The trail of the swinging lanterns : $b a racy, railroading review of transportation matters, methods and menCopeland, John Morison
History
The trail of the swinging lanterns : $b a racy, railroading review of transportation matters, methods and men
Copeland, John Morison
Railroads -- Canada
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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account