay roll in 1875 as messenger in the
general passenger department of Chicago & Alton Road.
Thus began the zig zag but successful ascent of Mount Obstacle,
covering a span of forty-three years. He was cast out of the right kind
of metal and did not falter at the prospect or prove a time server when
acting the role of junior, conductor’s clerk, ticket stock recorder,
passenger sales accountant and rate expert.
Invariably devoting the best that was in him to his work, he soon
realized that the position of understudy conscientiously performed,
was a wise and diplomatic plan of action leading to unexpected
possibilities. On March 14th, 1885, Mr. Charlton came within the arc
of the limelight as Assistant General Passenger Agent of the “Alton.”
January 1st, 1900, witnessed him accomplish the next logical move in
advancing to the position of General Passenger Agent, and during a
seven years tenure his jurisdiction was extended to the Toledo, St.
Louis & Western Railway, styled the Clover Leaf Route. During December,
1909, the Corporation’s President gave him the right to have emblazoned
on his business cards the title he bears to-day.
While this panorama of promotions glides without hindrance across the
page to the reader’s brain, he can only imagine but should not overlook
the monotonous toil, concentration of purpose and rebuffs smiled down
behind the scenes by our subject long before a recital in this form was
possible.
The best opportunity to truly sound the depth of a man’s character is
to work with and beside him. As you may surmise, George Charlton’s
manner of speech and demeanor towards his staff of employees is not
rapid, cold and repellant, but a reflection of the desire pulsating
within him to interchange enthusiasm, co-operation and loyalty with
others, measure for measure. Woe betide the luckless mortal, however,
who rouses his ire by flagrantly violating these commandments. This
gentleman of tremendous energy and democratic inclinations, always
finds time to fraternize with his men, meeting them as equals and
apparently enjoying their society as much as they appreciate his.
Kindliness and generosity are his cardinal virtues. They have won
for him the affection and compel the highest possible respect of his
confreres and those characteristics, coupled with recognized ability,
loom large when one attempts an inventory of the causes underlying his
success.
The far reaching effect of the recent order issued by Mr. W. G. McAdoo,
Director General of Railroads in United States, necessitating the
release of many employees of the “Alton” who had been loyal members
of Mr. Charlton’s railway family, distressed him keenly and quickened
his broad sympathies. He immediately became “a welcome pest” to
his influential friends, through unremitting efforts to assist his
reluctantly departing staff to other suitable employment.
George Charlton is a votary of Comus, the ancient and rotund god of
Merriment and that mythological personage ranks next to his patron
saints. He is a well known society and club member, identified with at
least a dozen organizations including the Hoos Hoos, Elks, Yacht Club,
South Shore Country Club, Union League, Chicago, Green Room Club and
Lambs Club, New York; also Hamilton Old Boys’ Association.
He is immensely popular with the traveling public and “man in the
street” and they, having in mind the Passenger Traffic Manager of that
triangular route linking Chicago, St. Louis and Kansas City, agree that
the wise man was right when he said “A merry heart doeth good like
medicine.”
[Illustration: JAMES JEROME HILL
The Late JAMES JEROME HILL, Ex-Canadian and financier of vision
and resource who built the Great Northern Railway through the
“Zone of plenty.”
K. J. BURNS, Assistant General Freight Agent, Vancouver, B.C.
H. A. JACKSON, Export and Import Agent, Seattle, Former Assistant
Traffic Manager, St. Paul, (A Toronto Boy).
H. E. WATKINS, General Eastern Canadian Agent, Toronto, Canada.
Under other names, the Great Northern Railway owns, leases and operates
subsidiary lines in Western Canada, of which the Vancouver, Victoria
& Eastern Railway & Navigation Company is the principal--comprising a
total mileage of 760 miles and entry is made into Canada by crossing
the international border at thirteen different points.
The modern terminal of the V.V. & E.R. & N. Co., Vancouver, B.C., which
is owned jointly with Northern Pacific Railway Co., cost over $600,000.
At Winnipeg “G.N.R.” investment in Road and Equipment totals $2,366,258
In Kootenay District investment in road and equipment totals 7,426,095
In British Columbia investment in road and equipment totals 30,947,140
Additional total Canadian investments 37,535,739
]
[Illustration: TRANSPORTATION CLUB OF TORONTO
Scene of Annual Banquet, C. A. Dunning’s Hotel, November 27th, 1914.
F. H. TERRY, President, Traveling Agent, G.N.R.
A. J. TAYLOR, Vice-President, Canadian Agent, C.M. & St. P.R.
D. O. WOOD, Vice-President, General Western Agent, Allan Line.
W. J. LANGTON, Member Executive, Later President; Superintendent,
Dominion Transport Co., (C.P.R.)
T. MARSHALL, Member Executive, later President, Traffic Manager,
Board of Trade.
W. A. GRAY, Secretary. Contracting Agent, D.L. & W.R.
M. MACDONALD, Treasurer, Assistant Inspector of Weighing, G.T.R.
]
TRANSPORTATION CLUB OF TORONTO
BANQUET
NOVEMBER, 1914
“_The chairman is conductor on this train_”
“_You won’t be asked to make a speech_”
A REVELER’S DREAM
Aye Reuben lad, ye missed a treat
Last Friday when you failed to meet
One hundred transportation men
Convened from city, burg and glen,
For the second yearly dinnerfest
Of fish and fowl and sparkling jest.
They sought the board from moor and fen:
Hoot mon! they were blythe, merry men.
From out the dome peered twinkling stars
Which shone on knights of boats and cars:
Within host Dunning’s spacious halls
The KING and ENSIGN graced the walls;
Beneath them ranged with D. O. WOOD
The BLACK PRINCE, LORNE and stalwart HOOD.
HOTRUM, STACKPOLE, SOMERVILLE,
And scouts who answered to “just plain BILL.”
Duke TERRY then inspects the guards
And straightway signals all his pards:
He trained his optics down the line,
Then to the chaplain gave a sign.
With smirk and quip the fray began,
Ye gods! they’re at it to a man.
The chef was new, his viands fine,
My word! how they did sup and dine.
Each clansman cracked his jest and pun,
Warm hearts, good cheer made all the fun.
With merry clink the MAC’S and O’S
Attacked until their WILD IRISH ROSE.
When MARSHALL diagnosed their case
And cried “Enough,” they slackened pace.
Just here the warblers oiled their throats,
Producing full BRAZILLIAN notes,
The smokers puffed and songs were sung,
A gem was that from RILEY YOUNG.
Will McIlroy and NANCY’S choir,
With JULES did stud sweet music’s lyre.
At half past ten the screen began
To picture LARRY, HANK and DAN;
Why Scots had thews instead of fat
And differed from St. George and Pat.
[Illustration: HALT! PRODUCE YOUR PASSPORT]
Reuben acushla! I wish you saw
Dear BERTHA’S curves and WOLFE’S smooth jaw.
EDDIE was flashed de-HORNING a cow,
Alas, poor Yoric! view him now.
Admiral HARRY sailed to sea
With skippers primed in drams of Tea,
Hector BENNETTO--Benn. C.B.--
THORPE, FITZ--MORICE, Murdo Mac D--
SARGENT, THOMAS, Frank C. FOY
Roared with unction and rocked with joy
At JACK the Moor in the bear’s cage
And CALLAGHAN was all the rage.
The cartoons ceased in quite a breeze
With Cupid DICK in his B.V.D’s.
WILL. JACKSON, wise from Spotless Town,
Sate cheek by jowl with soldier BROWN,
While GRAY and GREEN and singing PINK
Rehearsed “The toothbrush in the sink.”
And “Young DICK TINNING haint no style,
Deed he am boss, all de while.”
RICHARD sang “Maxwellton’s Braes”
Performing as in other days.
Oh you beautiful doll was there
With bells on her toes, and lard in her hair.
The C.N.R. and G.T.P.
The CORNBELT Route and N. Y. C.
Hob-nobbed with he of the C. B. Q.
Beside the banks of the winding SOO.
MULKERN, entranced beheld the throng,
Impressed was he with the ’cello song.
Saintly McCRAW shed one large tear
O’er wee Baptiste on his truckle bier.
The joke on MURPHY was a scream
Beyond the Company’s fondest dream.
FALSTAFF sampled some nut-brown ale,
Requested a schooner and then a pail:
ANGUS TORY and WELLAND STRONG
Thought they too would ride along,
But ALEC. BOYD said “Have a heart,
Does ‘G. & W.’ take no part?”
[Illustration: One of the Songsters
CHARLES L. SINGER,
The affable and accommodating ticket agent, M.C.R., St. Thomas, Ont.]
With pretense only, Jimmie S--
Pitched the tent of the Royal Mess,
At this the owls flew off their perch
To safety in a nearby church,
But the lion cubs drank LION brew,
Avoiding HENNESSY’S Mountain Dew,
Yet so discreet, no man did mar
By deep libations from the jar.
TIMOTHY--HEALEY and CARSON too,
Prayed that night in the self-same pew,
And harked to MULLIN’S vocal gem,
Which touched the crew from stern to stem.
Most of the men were born quite young,
And some before had never sung,
So you may guess the bars and chords
Issuing from that House of Lords.
Colonel NELLES and Major TIM,
True, bold Britons, were in the swim.
A “GLOOM” complained to JOLLY JACK
DONALDSON, FAIRHEAD--ANDREW MACK.
That Woolworth’s chiel was not a SCOT
And the good old days had gone to pot,
But HOWARD, HICKSON and Harvey Lloyd,
Wreathed in smiles the fun enjoyed.
By “Cobalt Special” SHERIDAN came.
Likewise a list too long to name:
COLLINS, FERNLEY, CALDWELL, GOULD,
With PERNFUSS sleek, massaged, bejeweled,
Like “two-year-olds” cut up old Nick
And introduced a brand new trick.
They hopped about from lid to lid,
And each did everything Katy-did.
The N. P. R. and PHOEBE SNOW
Both regretted they could’nt go.
Nobody threw the harpoon sharp,
Nobody prayed or played the harp,
But men of baggage, boats and cars,
In har-mon-ee smoked long cigars.
They lent their brilliance to the scene
And polished platters slick and clean.
After the sun had gone to rest,
When birds and beasts were all undressed,
The hours sped fast on wheels of time
And the flock took flight ere midnight chime,
Resolved to meet ’bout next July
To trap that badger fierce and sly,
Or cage the kangarooster.
[Illustration: The late A. J. TAYLOR and some of his intimate personal
and business friends
Top row--The Late JOHN STRACHAN, Erie Railroad, Toronto; H. G.
MCMICKEN, European Agent, G.N.R., London, Eng.; WM. ASKIN,
Auditor, Northern Navigation Co., Sarnia; The Late J. D.
HUNTER, Allan Line, Toronto.
Bottom row--J. J. ROSE, G.A., U.P.R., Toronto; B. H. BENNETT,
G.A., C. & N.W.R., Toronto; P. G. VAN VLEET, Publisher,
Toronto; J. R. STEELE, Freight Claims Auditor, C.P.R.; F. J.
GLACKMEYER, Sergeant-at-arms, Ontario Government; W. SMITH,
Inspector of Post Offices, Toronto; W. JACKSON, President,
Jackson Mfg. Co., G.T.A., C.P.R., Clinton, Ont.; W. H. CLANCY,
Ex-C.P. & T.A., G.T.R., Montreal, Que.
]
ANDREW J. TAYLOR
Lines to the memory of a good friend and business associate
If inscrutable destiny or the influence of circumstance had not planned
for Andrew J. Taylor the career of a widely known railway man, it may
be stated without relying on too elastic imagination that he could have
qualified to an advance degree as a beloved Presbyteriann “dominie”
or Catholic priest. His admirable character attracted unusual and
unsolicited confidences, to human anxieties his sound sympathetic
counsel applied the encouragement and comfort of a confessor and he
was never without a loose shilling for the needy. Coupled with these
attributes he possessed a moral and superior mental fabric and when you
learn that his forebears came from a canny nook in Scotland it will
explain and account for his quiet appreciation of honor and duty.
Lesmahagow or Abbey Green, on the River Nethan, Lanarkshire, was the
birthplace of his father, James Mitchell Taylor, who brought his ruddy
cheeked bride from the English-speaking settlement of L’Original to
Ottawa. Her father succumbed to wounds received in the battle of the
Wind Mill and both her military grandfathers were killed in the battle
of Waterloo. In Bytown the subject of this sketch was born June 24th,
1858, and spent his childhood with four brothers and four sisters,
securing his education in the private schools which predominated in
those days and in the world of experience and travel.
As a boy he caused his mother more trouble than any of her other sons
owing to the fact that he was always “Fighting the other fellows’
battles”, could not condone bullying and was the staunch friend
and champion of a deaf and dumb playmate whom children chased and
tantalized. He was fond of animals and during his life in Ottawa,
mill slabs and water were delivered in the neighborhood of the river
and often the horses drawing these necessities were neglected and ill
treated. Invariable his gorge would rise at such treatment and he waded
in causing no end of trouble.
As a boy Andy Taylor playing a hymn on the organ, selling ribbon over
the counter in Elliott & Hamilton’s Ottawa store, or juggling with
rolls of carpet in McIlwraith & Egan’s at Hamilton, would seem to
those who knew him later, as an uncongenial occupation for the putter
of the heavy shot and athletic participator in Caledonian games, but
such was the case with him, and many another youth did likewise in
their experimental quest for the right thing amid a variety of business
pursuits.
When his father resigned the position of General Freight Agent of
the St. Lawrence & Ottawa Railway he assumed charge of the passenger
interests of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, and came to
Toronto to represent that company--until his transfer to Pittsburg,
creating in 1878 the permanent agency which was withdrawn only last
December. A. J. Taylor entered his father’s employ as a clerk at
Toronto in the spring of 1879, covered the territory as traveling
passenger agent under his direction, succeeded him, became “C.F. &
P.A.”, in 1900, and as a respected and trustworthy officer his name
remained on that company’s pay roll continuously for thirty-six years.
Although his agreeable disposition and the nature of his duties in
early manhood, secured him throughout Ontario and Quebec an extensive
acquaintance with which he was _persona grata_, Mr. Taylor did not
eagerly seek new companionship and he clearly recognized the line of
demarkation existing between personal and business friends. However,
many men whom he met through the medium of commercial connections, soon
became more intimate and it was only a “casual” or extra-sensitive
person that misinterpreted a certain aloofness or transient
preoccupation which some thought he appeared to sometimes display.
Prior to 1885, the year when the Canadian Pacific Railway threw open
a new gateway to Winnipeg, Andy Taylor was one of a lively United
States railroading coterie who sought a share of that growing and
intensely competitive passenger business then moving only via St. Paul
to the Dakotas and Canadian Northwest. He proved his worth, building
a reputation which sustained him long after, thus gaining for his
employers a percentage of traffic based on good-will towards “Andy”
which the road would have otherwise been denied.