The Portland daily press., 1893-12-20
MAINE cENTRAL's PRESIDENT.
President Sewall Announces That He Shall
Neutrality-suspicious. as to the Reasons
Mcleod Deal Thought to be at the Bot
tom of it-His Successor.

--0--OcA ~OS
tom of it-His Successor.
News was given out yesterday from
the Maine Central offices in this city that
President Arthur Sewall would not be a
candidate for election TO the board OF
Maine Central directors today, and there
fore that he would no longer be president
of the road. No reasons were given for
this important step, and it only increased
the speculation and expectancy as to the
action which the meeting will take to-
day.
In the circles best informed as to rail-
road matters the idea seemed to prevail
that Mr.. Sewall's retirement was not
wholly voluntary. He and his family
have large holding of Maine Central
stock; and he has apparently made a
good president. Certainly the road is
splendidly managed and equipped. There
fore it would seem that he should have
been Retained. But as stated in the
PRESS yesterday new powers have come
into the Boston & Maine. which hold
the Maine Central in it's grip. Those
powers are probably not favorable to Mr..
Sewall, and it is whispered that herein
lies the reason for his retirement. There
seems to be one general theory as to the
remembered that not many months ago
the New England people rubbed their
eyes in amazement one morning at learn
ing that a young Napoleon named Archi-
bald Mcleod had made deal which had
completely captured the Boston & Maine
ments. 1t was brilliant dash; but did
not please the old, conservative, but
ever powerful interests, that had been
influential in the roads management
General Samuel Lawrence of Medford,
represented one of these interests; and
he was greatly affronted, if reports are
true, at the Mcleod deal. 1t is said that
Mr.. Sewall, who was then Boston &
Maine director, was very active in engi-
neering that deal, together with Mr..
Frank Jones. When that meteoric coup
was over the old interests, together with
oOAlO now oAu pOW lId4 dSoOSluuCo IAuCI
ests came in again; and at the last Bos-
ton & Maine meeting both Messrs.
Sewall and Jones were dropped from the
dictatorship. 1t is believed that General
Lawrence, who is also large Maine
Central owner, was and is very hostile
to Mr.. Sewall; and it is quite generally
reported that Mr.. Frank Jones is also
hostile to his old associate in the Nc
Leod DEAL The reason for this, if it is
SO, does not seem to:.be known.
The feeling last evening was that Mr..
Sewall's retirement would probably be
the only change, but no one seemed as
sured on this point. The truth is that
for several years the old policy Of allow
ing the Maine directors to have the
principal voice in the management of
the road has fallen into desuetude. The
other element has taken the reins.
Mr.. Sewall has been associated with
the Maine Central for many years. He
first became director in 1875, and was
elected president in 1884. At that date
he was also elected president of the
Portland, Mt, Desert & Machias Steam
boat company. He has also been con-
nected with other railroads, like the
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe, where he
was a director of some OF the branch
lines. He was director of the Mexican
Central in'S4-5-6; president of the Eastern
railroad in 1874, director of the Boston
& Maine in 1918, director of the New
York and Now England since 1888, and
of the Portland & Rochester since 1884.
All the railroad business has been in
addition to his extensive business as a
shipbuilder.
Speculations as to Mr.. Sewall's sue
cessor are unsatisfactory. No one in the
Maine Central knows anything about it.
1t is surmised that Lucius Tuttle, the
new president of the Boston & Maine,
may also be elected president of the
Maine Central. This is policy which
is often adopted in other roads similarly
situated.