A SWEDISH IMMIGRANT'S “STEADY JOB.”

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 275, 29 November 1901, Page 3

A SWEDISH IMMIGRANT'S “STEADY JOB.”

In 18S0 a Swede named P. T. Berg got a position as laoorer at the Edgar Thomson Works. He had landed only a short time before and could neither read nor write ' English. To-day the same P. T. Berg is thcchicf engineor of the Carnegie Company and has to his credit more inventions for 'improvements in steel-working machinery than any other man in the world. Like most Swedes, Berg had been pretty well educated at home, and as soon as he got established in a steady job ho took up seriously the task of learning the language of the country to which he had emigrated and which he meant to adopt as his own. He had an idea that if he could only speak English ho might get better work. He manifested particular interest in the engineer’s otlicc, and as he showed considerable aptitude lie was given the task of making blue-prints long before he could express himself intelligently. He showed remarkable talent for his new work and soon was given the position of a draughtsman. Then he got to be an assistant engineer, and it was not many years before the Swedish laborer was chief engineer of the Edgar Thomson Works. To-day, at forty-one. he is chief engineer of the company and one of the most important partners.