The Van Buren press., 1899-12-23
WILL NOT SUCCEED Woon
su'nor iha' Col f'rdyoe Would Bscom.
General Manager of the ohoe,.-
without Foundation

Without Foundation
The widely circulated report tba,o.,
5. W. fordyce would shortly sucoa..
Col. Henry Wood as vice.president @
general manager of the Choctaw Ron.'
is emphatically denied by Col. Forars
in telegram to the Little Rock Ga,....
Col. Fordyce's duties as coreeeivau
the Kansas City, Pittsburg & Gulf W.
cludes the possibility of his assum;a
(for some time, at least) further resnoa
sibilities. That it would be WELDON.
news should it be announced thatcaa
Fordyce is to again assume the man
agement of an Arkansas road -.
only to his personal friends and businos.
men all over the state, but also r. "a
thousands of employees of the Cottos
Belt with whom he had to deal +.
years., is evidenced by the FOLLOWING.
"CoL S. w. FoRDYcE:
Dear Sir-It is more than n r.
since you left the service of the q
Louis Southwestern Railway. Tima
usually entirely effaces or renders lass
forceful the attachment of men tor
each other, or the memories thew bara
of each others worth 1t has not been
true of us toward you. At the tims
you left the presidency OF the railroad
that owed SO much TO your fosterin,
care of its material affairs you wers
the recipient of many expressions q,
esteem felt by your former emplovo.
and others who appreciate your ser,.
ices to the road and kindness tn II,
employees in all grades of the service
1t is not now our purpose to attemm
by words alone to remind you that von
have had, and still have, in the heart,
of your former employees, place tba,
time or circumstances cannot effaca
but as a committee, acting on behalf
of the employees of the Cotton Belt
Railway. to hand you loving-eup asa
lasting souvenir of their affection for
you and high esteem for your worth as
capable and epright officer and friend
Vi IHc pam pcoplc VI our common
country.
Yours truly and respectfully,
-. r. LERosQUEr,
"R. NJ. GALBRIATH.
"F. NJ. STRADER,
Committee representing employees Of
the s.. Louis Southwestern RAILWAY
in Arkansas and Missouri"
That Col. Fordyee reveres his former
associates and employees, is shown BY
the following reply to the above:
acknowledging receipt of yours Of
recent date, | 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 sp.
probation of my past official acts
while associated with ypu as an EN-.
ploye of the Cotton Belt Railway. To
feel and know that my association oi
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 priced than words
can tell. My heart has, and alway,
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 ID
bored with me, 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 !
duly and gretefully appreciate the
costly and beautiful loving-cup you
have given me, yet it is not without
feeling of sadness that some Of you at
least have made contributions you
pould lily 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
life's fitful fever is DER, let me express
the beautiful sentiments of Fitzgreep
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 affectionateiy,
w EnunyHR'