THE OMAI1A ILLUSTRATED BEE.
New American Consul General to Calcutta Hails from Nebraska
?oTrabr 2, 1005.
s ... J
0
GOtjONTTi TO B. MICHAELS, UNITED
CUTTA.
HAT effect would It hare had on
w
the future career of Colonel
William H. Michael had he ac
cepted the fepubllcaa nomination
for secretary of state of Ne
braska In 1876?
. Now that Colonel Michael has ceased to
' be chief clerk nf thn rwnnrtmAnt of RtatA
i after nearly nine years' service, to be
L come consul general at Calcutta, the
question becomes particularly Interesting.
Colonel Michael very shortly after going
to Nebraska In 1875 began to take an
active interest In the politics of the state.
He was elected a delegate from Lincoln
county to the republican state convention
of 1871 and was one of the seventeen dele
aTates whose seats were contested. At that
suite convention which nominated Frank
Welsh for congress, the congressional con-
TCIIUUU UlCm Wing UUKIIUWU Ul ilVUIttOAH,
Michael placed In nomination Ouy C Bar
ton, then a resident of North Platte. The
main feature of the nominating speech
was a dramatic recital of how Mr. Bar
ton, now one of Nebraska's richest clti
ens, defended the flag over the post-
omce at fit. Joseph. Mr. Barton at that
time was assistant postmaster of the Mis
souri town, and the confederate sympathis
ers were exceedingly active In denunciation
of anything that had a federal leaning.
Barton bauled the union flag to the peak
of the flagstaff on the building, which
was met with: jeers and threats on the
part of the confederate sympathizers.
President
(Copyright, lSt, by Frank G. Carpenter.)
envTii PAt. Canada. Nov. 23. (Spe-
1 fei Si 1 . . i rr-w
i ciai correapoiiuttm-a ui uj
" I it una in his office as oresldent
mi
of tho Canadian Pacific railroad
that I met Sir Thomas Shaugh-
nessy und talked with him about the New
ConadA and tho United States, Sir Thomas
Is as well fitted,' perhaps, as any man In
the two countries to give a practical view
f their future relations. He is an Ameri
can by birth and training, and he has for
years been a Canadian by naturalization
and closely associated with every rhase of
the national and business life of the Do
minion. The child of Irish parents, he was
born In Milwaukee about fifty years ago
and educated there In a Jesuit school. At
fifteen he went into the employ of the
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad,
and a tew years later had so proved his
efficiency that hen Sir William Van
Home, who was then plain Mr. Van Home,
came here to undertake the building of the
Canadian Pacific he persuaded Mr. Shaugh
neitsy to'roine t, und take the position of
purchasing agent.
Halldlnar- llream.
Thawas In the duys when the Canadian
Pucifio was looked upon an a dream and
Impossible of financial succexs. Van Home
was sneered at by railroad nabobs of the
United States as a visionary and Shaugh
ncssy. In a similar way, I venture, was
criticised for leaving such a sure thing as
the Milwaukee road for the Incipient Can
adian Pacific railroad. Today both men live
to laugt) at their railroad critics of the
past. They have seen their railroad grow
Into what Is the largest sinale line of
transportation In the world. The Canadian
Pacific has 1I.0"0 miles of Iron truck. Its
rails reach from the Atlantic to the Pacific,
and it has also steamships crossing both
oceans so that one can step on board one
of the company's vessels ht Liverpool and
travel across to North America. There he
can take the railroad across the continent
to Vancouver and . on another Canadian
Pacific vessel go on to Tokohania and Hong
kong without once steppvne; outside the
company's property. The distance Is half
wav around the world.
Ttoth ten have seen the road proved a
financial success. Its stock Is away above
pur and Its revenue hua increased beyond
their dreams. Both men hsve long since
become Canadian ' citizens and both have
done so much for their adopted oountrv
that they have been knighted by the crown,
and have sirs to their names. Sir William
Van Home became president 4 of the road
In 1--S8. but two or three years ago he re
tired and Sir Thomas Shaughnessy, who
had all the time been steadily climbing,
was elected his successor. Sir William
had said some years ago when Canadian
Paclflo railroad stock was worth leaa than
(0 cents on the dollar that he would re
sign when It reached par and when the
road had a mileage of 10,000, and he did
air Tfcaasae Shaasraaeear.
k I found Sir Thomas younger man than
I expected. He Is about to. but be looks
iS. His face la fair, rosy and free from
wrinkles; his hair la light and It looks as
though it mar have been red in bis boy
hood. Be talk 'quickly and freely, ert-
STATES CONSUL OENERAX AT CAL
"Haul down the flag!" "nil It full of
holes!" were exclamations heard on all
sides. Cool and collected Mr. Barton
heard these expressions and In a lull of
the exclamations said: "I will shoot the
first man who attempts to haul down the
flag of our common country." And he
evidently meant what he said.
Colonel Michael's recital of this thrilling
incident in Guy Barton's life brought the
young politician prominently before the
convention, and he was offered the nom
ination of secretary of state, which lie
declined on the ground that he had made
all arrangements to go to California for
his health. He Yi persuaded, however,
to take the nomination as an alternate
elector on the republican state ticket, and
actively entered upon tho campaign for
Rutherford B. Hayes, the republican presi
dential nominee. During that campaign
Colonel Michael visited every, section of
Nebraska and was gratified to see his
adopted state roll up a comfortable ma
jority for the republican nominee. ,,
Career One of Iaterest.
Colonel Michael as he looks back over
those strenuous days In the early politics
of Nebraska asks himself many times the
question what his future would have been
had he known enough to have taken ad
vantage of his chances which presented
themselves in the memorable Hayes-Tilden
campaign.
William H- Michael, who goes to Calcutta
of the Canadian Pacific on
i
era willzam
dently having ne doubt as to what he
wants to say and no backwardness In say
ing It. When I asked as to whether Can
ada wanted a reciprocity treaty with the
United States, for Instance, he replied:
"What Canada wants of your country is
just what you have been giving us for
the past twenty or thirty years. We want
a tariff wall between the two nations so
high that you cannot climb over It. We
want to profit by the same policy which
has so aided in building up the United
States. We believe in protection and home
industry, and we shall keep our tariff high
enough to encourage It."
"In that case, Sir Thomas, the American
manufacturers will get the trade by com
ing across the border and building branches
here. Will they not?"
"That la Just what they are doing now."
was the reply. "Many millions of dollars
of American capital have already gone into
such branches. Nearly all of your chief
Industrial Institutions . are establishing
them. Take the American Locomotive
works, for Instance. They are building
a learn engintts for tills railroad. They put
up a number for us last year, and we
shall buy more in the months to come.
We are glad to welcome such Institutions.
We want their goods, but we want them
made on Canadian soil and with Canadian
Jabor."
. "Yeu do not speak as though a union of
the two countries was possible commercial,
ly. Sir Thomas." said I. "How about a
political union?"
'That is an even gretT Improbability
than a commercial union," said the pi evi
dent of the Canadian Pacific. "I do not
know single Cenadiaj who advouatee the
to represent our government la one of King
Edward's possessions, hu bad a moHt
varied career. The mmmr of 1861, before
he was 1( years of age, he was teaching
school In a Ion school house In Iowa county,
losva. where his father was a prosperous
merchant. He received the munificent
salary of $H a month us high a salary as
Wfcs p.ild in those days for a "summer
teiu'her" In country schools. lie boarded
with the school director and when settle
ment time for board and lodging came
around nt the close of the school the direc
tor iind his good wife asked If "ten dollars
for the four months was too much."
It was tho purpose of the young teacher
to u.-c the money earned in paying- his
tuition and expenses In the University of
Iowa, where lie had already arranged to
mess In the "Rookery" with four other
students at a cost of 80 cents per week
rach. This plan was 'nipped In the bud by
the beating of the drum that marshalled
tho boys of the north to battle for the
union. He gave up the opportunity for
a university education for his country. He
enlisted In the Eleventh Iowa Infantry and
In Ootolier, ln, with his regiment, landed
at St. Louis by boat. Through rain and
mud the regiment plodded to Benton bar
racks where It received Its effectual train
ing for tho war.
Iiirldeut of the War Ttiaes.
The winter of VH and 1SG2 was spent In
scouting la Monltau county, with head
quarters at California, and some of
Michael's most exciting experiences wjre
had In this region. He believes he was
present at the auction of the last runaway
sluve In Missouri. The slave was a sturdy
tKiy of IS. He had been captured and put
In the county jail.whero ho was kept,
pending an order of aalo by tho oourt.
Probably fifty or more of the "Boys In
31ue" of the Eleventh Iowa were present
at the sale. The colored boy was put upon
a block and tho sheriff, after reading the
order of the court authorizing the sale,
proceeded to describe the good qualttles of
the chattel and Anally knocked him down
to the highest bidder for $17, which the
sheriff remarked was "mighty low for a
likely nigger boy." He " 'lowed It was
the fust nlggeT ever sold In Mlssoury at
that figrer." and he hoped the "tarnal"
Mqct ln troubles would soon be over and
that "buslneas might git better."
The buyer of the boy took hold of the
rope fastened to his purchase and started
to lead him away. A shout went up from
the boys of the Eleventh, "Rescue him
boys," and the colored boy was released
and the rope transferred from him to tho
sheriff and the purchaser, who were tied
together and marched up to the camp where
they were both sold at auction, the "nigger
boy" playing the role of auctioneer.
In those days women wore very large
hoopsklrts. On a scout the "yanks" ran
Specific for Insomnia Found in Exercise
NSOMNIA, like Indigestion, Is a
thing which in many cases stub
bornly resists all treatments, but
Q&Pl many other cases of It are due.
' It appears, to the lack of healthy
fatigue. It seems, too, that where Insomnia
and indigestion are both present the cure
of one means an escape from both of the
devastating horrors.
"I went to my family doctor last spring,"
says a West Philadelphia man, "and told
blm that while he had always been able
to cure me of an earache or to knock out
a cold by the simple writing of a prescrip
tion he had made no Impression on my
recalcitrant digestive organs, nor rid me
of the demon which kept me tossing about
at night until the bedclothes were tied In
a hard knot. I put it to him pretty straight
and Intimated that if he could do no better
van horno.
annexation of Canada with the United
States, nor of one who wants a political
union of any kind. We believe we are
better off by ourselves. We don't see that
we would gain anything by uniting with
you, and we believe It Is better for the
United States and for us to have competi
tion." "Then Canada would rather remain a
part of the British empire. It has now
five or six million people and la only the
tall of the Imperial dog. When Canada
baa to.000,000 wlU it not break off or will
the Canadian tall be then strong enough
to wag the dog?"
"At present our relations with the Brit
ish empire are all we could wish, and we
expect them to continue so," replied Mr.
8haughnessy. "We feel that we can work
together and benefit each other. There Is
no sentiment here in favor of breaking
away from Great Britain."
Aaaerleaas aa Caaadlaaa.
"How about our people when they settle
In Canada. Sir Thomas. Do they become
Canadians or do they still bold their al
legiance to the United States?"
"Most of them become Canadians, and en
thusiastic ones," was the reply. "I took
out my naturalization papers within a year
after I came to Canada, but I am. you
know, of Irish descent, and the change
was nly going back to the mother country.
It is not difficult for an American, to be
come a Canadian. He finds the laws and
customs much the same as at home. He is
fully as free - at home, and he has an
equally large pail In the government. He
finds here good schools, and, In fact all
that he consider aeslrable at heme; aoe
m J
f (, . ;..., f',- .
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' '. i . . :: v ' ' - ''. i. -
v. :-:i-4r. ur
T-ii-
" Hi ... . " . ..j '.;".
MRS. W. II. MICHAELS.
to cover three "rebs" who were home from
Prlco's army visiting and recruiting. The
"rebs" entered a farm house which the
"yanks" surrounded. Two of the "John
nies" bolted and were captured, but tho
third man could not be found tn the house.
The woman of the house sat near a biasing
fire knitting. When asked where the man
was she calmly answered that she "reck
oned the "yanks' got him when he ran out."
A few days after the Incident the woman
was In Qoodlove's store In California shop-
pn, and am0ng other articles looked at
hoopsklrts. Bho observed that "hoopsklrts
wag mlBhty handy things In war times,"
and tnPn to)(1 now ner husband was saved
from capture by taking refuge under her
hoopekirta, and she laughed heartily over
bow she had fooled the "yanks. '1
Wounded at Stailoh.
Spring came and then the battle of Shlloh
where Michael was first under Are in bat
tle. He was hurt In the fight, and again
Injured Immediately after the battle which
Injury landed him In tho hospital, where
after three years' knowledge of my con
stitution and temperament he was not fit
to be In the profession.
"He began to denounce trolley cars and
other modern devices until I thought he
was trying to change the subject, but tho
end of his tirade was a statement that he
couldn't cure me because I wouldn't take
the only prescription that would do me any
good. I'll frankly confess that I did balk
a little when he explained, for his scheme
was nothing more nor less than that I
should walk to and from my business every
day until summer. When I hummed and
hawed and suggested patent exercises, ma
chines and other things, he turned the
tables on me In the 'roasting process and
said unless I'd accept his program he'd
wash his hands of the Job, whereas If a
faithful following of it did not effect a cure
when in addition he perceives that he can
make money faster and thrive better he
easily becomes a patriot to the land of his
adoption. Thousands of American farmers
are now settling In our new wheat lands
nf the west. So far they are almost all
taking out naturalization papers."
The Sew Canada.
"You have just returned from the west."
said I. "Does Uie Immigration there con
tinue?" "Yes." replied Sir Thomas. "It Is only
at Its beginning. We are having out there
what has been going on In tho United
States since your organization as a gov
ernment. The farmers of the Atlantic,
when the lands became valuable, moved
over the mountains to Ohio, and took up
homesteads there. As that country was
settled snd prices rose, the farmer with
two or three sons sold out and moved
on to Illinois, buying a block of cheap
land. When Illinois grew the march was
on west to Wisconsin and Iowa. Your
western farmers are selling out their high
priced lands and crossing the lirder to
the rich wheat belt of Canada. They tan
get farms there for themselves ami their
children, and they see that the same rise
in values is bound to take place, as has
occurred in the United States."
"But have not real estate values al
ready gone out of sight in that country?"
I asked.
"Not In respect to farming lands. There
are many millions of acres yet to be set
tled, and good lands are cheap. 'In some
of the towns prices seem to me extrava
gant. In Winnipeg, for Instance, real
estate Is higher than luNMontreaL"
Caaadlaa Parifle land dale.
"I see it said. Sir Thomas, that an
American syndicate has offered to buy all
of tbe lands granted to your railroad com
pany for $70,000,000?"
"We have had an offer for our lands,
but we have refused it- I will not say
what it was, but it was not seventy mil
lions. It is agamst the policy of the rail
road to sell Its lands that way. We don't
want them to go out of our hands In great
blocks. What we want is settlers, for the
truffle of the railroad will come from the
development of the country, and that Is
worth far more to us than our lands." '
"But your traffic must be increasing
enormously through these new develop
ments?" '
"It is, and we are rebuilding our road
as fast aa possible to lake care of it. We
are reducing our gradients, building branch
lines, laying heavy rails everywhere and
improving our loepmotives and rolling
stock. Take tho road which goes from
Winnipeg to Port Arthur. Our traffic over
It this year Is double what It was seven
years ago. That has been made possible
by a better roadbed and rolling stock."
"What do you think, Sir Thomas, of the
idea that electricity will some day be the
motive power of our great railroads?"
"It k a possibility. Indeed. I may say it
is a probability. We are already adopting
electricity for some of our shorter branch
lines, and the day may com when that
power will send our engines from coast to
coast. The Canadian Pacific, has extraor
dinary advantages In ita water pewer fur
be remained till October, ISC.' when he
discharged. When he recovered sufficiently
to be steady on his pins he took an ex
amination and was given a commission In
the ravy for duty in the Mississippi squad
ron, in which arm of the service he was
on du'y at the front for three years. Most
of hts service was on the T Icr. and ha
participated In many fights on the Missis
sippi nnd its tributaries between 'Kl and '
the close of hostilities. He regrets that he
wns not in the fight which occurred In June,
lfl, before Memphis wlilih resulted In the
complete destruction of the rebel defense
fleet under Montgomery. This naval battle,
he thinks, rai'ks In importance with the
naval fight In Manila bay and the buttle off
Santiago. Had the rebel fleet defeated the
federal flotilla It would have opened the
river above to confederate depredations as
far up as St. Louis, Louisville nnd Cincin
nati. On all these cities tribute would have
been laid, or destruction vlsltedi and the
war would have, been prolonged several
years. Put the yanVe gnnhoats won nnd
the cities were saved.
In 1Si?-C Michael wns on the g.mlioat
Kate, and fpnt a year settling up matters
left unsettled by the Mississippi -uaxlron
when the war cloeed. A rart of his work
was stowing old cannon, machinery, etc.,
.taken from wrecked gunboats, at the naval
reserve located near Curondelet. lie re
signed In June. lclt!. and returned to school '
at the University of Iowa.
Hauiouu'd from the Rrlit-ls.
Michael was probably the only Vnion sol
dier or sailor ruosomed during tho War
of the Rebellion. He was captured In April,
JS5, a. few days after tho surrender of Lve,
while- on shore at Oreen's landina. on the
lingale, thirty miles buck of Helena. Ark.,
by sumo of "Dobbin's layouts" who
swooped down on him from their camp In
the hills of SU Francis. He was on navul
tneral court-martial duty on the flagship
of the division to which his vessel, the Ty
ler, belonged. The flagship Groesbeck, with
the court on board, was visiting tho vessels
of the division on which cases were to be
tried. One vessel was up the St. Francis
guarding a trading post which was operat
ing under a "permit to buy cotton" from
President Lincoln. The Groesbeck relieved
the gunboat while tho latter went to the
mouth of the White river to coal.
While on this duty the trading boat went
up the Langale to Oreen's landing, where
some cotton was to bo had. While lying
here against the landing, guarding tho trad
ing boat, Michael went ashore early In tho
morning, being unable to sleep on account
of a painful bolt. While walking In the
cool shade two mounted "layouts" from
Dobbin's camp picked him up and held him
until dusk, when he was released. Before
he was p.llowed to go, however, the "lav
outs" had demanded a quantity of goods
he'd ask no pay.
"Well, he's got his pay all right. I had
to readjust my business to take that walk,
but I did It, never missing it rain or shine,
through three months and a half. Long
before that my indigestion disappeared and
I slept like a, top. I gained eight pounds
In weight at the end of two months. But
It was a four months' agreement, and Just
to be square with the doctor, I hung to it.
Now I feel like a colt, but that doctor
wants me to keep up the walking through
the fall and coming, winter. I' don't know
If I can stand the strain or not. I have to
get up an hour earlier than of old and my
wife has complained ever since I started
that the table .. expenses have been con
stantly Increasing. At first the carfare I
saved made up the difference, but now It
doesn't." Philadelphia Record.
Canada and American Trade
5TR TTTOMAS
the development of electricity. Here in the
cast, in Ontario, we have Niagara. Farther
west we have great falls all along the line
to too prairies. We have falls in the moun
tains, and altogether a great part of our
power could be so generated."
Railroading- a Desirable Profrssloa.
."How do you like working upon such
subjects, Sir Thomas?" said 1. "Railroad
ing must lie an interesting profession."
"It Is one of the niott engrossing, most
interesting and most important of the age,"
was the reply. "It absorbs one and de
mands the best that is in him. It Is a
profession in which one does things and
creates things. The Canadian Pacific has
done more than any other one thing for
the development of Canada. It has made
this western settlement possible by bring
ing in settlers and by showing the world
what is there- The railroad la a great mis
sionary and a great clvilixer. It Is the ad
vance guard in the march of modern
progress."
"Did you appreciate tiiat when you first
began your work in a railroad office?"
"No. I was only 15 years of age when I
left school and entered the purchasing de
partment of the Chi' go, Milwaukee tc Bt.
Paul railroad as a clerk. I then hoped to
become a lawyer. For three or four years
I read law at night and 1 was fit for ad
mission to the bar before 1 got through.
In the meantime I was rising In the rail
road office. My salary kept Increasing, and
my responsibility as well. I saw that
there was plenty to da and much to gain
In sticking where I was, and the result was
I became a railroad man."
"What e-ia the chances today for young
-mm 1
..e ... . , -
WIT-MAR, DAUfJHTTJR Or
from the trading boat, which, upon
Michael's written request, was sent out to
them. They threatened to kill Michael If
their demand was not complied with. Lieu
tenant Commander John G. Mitchell, presi
dent of the court-mnrtial and commandant
of the division, arrested a number of
citizens, Including Mrs. Green, and sent
word to the "layouts" that unless Michael
ws returned In safety he would hang the
citizens held as hostages. This came near
closing the Incident for Michael. The "lay
outs" Bwore that they would kill him as
well as the "Yankee admiral," as they
called the naval officer In command.
Michael, fortunately, kept cool and "ar
ranged his own release by writing a note
to his commander to send out the goods
demanded. The owner of the trading boat
had been a major In Hood's army and had
acted as the medium of communication be
tween the "lnyouts" and the gunboat, and
largely to his good offices the success of
the negotiations was due. The stroll on
shore cost the young officer the suit of
clothes he wore, some 37 he had on his
person and about S400 In mefchandUe.
After tbe War.
.Michael made a good record. Among the
evidences of this fact he had a commission
signed by Gideon Wells, secretary of the
navy, promoting him "upon the recom
mendation of Acting Rear Admiral Porter"
for "gallant conduct in action." The peo
ple of Iowa recognized the meritorious and
brilliant record of Michael by selecting
him for a place on the Soldiers' and Bail
ors' monument, which was erected by the
STtATjaTSftSSSfx.
men In railroading, Kr ThtmaWr I Mked.
"They are better than even Tbe rail
roads are growing and the demand for good
brains waa never so great aa new. The
trouble Is te get good men to &n the places.
We are always on the lookout for bright,
industrious and able employes. Such men
are sure of advancement."
"You speak of railroading aa a profes
sion. Is that a proper classification of the
business?"
"Yes; it has become as much a profession
aa the law, medicine or the pulpit. It re
quires educatlort and training, and the man
who succeeds at It Is he who goes In at the
start of life and grows up to bis possibil
ities. I consider It One of the greatest of
professions."
Oar Trade With the Orlrat.
The conversation here turned again to
railroad traffic, and I asked Sir Thomas as
to the prospects of an Increased trade with
Japan and China, now that the war is
closed.
"We have fast boats running to China and
Japan," he replied, "but we do not try to
do a heavy freight business, like the lines
which go from your Pacffio ports. We have
the shortest rout and aa a whole the fast
est boats, and we do a large part of the
passenger business between North America
and Asia. I expect this traffic to Inrreasu
largely. The worll has become interested
in the Japanese, and It wants to visit them.
The tour surpasses ail others in Interest
and pleasure and'-more and more are tak
ing It every year.
"The Canadian Pacific steamers alfco carry
such goods aa demand fast and safe trans
portation, I refer te tea, silks and things
COLONEL AND MRU, MICHAELS.
legislature on Capitol Mil, Des Moines, m
splendid tribute to the "sailor boy" from
Iowa.
After three years at the University
Michael entered journalism, his first work
being that of cltv editor of the Sioux City
(Iowa) Journal. He removed to Nebraska,
In 1875, where he owned at different time
and edited ' several successful newspapers.
In 1880 he was admitted to the bar and
practiced successfully until his health,
failed htm. In 1887 he succeeded Ben
Perley Poore as editor of the Congres
sional Directory, United States senate, and
served In this capacity for ten years, when
he became chief clerk of the Department
of State. While residing In Washington,
he has been a newspaper correspondent,
a contributor to magazines, a writer of
many books, his last ono being 'The Story
of the Declaratlen of Independence," Illus
trated. Colonel Michael was married In 1871 to
Miss Emma J. Qulnn. who was a school
teacher In Cherokee county, Iowa, her
father being one of the most successful
farmers In that county. Later Mrs. Mi
chael's father sold his property in Iowa
and located in Sioux Falls, where his
widow Is now living. The Qulnns moved
from Vermont to Illinois and later to Iowa,
where they went In 1870. Three children
have been born to Colonel and "Mrs.
Michael, all daughters, two of them being
married ' and now residing In this city.
The youngest Ib a child of 10 and will ac
company her father and mother to theif
post In India shortly after the new year.
E. C. 8-
of that class. We also take cotton cloths
across to Asia, and as ballast sometimes
raw cotton, flour and other heavy goods.
The trans-racific trade is growing wonder
fully, and now that the war has finished
there will bo great oienlngs for Canadian
.nd American goods In Manchuria,'1- '
Mr William Van Horn.
I began this letter by writing of Kir
Thomas Shaughnessy with a reference to
Blr William Van Home. The two names
go together, and the latter will bo men
tioned wherever tho subject is the Ca
nadian Pncilli: railway. It wan Sir William
who was practically the founder of the
load. Tho Canadian government had mnrte
three attempts to build a line from the
Atlantic to the Pacific and had failed. The
work was then put into the lir.nds of a
privute conipaay and Sir William Van
Home became Its manager. Twenty-tivo
hundred and fifty miles were to bo built,
snd only a Utile over Bt were under con
struction. The government gave the com
pany large subsidies ani some millions of
acres of lunils. Tho contract was that the
road win to be completed within ten years.
Mr. Van Home imnh"l the work and
finished In four. The road 1ms already dis
posed of about one-half of Us hi mis. Some
of them went lis low us tl.u" ail iii re. The
same lands am worth i- an acre and up
ward today. The remaining lands am sell
ing for good prices, and Mr. McXieol. the
vice president, believes th:it when half of
what la still left is B"M the remaining
7,000.000 odd acres will be worth more than
all received from the s.iie preceding.
In the meantime the road has grown
te the dimensions I lav described. .It
Is a close corporation, managing every
thing with Its own men. baring Its own
Sleeping car system, its own cxpies coin
psny and a number of large hotels. It
has Its own coal mines, and it Is
Irrigating vast trncta of its semi-arid lsmls
and opening them to settlers.
In all this Sir William Van Home is
still an Interested party, although not
active In the direct management. He is
president of the Board of Directors, and
as such Is content to let the younger men
do the work while he plays with his slock
farm here In New Brunswick, directs the
management of another he has in Mani
toba and devotes a part of the rest of
his leisure to opening up the wilderness
of eastern Cuba I s-iy a iirt of h's
leisure for he Is connected with a dozen
other big enterprises hern and elsewhere
Ha Is the president of one of the biggest
pulp and paper mills of the world, has
large interests in Iron and coal mines and
Is also laying out one of the, blpgest sugar
plantations in Cuba. I say a part of his
leisure, for be Is In his but is still
one of the active, moving, creative spirits
of the age. He now calls himself a Cana
dian, but he was born an American and
rose to manhood as such. In the old
Spanish elty of Camaguey, In the heart
of Cuba, where the Cutmn railroad has
its chief offices, the Cubans look upon
him as one of the patron jjms of their
Island, and hsve, I believe, named a square
after him or put up seme kind of a monu
ment in bis honor. Indeed, he is more
than any other man I know a citizen of
the world. VKANK O. CAJtPXNTKJs,
