The Chief Clerk

At the cross-roads of his department, where the currents of office activities flow in unceasing streams, the Chief Clerk keeps vigil. Over his desk the units of the organisation maintain contact with one another, with the other departments of the company and with the outside world. Because of his preparation in precedent and experience, emergency rarely takes him unawares. No episode in the smoothly moving routine of railroading escapes his attention.

Having travelled to his position over an arduous route of promotion, the Chief Clerk knows where his own associates' responsibilities begin and end. He has a nice sense of proportion in the matter of authority and duty. He cultivates the confidence of his associates. He relieves his officers of the burden of detail. He transmits their desire, and follows through to its proper execution. He is tactful and just in the distribution of tasks. He is punctilious in awarding credit for the initiative and enterprise of his fellow-workers. He believes in the conservation of time, effort, and material.

—Illinois Central Magazine.