Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-05-04

which win be read with interest not only
in Fort Worth and Denver circles, but by
all people who feel an interest in railroad
matters:
THE Ak TO FALL.
zone of the biggest local railway
sensations CT the year developed yester-
day when dispatch was received from
Boston announcing that j. K. Choate,
general superintendent of the Union Pa
clio, would shortly succeed General
Manager Meek The startling informa-
ton contains special significance, as ii
seals the doom of many other prominent
officials of the Fort Worth division who
fell into soft berths when the Denver
Texas and Fort Worth was consolidated
with the Union Pacific.
There have been rumors afloat for sew
eral DAYS that there would be important
changes in the official roster IL there were
no changes in the presidency of the
Union Pacific company at the annual
meeting, which was held in Boston yes
terday. There was a fight inaugurated
several weeks ago on Charles Francis
Adams for president, by the directors
who had been elected from the old Fort
Worth company. The faction was lead
by Gen. Dodge of the Fort Worth, who
was known TO be an avowed candidate
for the office of president of the Union
Pacific system. In other words it was a
struggle for supremacy between the two
roads, and on the result depended the
official life of q half dozen or more
Denver officials. The Union Pacific
crowd came out on top, and it is ex-
pected that the slaughter will commence.
The News was unable to secure the
confirmation of any of the many re-
ports that were afloat, but no one who
is fully posted On the tuation doubts for
q moment that they are based on good
grounds. 1t is an open secret that the
relations of some of the officials have
been very much strained CT late. When
the consolidation took place General
Manager Meek of the Fort Worth dlvis-
ion was made general manager of the
lines centering in Denver. This caused
no end of surprise and gossip in railroad
circles, as General Superintendent
Choate was in the direct line of promo
ton, and still further he was Union
Pacific man, and not only stood in with
the high oficsrs of the company,
but is near relative of President
Adams. Then, too, Mr.. George
Ady, another Fort Worth man, was
made general passenger agent of the
Union Pacific lines, and to a man, up &
tree it appeared that the Denver, Texas
and Fort Worth was the boss of the sit
uation. The latter officials, it Is said :,
were evidently of that opinion, as rumor
has 1t that they lost no opportunity to
humiliate the old Union Pacific officials
and let them know that they were not in
1t. General Superintendent Choate was
on more than one occasion asked to go up
on the South Park line with the rotary
snow pillow, to open the road, and not
long since minor official of the Fort
Worth went to Omaha in private car,
and he did not deign 10 ask two higher
Union Pacific officials who were on the
train to occupy the private car with him.
Pretty soon the Union Pacific officials
sent up a terrific howl, the echoes OF
which reverberated in Boston. Prepara-
tions were at once made to set the official
guillotine in motion.
1t is now stated that the Fort Worth
men were only given the positio MS they
now hold to conciliate Gen. Dodge until
the annual election should take place.
Now that it is over and the Union Pacific
are in absolute power the wholesale de-
capitations will begin. If, as stated
General Manager Meek is succeeded by
General Superintendent Choate, it is
probable that Assistant Superintendent
Gilchrist will be made general superin-
tendent of all divisions, which means
that General Superintendent Duncan of
the Fort Worth will lose his head. Gen.
eral Passenger Agent Ady will also re-
sign, but no one has been mentioned as
his successor. Auditor, Ross office will
be removed to Omaha. which means that
it will soon be absorbed by the main
auditing department of the Union Pa
cif1c, and the local treasurer's office has
already been abolished. A number of
other minor changes will be made.
OF course the deoapitation of the off,
cials mentioned does not reflect one iota
on their ability as thoroughly shrewd
railroad men. 1t simply means that the
Union Pacific thinks their old officials are
entitled to the positions. Just when the
changes will take place no one seems to
know, but they are inevitable.