“Well,” he said, “Mr. Potts” (who was then superintendent of the Pittsburgh Division) “is to be promoted to the transportation department in Philadelphia and I recommended you to the president as his successor.  He agreed to give you a trial.  What salary do you think you should have?”

“Salary,” I said, quite offended; “what do I care for salary?  I do not want the salary; I want the position.  It is glory enough to go back to the Pittsburgh Division in your former place.  You can make my salary just what you please and you need not give me any more than what I am getting now.”

That was sixty-five dollars a month.

“You know,” he said, “I received fifteen hundred dollars a year when I was there; and Mr. Potts is receiving eighteen hundred.  I think it would be right to start you at fifteen hundred dollars, and after a while if you succeed you will get the eighteen hundred.  Would that be satisfactory?”

“Oh, please,” I said, “don’t speak to me of money!”

It was not a case of mere hire and salary, and then and there my promotion was sealed.  I was to have a department to myself, and instead of signing “T.A.S.” orders between Pittsburgh and Altoona would now be signed “A.C.”  That was glory enough for me.

The order appointing me superintendent of the Pittsburgh Division was issued December 1, 1859.  Preparations for removing the family were made at once.  The change was hailed with joy, for although our residence in Altoona had many advantages, especially as we had a large house with some ground about it in a pleasant part of the suburbs and therefore many of the pleasures of country life, all these did not weigh as a feather in the scale as against the return to old friends and associations in dirty, smoky Pittsburgh.  My brother Tom had learned telegraphy during his residence in Altoona and he returned with me and became my secretary.

The winter following my appointment was one of the most severe ever known.  The line was poorly constructed, the equipment inefficient and totally inadequate for the business that was crowding upon it.  The rails were laid upon huge blocks of stone, cast-iron chairs for holding the rails were used, and I have known as many as forty-seven of these to break in one night.  No wonder the wrecks were frequent.  The superintendent of a division in those days was expected to run trains by telegraph at night, to go out and remove all wrecks, and indeed to do everything.  At one time for eight days I was constantly upon the line, day and night, at one wreck or obstruction after another.  I was probably the most inconsiderate superintendent that ever was entrusted with the management of a great property, for, never knowing fatigue myself, being kept up by a sense of responsibility probably, I overworked the men and was not careful enough in considering the limits of human endurance.  I have always been able to sleep at any time.  Snatches of half an hour at intervals during the night in a dirty freight car were sufficient.