Lunch at Bonanza, Chapter 21, "Legacy of the Chief," Conclusion
Superintendent William C. Douglass
Now it was the turn of Bill Douglass.
“I see the dessert is on the way, so I’ll make this brief.
“I wish to reinforce the words of Mr. Nieding. Please remember that this is confidential company business. We have a tremendous amount of work ahead of us. I intend to remain here with you for the duration. There is not a one of you whom I would not be pleased and delighted to work with during the remaining years of this great and unique mine. It is you fellows who have made it what it is today. You all are a part of a proud tradition which began under Stephen Birch twenty-three years ago.
“We have always prided ourselves in our engineers. We run a first-class operation only because of you and those who came before you. We have stacked up a list of engineering achievements between the mines and the railroad which will probably go down in the history books.
“I am a strong believer in families. You know that, because I have four kids living here.”
The men chuckled at the comment. He was not through with his point.
“I have done my best to make this camp a family place. We are a family. You can always come to me if you have any problems here at all, whether its is professional or personal. I am here to serve you, just as you have served us so well for so long. For Stephen Birch, Dan Jackling, Bert Nieding, and all the others, I thank every one of you for your very significant contributions to the Kennecott which has become our home--the Kennecott which in some way will be with each one of us all the rest of our lives.”
Kennecott in 1911
--end of chapter--
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