The San Francisco call., 1895-07-20
WILL OF ALBAN n TOWNE,
The Estate, Valued at a Half
Million, Left to His
Widow.
May Not Be Filled at
Present.

Yesterday Clinton E. Worden, son-in-
law of A. n. Towne, examined the con-
tents of the late railway managers private
box and, as expected, found a will.
In the will, which was made in 1894, and
witnessed by Judge Hervey Brown and
Attorney Fred Lake, the testator be-
queathed all of his property to his wife.
Caroline Amelia, and appointed her ex-
ecutrix of the estate.
The value of country lands and city real
estate left by Mr.. Towne approximates
half million dollars. He held life insur-
ance policies aggregating $4,000. No rail-
road bonds or stock were found among
his papers.
The country property consists of i'm
proved and unimproved lands near Merced,
Porterville, Upton, Pixley and Bakers
field. Most of the land is under cultiva-
tion, in grain or fruit, and is productive.
About three months ago Mr.. Towne
placed the care of his land affairs in the
hands of his son-in-law, Mr.. Worden, and
the latter is, therefore, familiar with the
investments and the tenants.
The estate of Mr.. Towne is not incum-
bered by debts, liens or mortgages. This
was the third of Mr.. Towne's wills, but
those which had been previously executed
were substantially to the same effect.
About the only differences consisted in the
fact that the first referred to the daughter
of Mr.. Towne by her maiden name, and
the second by that of her first husband.
The third, of course, mentions her as the
wife of Mr.. WorSen.
The Towne residence on California-street
hill contains many beautiful and valuable
works of art. In the line of pictures the
most notable artists of California are repre-
sented.
There is no inclination at Southern Pa
cific headquarters to discuss with news
paper men the subject of A. n. Towne's
successor. ]. G. Stubbs, third vice -presi-
dent and general traffic manager, whose
conversation is always animated and often
agreeable, will talk freight tariff by the
hour, but when it comes to deciding upon
whose shoulders the mantle of Mr.. Towne
shall rest he is positively non on-committal.
He remarked yesterday:
'The WORK of the office is going on now
Just as if Mr.. Towne was away on vaca-
ton. The work went. on as usual when
Mr.. Hopkins died; so it did when Mr..
Crocker and Governor Stanford passed
away, and they were all active men OF
affairs. There never was large institu-
ton more completely run by its owners
than the Southern Pacific.
"Mr. Towne held very important posi-
tion in the con- pany. He was second vice.
president, and in the absence of the presi-
dent and vice-president directed affairs.
The selection of some one to fill his place
will not be made at once. In all prob
ability it will be the subject of conference
by Mr.. Huntington, Mr.. Crocker, Mr..
Searles and Mr.. Stillman. AT present Mr..
Fillmore, the general superintendent, is
performing some of the duties which Mr..
Towne performed, and as matters requir-
ing adjustment arise the work necessary
will be done by some one.
''These accounts you read in the news
papers," said Mr.. Stubbs, ''about strife in
the company between the 'old guard and
the new regime are not authentic. If there
is an old guard here l should belong to
it, because l have been in the service of
the company twenty five years. We are
not striving in this Office to pull each other
down, as published reports would indi-
cate. The subject of Mr.. Towne's sue
cessor has not been discussed for reasons
of delicacy and propriety. The authority
of Mr. Towne was not abridged nor the
measure of his responsibility diminished
as reported. There seems to be purpose
in certain quarters to stir up strife in the
company and excite friction between in
dividuals. An effort was made to weaken
the friendly relations between Mr.. Towne
and myself, but cannot say that it was
successful"
Mr.. Stubbs cited the administration of
affairs in the New York Central, Pennsyl-
vania, Chicago and Northwestern, Rock
Island and Missouri Pacific to make clear
his proposition-that the duties Of traffic
manager are in a sense independent of
other functions of management and that
the range of freight operations often ex-
tend beyond the jurisdiction of other de-
partments.
Mr.. Stubbs was surely in genial mood
yesterday. He spoke in the kindest man.
ner of his associates-Mr. Goodman, Mr..
Fillmore, Mr.. Curtis, Mr.. Smurr, Mr..
Sproule, Mr.. Douty, Mr.. Herrin. Mr.. Red
ding, and included Mr.. Mills of the
land department. in the general expression
of good will toward his fellow-creatures.
Joseph d. Redding was an object of SYM
pathy at headquarters the first and even
the second time his discharge from the law
department was reported, but since the re-
port has been published dozen times sub
sequently and the lawyer still holds on,
sympathy for him has been. wholly with
drawn.
Vice President H E. Huntington, whose
journey East was abandoned on account
of Mr.. Towne's death, returned to the City
yesterday morning.
The first book entered for copyright I'M
der the laws of the United States was the