The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-01-09
BLACK IS APPOINTED.
Made General Passenger Agent
of Santa Fe.
Announcement Made in Thurs
days journal Confirmed.
An Efficient Railroad Kan Who has
Worked HIS Way Up Through
Merit-other Railroad News

AS announced in the State Journal OF
Thursday evening, Mr.. ". J. Black OF
this city has been promoted to the po-
sftion Of general passenger agent OF the
Santa Fe with headquarters in Topeka
An Associated Press dispatch sent out
from Chicago last right confirmed the
report, and Mr. Black will assume the
duties of his new position on February
!. The office of assistant general pas
sanger agent. now held by Mr.. Black,
vii be abolisheC-
Among Santa Fe men in this city the
appointment of Mr.. Black is looked up
on as q wise move on the part of the
Santa Fe management. No one in the
western railroad world is more com
peteEt to succeed George T. Nicholson
as the head of the passenger depart
ment of the Santa Fe, or better able to
handle the business of such an import
ant line. Mr. Black has been in the
service of the Santa F'e for the past
eleven years. and is thoroughly az
quainted with all details in passenger
traffic work.
Like many of the western officials.
Mr.. Black commenced his railroad ca
reer on the ground floor and is self
made. Eighteen years ago, when Il
years of age. he entered the pasSen ger
Office of the Vandalia line in st. Louis
as an Office boy at a minimum salary,
and since that time has steadily work
ed himself into position and prominence
until he is now hOnOred with the Office
important railroad in the west.
For six years MIR. Black remained in
the employ Of the Vandalia line in St.
Louis, and during that time worked
himself up from office boy to ticket
clerk and from ticket clerk to rate
clerk. At the end of that time he left
the Nandalia line to accept a position
IN the rate department of the Missouri
Pacific passenger office in St. Louis and
remained there for nearly two years.
In 1886 he was offered a more lucrative
to f4l1 r1r L
passenger office in this city by w. T
White. then general passenger agent,
and this offer he accepted. entering on
his duties on March 5, 1886.
When Mr.. Black entered the. service
of the Santa Fe, George T. Nicholson
was assistant general passenger agent
and II. G. Thompson, now assistant
passenger traffic manage. held the pO-
sitiOn Of chief clerk. In April, 1881
Mr.. White was made passenger traffic
manager. Mr.. Nicholson promoted to
general passenger agent and Mr.
Thompson promoted to assistant gen
general passenger agent. Mr.. c. H.
Speer then took the position of chief
clerk. but a few months later, in OctO-
Der, 1887, his health broke down and he
was compelled to give up his work and
remove to California. On Mr. .Speer' 8
resignation Mr. Black was made chief
clerk.
This position he held up to January l.
1872, when he was appointed assistant
time has had immediate charge of all
the western passenger business OF the
Santa Fe.
The appointment of Mr.. Black with
headquarters in Topeka, gives to this
city another important Santa Fe office.
In reference to this point Mr. Black
said today: 4 feel that the re-estab-
Hshment of the general passenger Of
flee in this city is a good move. The
interests of the Santa F'e lie largely ir
Kansas, the road itself was originally
a Kansas isnittutiOn, and much of oul
business originates in this state. The
prosperity of Kansas necessarily means
the prosperity of the Santa Fe, and this
is what is to be ardently hoped for a
all times
Just what changes will be made il
reference to the passenger work of tn;
road is not yet known. It is possible
that the entire work will hereafter b,
carried on in Topeka and the force nov
in Chicago be transferred to this city
The first information Mr.. Black re
ceived of his appointment was the As
ISOLATED Press reports. He was com
PEELED to declare open house at his Of
flee this morning and receive eongra t
ulations from his friends. In addition
to congratulations in person, his desI
was Uttered with congratulatOry epis-
ties received by mail and telegraph.