Rensselaer Republican, Volume 24, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 October 1891 — A LESS ON SELF RELIANCE. [ARTICLE]

A LESS ON SELF RELIANCE.

Dr. Depew’s Story of Qommodorj Vanderbilt and YoanjRutter. Philadelphia Press. Mr Depew told me an anedote. A good many years ago a young freight clerk was employed at one of the country stations on the Erie railroad. He was a farmer’s boy, who had nothing but a coalmen school education, but was regarded as a pretty bright chap. He vindicated, this youthful reputation by his management of the little freight business to which he ‘.had to attend, and was soon transferred.to a more important place near Buffalo. There he began to reveal the genrius that was in him by suggesting certain new methods of dealing with freight, and there he came under the eye of Commodore Vanderbilt, > Some time later, after the consolidation of the Hudson River and New York Central railroads, the old Commodore desired to get a mtyi to take charge of the freight business, and thought of this young man. Ho sent for him and offered him a salary of $15,000 a year to assume the duties of master of freight tion. The clerk was a rosy-cheeked, yellow-haired young man, who at once accepted . the offer with such confidence in his abilities as to please the old Commodore, who hatedaman who had no self-confH dence. Not long after he took charge a very complicated and difficult problem in freight transportation arose. It puzzled the young fellow so that he could not sleep nights. If he made a mistake be felt that it would be fatal to his reputation, probably to his career, while if he succeeded he would simply accomplish what he had been hired to do. At last in his anxiety he ventured to call upon the old Commodore, stated the difficulty to him, and asked advice. The old jnan looked at him a moment and then said: “Jim, what does the Central hire you for?” “To take charge of the transportation.” “Well, do you expect I am going to earn your salary for you?” That was all the Commodore said, and the young man turned on his heel and left him. 1 He went out and acted on his own judgment; acted with unerring foresight, and was soon promoted to the Vice Presidency. Later on he succeeded Wm. H. Vanderbilt as President of the New York Central system. That was the career of Jim Rutter, Mr. tlepew said, and he characterized Rutter as one of tho greatest railroad geniues that the age of railroading has produced. Rutter killed himself in the services of the Coutral by overwork, a habit which Mr. Depew neither encoui ages by his own example or favors in any pf his employes.