The Forrest City times., 1898-12-02
F()RDYCE'S future PLANS.
The Distinguished Gentleman has
No Desire for Political
Honors.
GAS ACCOMPLISHED MUCH FOR ARKANSAS.
Business Men Entertain a Hope That He
VIII BE Made General Manager of the
Iron Mountnin-wouid Bring About .
Better Feeling Between the People and
That Company.

- No6AC1bAoh WIN AhC o1oICSb Va
first Importance to Arkansas - the
building of Acknowledgement specula-
ton is INDUCED in at this time in refer.
ence to the future plans of Col. S. w.
Fordyce, the retiring president of the
st. Louis Southwestern Railway.
Many of his admiring friends in this
state, Of whom there are a countless
number, would be pleased no doubt to
have him contest for the honors of the
United States senatorship in 1900, as has
been suggested. He has, however, set at
rest all speculation on this subject by
declaring that he has other and more
important affairs of a personal char
acter to occupy his attention at pres
ent; which means in effect, that there
need be no waste OF balm in soothing
his supposed political ambitions now,
and possibly never at anv future time.
Leaving out the question of politics,
Col Fordyee is really a great man, and
considering what he has already &C.
complished as a means of assisting the
development of the country, it would
De difficult to conceive any plans that
he might now undertake that would
add weight to his reputation or
strength to his popularity. To him,
more than all other individuals and
combined influences, is due the credit
of planning and fnanciering the con-
struction of the Cotton Belt-or st.
Louis Southwestern "A system en-
bracing more than thirteen hundred
miles of railway, and running through
part of Missouri, Arkansas, Louisi-
ana and Texas.
AS the chief executive of this road
for period of several years, COL For
dyce has been instrumental in building
up great and valuable property, and
In making the Cotton Belt one of the
most popular lines in the southwest.
Few, if any, labor troubles have eyer
occurred on this line. and instances of
serious CASUALTIES and needless destruc-
ton to property on account of in
competent and careless employees, are
much below the average recorded in
the history of other railroads in this
section. Another most important Oh
servation is the cordial relations which
the management of this road has al
ways appeared to maintain with its
patrons. While other roads have
caused popular resentment on account
of alleged unequal and extortionate
rates-making necessary the clamor for
a railroad commission in Arkansas
the Cotton Belt has enjoyed compare
lively smooth sailing by reason of
prompt attention to complaints and a
readiness to adjust all differences on q
fair and equitable basis.
1t would be entirely too much, OF
course, to assume that Col. Fordyce is
personally entitled to all or even a
greater portion of this credit, because
he has always had good men associated
with him. In the magnificent manage
ment of this great property, however,
it is safe to conclude that he has exer-
cised an influence in shaping its poll
cies; thereby establishing for himself
a confidence with the public which en-
titles him to first rank with the fore
most men of Arkansas.
Realizing the great good he has &C.
complished for the state, and knowing
his friendship and unbounded conf.
dence in its future development. it is
not strange, therefore, that some hope
is entertained that he will he made
general manager of the Iron Mountain
road at an early date. There is no real
foundation for supposing that the di.
rectory of that company entertains a
notion of making this change, but Col.
Fordyce's appointment to this position
would meet with hearty approval, and
it is believed he would correct many OF
the differences now complained of with.
out being urged to do so by the com
mission which is to be selected for this
purpose at the forthcoming session OF
the legislature. In this capacity, for
which he is SO eminently qualified, Col.
Fordyce would no doubt be able to con.
fer more benefits on the people of Ar
kansas than he could possibly hope to
secure for them as a representative in
congress or the United States senate.
Burglars blew open the safe in the
store of C. l.. Lewis at Marion and got
away with $3.50 in money and SIS in