William Randall Alberger, a man of action rather than theory, and yet a man whose plans are carefully formulated before being promptly executed, is now traffic manager of the Tonopah & Tidewater Railroad and vice president of the San Francisco-Oakland Terminal Railway. He occupies a central place on the stage of activity in connection with western traffic. He is both forceful and resourceful; recognizes possibilities and utilizes them; plans out big things and accomplishes them. He was born in Buffalo, New York, October 4, 1860, and is a son of William Clendenin and Frances Augusta Alberger. The father, also a native of Buffalo, was born in 1836, attended the public schools and during the Civil war served with the Forty-Ninth New York Infantry, becoming lieutenant colonel. He was mustered out in 1865 and turned his attention to railroad building and operation, being thus engaged in various places until 1885, when he came to Oakland. Here he practiced civil engineering until 1904, when he removed to San Francisco, where he continues actively in his chosen profession. He was married in Buffalo, New York, on the 12th of January, 1858, to Frances Augusta Tyron, and unto them were born five children: William R.; Ida W. Severin, of San Francisco; Charles R.; Mrs. J. E. Dorry, of Detroit, and one who has passed away.
The stability of the east and the enterprise of the west combine in W. R. Alberger and have made him one of the giants in the western traffic world. At an early day he heard and heeded the call of the business life. He did not even pursue a high-school course, but entered at once into the world's activities and has learned his lessons in the school of experience, where he has been a most apt pupil. However, following his removal westward he was persuaded to enter William Jewell College at Liberty, Missouri, where he took a special course.
His identification with railway interests dates from the early '70s, and he has been connected with every department, save the treasury department. In early life he was employed by the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railway Company, in which connection he passed successively through the positions of yard weighmaster, division storekeeper and division superintendent's clerk. In 1881 he entered the auditing department of the Santa Fe at Lawrence, Kansas, where he remained for a longer period than in any other position, for his promotions have come with rapidity, inducing many changes. On leaving Lawrence he went to Ottawa, Kansas, where he was connected with the mechanical and stores departments. In 1885 he arrived in California and served first as freight and afterward as passenger agent at San Jose, representing the Santa Fe. He was also traveling freight and passenger agent at large and afterward excursion agent and general agent of the Santa Fe Fruit and Refrigerator line. He next became chief clerk to the assistant traffic manager, was subsequently foreign freight agent and eventually general agent at San Francisco. He was appointed to the last named position just three days before the great fire. He passed that period which tried men's souls and tested the mettle whereof they were made. The duties of that position were not the only ones that devolved upon him at that momentous period, for only a month before he had been placed at the head of the Transportation Club and its quarters, too, were destroyed in the widespread conflagration. In July, 1906, Mr. Alberger became connected with the railway interests controlled by F. M. Smith and has so continued to the present time.
The Time Card, a trade journal, says: "He has seen railroads grow from small, poorly equipped and poorly operated properties to the perfect systems of today. He has seen traffic-getting and rate-making in all its phases. He has been through hard times, panics, receiverships and paydays delayed four months. He has seen club members develop from minor positions to general agents and higher places. This experience has molded and made of Alberger the composite all around railroad and business man that he is, and won the higher regard of all those who have ever been associated with him. Alberger's word and judgment are law with those who know of his ability and achievements." Aside from being traffic manager of the Tonopah & Tidewater Railroad in Nevada, Mr. Alberger continues as vice president of the San Francisco-Oakland Terminal Railway Company. Again we quote from the Time Card: "Alberger is largely responsible for the vast improvements in docks, extensions, yards and general facilities planned by the big Key Route System, which will involve many millions and serve to focus the eyes of the world on California. Alberger's has been a busy life. Even in his cradle he was planning big deals, and his tireless capacity for work is the marvel of his confreres. He tackles each problem with a fresh mind and a keen zest, moving in an incisive way, and grappling with complex issues as easily as with the simplest, apparently. He is a born railroad man and organizer, and his life is so systemized that even in his career as president and vice president of the Transportation Club, he had in short order perfected it into a working, resultful band of hustling committeemen. That is Alberger's way. His example is inspiring."
There are interests which claim Mr. Alberger's attention aside from business, and not the least of these are his home and family. He was married in Ottawa, Kansas, December 27, 1884 to Miss Alameda Frances Stephens, and they have a daughter, now Mrs. Anna A. Stanley, of Portland, Oregon. His social nature finds expression in his membership in various clubs. He belongs to the Oakland Commercial Club, the Athenian Club, the Jonathan Club, of Los Angeles; the Drug and Chemical Club, of New York, and the Masonic lodge. He is likewise a member of the Loyal Legion. His greatest activity in the field of clubdom has perhaps been in connection with the Transportation Club of San Francisco, of which he is a most earnest member. He was chosen vice president in 1906 and through the two succeeding years served as its president. Another biographer has said, in speaking of him in connection with the Transportation Club: "Alberger is first in the alphabet--and first in the hearts of his fellow club members--and as one of the pillars of 'Borax' Smith's gigantic interests he is one of the men who control the destinies of the Pacific slope. During his term as vice president in 1906 and as president in 1907 and 1908 he saw some critical times in its history. He is a ready speaker, always has a message of import, is witty and humorous, and always loaded with facts and good stories to make them more palatable and convincing.
"Always agreeable and affable, he takes a pride in watching the men who have grown up under his care or purview reach positions of prominence. His friends make a line from coast to coast and from the gulf to the great lakes. They know Alberger up in Alaska, and in the British inner financial and commercial circles they know him as one of the potential men of the Pacific coast--the theater of commercial progress just now." Mr. Alberger is also a member of the American Association of Freight and Traffic Officers. Like many active men of the present age, Mr. Alberger does not scorn politics as something unworthy of his notice. He is a republican and there is no vital question relating to the party, its policy and its progress with which he is not acquainted, nor are his religious duties neglected, his membership being in the Episcopal church, to which he is a generous contributor. The best thing to be said in the history of W. R. Alberger is that he is still up and doing and to the activities of the past will be added the accomplishments of the future, for in his present railway connections there devolves upon him the responsibility of carrying out the gigantic plans of railway construction and development which will mean so much to the future of California. His intellect, his energy and his executive ability, combined with his technical knowledge, are concentrated upon projects relative to the improvement of the harbor and transportation plans. He can turn with ease to greet a friend and with equal readiness take up the big projects which claim his attention. It is this concentration upon the duty or interest of the moment that constitutes one of the salient features of his remarkably successful and resultant career.
Past and Present of Alameda County California, Vol. II
Published in Chicago by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
1914
Pages 237-240
Transcribed by Linda Jackson 6/07/2008
Alameda County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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