The Monticellonian., 1899-12-22
WILL NOT SUCCEED WOOD.
Humor That Col. Fordyce Would Become General Manager of the Choctaw
 Without Foundation.

The widely circulated report that Col S. W. Fordyce would shortly succeed Col. Henry Wood as vice-president and general manager of the Choctaw Route is emphatically denied by Col. Fordyct in telegram to the Little Rock Gazette Col. Fordyce's duties as coreceiver o the Kansas City, Pittsburg x Gulf, pre- cludes the possibility of his assuming (for some time, at least further respon abilities That it would be welcome news should it be announced that Col | Fordyce is to again assume the man | agement of an Arkansas" road, noi only to his personal friends and business men all over the state, but also to the thousands of employees of the Cotton Belt with whom he had to deal foI years), is evidenced by the following: "CoL s. w FoRDYcE:
 Dear Sir-It is more than a year since you left the service of the St Louis Southwestern Railway. Time usually entirely effaces or renders less forceful the attachment of men for each other, or the memories they have of each others worth. It has not been true of us toward you. At the time you left the presidency of the railroad that owed so much to your fostering care of it's material affairs you were the recipient of many expressions of esteem felt by your former employees and others who appreciate your serv- ices to the road and kindness to its employees In all grades of the service. It is not now our purpose to attempt by words alone to remind you that you have had, and still have, in the hearts of your former employees, a place that time or circumstances cannot efface, but as a committee, acting on behalf of the employees of the Cotton Belt Railway. to hand you loving-cup as a lasting souvenir of their affection for you and high esteem for your worth as capable and upright officer and friend of the plain people of our common country.
 Yours truly and respectfully,
 U. R. LERosQUET,
 "R. M. GALBRGATH,
 "F. NJ STRADER,
 Committee representing employees ot
 the St. Louis Southwestern Railway
 in Arkansas and Missouri
 That Col. Fordyce reveres his former associates and employees, is shown by the following reply to the above:
 Acknowledging receipt of yours of recent date, 1 beg to assure you of my deep gratitude for the beautiful way in which, by words and deed, you have been pleased to convey to me your app preciation of my past official acts while associated with you as an em- ploye of the Cotton Belt Railway. To feel and know that my association of so many years with the men who aided so much to build up great rail way property, has left such pleasant memories, is to myself and family legacy more dearly prized than words can tell. My heart has, and always will, go out in sympathy to the men who toll for their daily bread in any cause in which they enlist. Naturally, for those who have so cheerfully la bored with me, l feel a more tender sympathy. Many of the best years of my life have been spent with you, and the recollection of those years of toll will remain to make glad every mo- ment of my passing hours. While l duly and gratefully appreciate the costly and beautiful lovingcup you have given me, yet it is not without a feeling of sadness that some of you at least have made contributions you could lilly afford. As partial reward for this you must accept the gratitude of loving and responsive heart My prayer is always that your joys will be as deep as the ocean and your sor- rows as light as its foam. and when lfes fitful fever is OCT, let me express the beautiful sentiments of Fitzgreen Halleck, transposed as my own:
 Green be the turf above you,
 Friends of my better days;
 knew you but to love you,
 Nor named you but to praise. Most sincerely and affectionatelv,