The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-01-05
WILL KEEP HIS PLACE
w. r. McKeen to Be Reelected
President of the Vandalia.
Mr.. McCrea Of the Pennsylvania Says
There Will Be No Change Made
Union Railway Affairs.

James McCrea, first vice president OF the
Pennsylvania Company, yesterday stated
that, as far as the public was concerned,
or would know, the Vandalia would be op-
Grated as heretofore. Mr.. McKeen would,
he said, to-day be elected president and
John G.. Williams general manager, and IL
would continue to be known as the YAM
dalia line Vice President Brooks, of the
Pennsylvania Company, said the Pennsyl-
vania Company has a large stock interest
In the Terre Haute & indianapolis, and
also in the st Louis, Vandalia & Terre
Haute, and the relations that the Pennsyl-
vania Company ~sustains to the Vandalia
will be the same as those Of the Pennsyl-
vania with the P~ittsburg, Cincinnati, Chi
a & st. Louis road, to the Muskingum
Valley, the Ashtabula, the Cleveland &
Pittsburg, and the more recently acquired
Toledo, Peoria & Western.
Mr.. McKeen said he expected 20 be the
president OF the Terre Haute & Indianapolis
Vandalia) as long as he desired, and he
had no idea Of retiring at present.
President Ingalls,, Of the Big Four. said
he thought Mr.. McKeen had acted very
wisely in the matter, so numerous are the
changes in the railway world, and so dis
turbed are the finances Of the country, and
it was a good thing for the Pennsylvania,
as hey would now have no fears OF some
other railroad schemer like Ives, or even
some other party which would be antag-
onistic to the Pennsylvania Company's in
terests, securing control OF the property.
Vice Presidents McCrea, Brooks and Da-
wilson, Of the Pennsylvania Company, left
last night for Terre Haute. to attend the
meeting to elect officers Of the Vandalia,
which occurs to-day, and complete some
minor details in relation to the deal. This
afternoon the party will probably go to
So many friends has Mr.. McKee in In
dianapolis M along the Vandalia line that
expressions OF regret are heard on every
hand that the road has practically passed
under the control of the Pennsylvania
Company; not that the Pennsylvania Com
pany Will handle the road to the detriment
of indianapolis or any other point on its
lines, or lessen it's Importance as a road TO
Indianapolis, but there has been a feeling
that the Vandalia was more a genuine
Indianapolis line than any other road run
ming in here. That the feeling regarding
the change is quite general is evidenced by
the Terre Haute Gazette. which says:
Most people have known for several years
that at some time, President w. r. Nc
Keen, who has been so long in active bust
ness. would retire and that the control Of
the great system he has built up would go,
almost certainly, to the Pennsylvania, in
which system it is an important link and
an essential part. TIL sale Of a part of
HIS kISdI HOlQlUSS VI lOCh Willie IL uOcS
not mean his retirement at present, or, per-
haps, for a number of years, a fact upon
which Terre Hauteans may well congrat-
ulate themselves, it does indicate the be-
ginning Of the end-that the control of the
property will ultimately pass away from
Terre Haute, where IL has been for forty
years; and that President w. r. McKeen,
one of the most distinguished and success
full OF Indiana's great financiers, and q man
who has reflected infinite credit upon Terre
Haute, has 1t in his mind to retire"
The Union Railway Meetings.
The presidents and vice presidents of the
roads comprising the proprietary lines OF
the Union Railway Company and leasing the
Belt road, held their annual meeting yester-
day and elected James McCrea, Of the Penn
sylvania lines. president; z. F. Osborn. Of
the Big FOUR lines, vice president; William
N. Jackson. secretary; William Cannon.
treasurer. and G.. Vinnedge auditor. Among
the questions considered was the settling Of
the Vandalia claim, the removal of the Van
dalla freight depot and improvements need
ed on the Union tracks and Belt railroad.
The vandalia freight depot question was
left TO Vice President Brooks, of the Penn
sylvania lines; John t. Dye. general solic-
itor of the Big Four, n John G. Williams,
general manager OF the Vandalia, to a k
up the whole matter and report what steps
CdH Ut ldktH " TeinONe the ODSlIuClhOn
which prevents the extending of the Union
tracks westward. The other matters were
referred to the proper committees
The general managers of the several
roads whose lines use the Union Railway
Company's terminal facilities ret in an
other part Of the building to consider the
question of changing superintendent.
John G.. Williams. general manager of the
Vandalia, was chairmsf, and j. A. Bar
nard. OF the Peoria & Eastern, secretary.
AS a result of the conference on March 1
d. F. Whitcomb, superintendent OF the
Union Railway Company and Belt road.
will retire, and the positions of superin-
tendent and master OF transportation on
the Belt are to be consolidated. Some
other changes were considered, but not
acted on, as the general managers will
meet on the 1st of February to select a
successor TO Mr.. Whitcomb,' and they wish
him TO have some voice in changes which
viii be made in the way Of economy and
lettering the service. Mr.. Whitcomb was
spoken OF very kindly. He has held the po-
sition nearly fifteen years, and during that
time the company has been reorganiZed
and the duties of a superintendent trebleG
The last few months the health Of Mr..
Whitcomb has been such that IL was diff
cult for him to look after the duties of
the position in a manner satisfactory 70
the managers. He will retire with the best
wishes of a host Of friends.
BOycotting the Big Four.
snecial diSDatch from Colfax. Ind.