They Haven't Buried Railroader Bury Yet, Published 11 March 1957 By Austin F. Cros CttlawaCitizen On March 6, 1957, Sir George Bury, former vice-president of the Canadian Pacific Railway, was ninety-one (91) years of age. All I ask is you remember he was ninety one (91). I suppose the Canadian Pacific Railway never had a better official than Bury. He easily takes his place with the CPR "super-gods" like Van Horne and Shaughnessy, ard comparable to Strathcona and Mount Stephen. When, near the end of his long reign, President "Shag" let it be known that his extremely efficient Bury was ear-marked for the presidency, his directorate began to get the vapors. I remember myself, way back in 1927, discussing the fine type of lettering that the CPR had, and I recall despatcher at the Union Station and a CPR employe saying proudly: "anything Bury did, he did well," But the Canadian Pacific directors were afraid of Bury. True, he was efficient: but didn't be drink a bit? Chances were that he wouid soon drop off." So the directors played it safe and picked up an ex-Calgary lawyer called Beatty. In due course he became Sir Edward and had a useful life. Then came D. C. Coleman, and he went through his presidential cycle before retiring. Next followed the shadowy regime of William Merton Neal, who like Edward V, lasted but a season, for after being appointed on February 1, 1947, he resigned March 8, 1948. To play it safe, they then picked Oshawa-born Mather, who was a good guy if a dull fellow, and he survived till after the Canadian Pacific put on its dome-liner The Canadian, in the spring of 1955. But mark this; we are now in the third year of the reign of President "Buck" Crump, and Bury is still alive. So the gallant old gentleman who could run a railway as could nobody else and who was expected to bend his elbow too much is still around. Sir George has "buried" four presidents and is still going strong. Sir George takes his lunch every day at the Vancouver Club. Every time I go there I pay respect to this titan of transportation, this god of the high iron, this hero of mine. As Lincoln said, when they complained that General Grant drank. "1 would like to know the kind cf whiskey he drinks; l'd send some to every other union general." Change the word "general" to president" and maybe you've got something. |