The Forrest City times., 1899-12-22
WILL NOT SUCCEED WOOD.
Kumor That Col. Foriyce Wouid Become
General Manager of the Chcc,aw
without Foundation.

lie widely circulated report that Col
5. w. Fordyce would shortly succeed
Col. Henry Wood as vice-president and
general manager of the Choctaw Route,
IS emphatically denied by Col Fordyce
IN telegram to the Little Rock Gazette.
Col. Fordyces duties as CO receiver OF
the Kansas City, Pttsburg & Gulf, pre-
cludes the possibility of his assuming
Tor some time, at least) further respon.
sibilities. That It would be welcome
news should it be announced that Col.
fordyce is to again assume the man
agement of an Arkansas" road, not
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 for
years.. is evidenced by the following:
Col S. w FoRDYcE:
Dear Sir-It is more than 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. 1t 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 its material affairs you were
the recipient of many expressions of
esteem felt bv your former employees
and others who appreciate your serv-
ices to the road and kindness to its
employees in all grades of the service.
II 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, place that
tine or circumstances cannot efface,
but as a committee, acting on behalf
of the employees of the Cotton Belt
Railway. to hand you loving-cap as
lasting souvenir of their affection for
vou and high esteem for your worth ms
! capable and upright officer and friend
of the plain people of our common
country.
Yours truly and respectfully,
81. r. LEEosQUEr
"R. NJ. GALBRIATH,
"F. Nj. STRADER,
COMMITTEE representing employee OF
the 81. Louis Southwestern Railway
in Arkansas and Missouri"
That Col Fordyce reveres his former
associates and employees, is shown by
'he following reply to the above:
acknowledging receipt of yours Of
'ecent date, beg to assure you of Inv
| do hA
n which, by words and deed, you have
been pleased to convey to me your ap-
probation of my past official acts
while associated with you as an en-
,loye of the Cotton Belt Railway. To
eel and know that my association Of
10 many years with the men who
Iided so much to build up great rail-
way property, has left such pleasant
memories, is to myself and family a
egacy more dearly priced than words
ian tell. My heart has, and always
will, go out in sympathy to the men
who toll for their daily bread in any
.ause in which they enlist. Naturally,
or those who have SO cheerfully la
)ored with me, feel a more tender
ympathy. Many of the best years of
ny life have been spent with you, and
he recollection Of those years of toll
will remain to make glad every mo-
nent of my passing hours. While l
July and gratefully appreciate the
costly and beautiful loving-cup you
lave given me, yet it is not without a
ceiling of sadness that some of you At
east have made contributions you
ould lily afford. AS partial reward
or this you must accept the gratitude
# loving and responsive heart. NY
'rayer is always that your joys will
'e as deep as the ocean and your sor-
ows as light as it's foam. and when
ife's fitful fever is DER, let me express
he beautiful sentiments OF Fitzgreep
talleck, 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 affectionately,
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