The Mena star., 1899-05-25

Guif railroad, had just returned from a laborious trip of ten days over the road with the receivers. The trip had taxed his strength considerably and he had caught cold. His associates believe, also, that the tremendous mental strain that he had been under for sew eral months in the management of the Pittsburg & Gulf sys- tenn, in its straits, had told up on his health and weakened him so that he was an easy prey to pneumonia. Robert Gillham was the builder of Kan sas City's street railway system. He engineered the street railway systems of all the other large cities of the west. He was not only a slSillful engineer, but a promoter and organizer of rare ability. Of late years the Pittsburg Ss Gulf railroad had occupied the greater part of his attention, but he was inter ested in nearly every important public enterprise in Kansas City.
 A MEMORIAL MASS MEETING.
 Mayor Jones issued proclamation calling for a mass meeting in the Commercial club rooms Monday night >of business men and friends of the late Robert Gillian to do homer to his memory. If one tenth of the friends of Mir. Gillham attend the meeting the Commercial club rooms will not be large enough to accommodate them.
 NOT A WHEEL TURNED.
 In Mir. Gillham's honor every wheel of the Plttsburg & Gulf system was stopped while the funeral was in progress Sunday. A signal was given when the ceremony began and word was flashed along the line to Port Arthur. Every wheel was stopped. Trains and machinery stood motionless until the funeral was over. The generel offices of the road were draped in black, and rosettes and streamers of crape will be hung on all the engines of the road.
 MIR. FoRDYcE MAY BE MANAGER
 There is much doubt and speculation as to the successor of Robert Gillham in the active management of the Pittsburg x Gulf road Frank Hager- man, attorney for the receivers of the road. Webster Withers and s. w. Fordyce, said that Mir. Fordyce himself may assume active control. He was president of the St. Louis X South western railroad for many years and IS practical railroad man. k. l.. Martins name has been suggested as the next manager of the railroad. Whatever the receivers decide to do iE the matter must be approved by Judge Philips of the United States court
 Mr. Gillham's salary as general manager of the Pittsburg < Gulf was Sl5, GOO year. but his income was in excess of that amount as he drew salaries from several of his other of- fcal positions. He left considerable real estate but was not a man of large means.
 Robert Gillham was born in New York Sep tember e5 1854 When he was 16 years old he entered college at Hackensack, N J., ana studied engineering until 1874. In that year, at the age of 20, he established an office at Hack ensacl as an engineer It was in October, ls7s that he came to Kansas City. It was then small town almost inaccessible. The city was reached by a ride up Bluff street to Fiith street in rickety, slow. painful mule car. MT Gillham at once took hold Of Kansas City's street railway problem. He planned the Independence avenue and East Ninth street lines and built them. Then he built the Eleva- ted road to Kansas City, Kan MT Gilman went to work at salary of S6,OOJ year TOT tne Kansas City Cable Railway company, as it WIS