The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-10
IN MEMoRIAM.
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savannah. Ga. April 9. 1909.


At a meeting of the Board of Direc-
tors of the Central of Georgia Railway
Company, held this day the following
resolutions were unanimously adoptedt
The Central of Georgia Railway
Company is called upon to mourn the
loss of its first president, Hugh Moss
Conner who died on Feb 26, 1900, at his
residence in Savannah after a lingering
and painful illness. His connection with
the property now operated by this com
pany began with his election as a director
of the Central Railroad and Banking
Company of Georgia in January. 1888, as
result of the first exciting contest for
the control of the company between the
advocates of William c. Raoul and Ed
ward Porter Alexander for the presiden-
cy, Mr.. Conner being a leading advocate
of Captain Raoul. He Immediately took
prominent position in the board and an
active part in all of the affairs of the Cen
trail Railroad and Banking Company, and
particularly its financial affairs, during
the years 1883. 1884, 1885. and 1885, In jan
uary, 1887, as the result of the second con-
test on the same lines, he ceased to be a
director of the company and did not
again become a member of the board I'M
til In 1882 at the earnest solicitation of
those whom he had formerly so vigorous
ly and so actively opposed, he againg took
his seat as a member of the governing
body. At the end of the year, however,
he declined a reelection and had no con-
neoJion with the affairs of the company
until on March %, 1892, the United States
Court for the Southern district of Geor-
gia appointed all the directors of the Cen
trail Railroad and Banking Company of
Georgia then in office as the receivers of
its property.
ION the evening of that day these d.
rectors met to receive the resignatio of
Gen. Alexander, the president of the
company, and to elect a successor to him.
The board was entirely composed of those
who. in the management of the Central
railroad, had been earnestly opposed by
Mr.. Conner. but in this emergency, such
was their opinion of his character and
attainments, that he was unanimously Sc
lected as the president of the Central
Railroad and Banking Company of Geor-
gia, and was on the next day appointed
by the court as one of its receivers in the
place of Gen. Alexander, resigned.
He entered at once upon the discharge of
his duties, filing the place of chairman
of the board of receivers until July 4,
1892, when the United States court revoked
the appointment of the entire board as
receivers and appointed Mr.. Conner as the
sole receiver of the property. In October,
1893, Richard Somers Hayes of New
York was, with the full consent and APP
probation of Mr.. Conner appointed CORE
ceiver of the property During the period
of his service he resided in New York
| city and left the management of the
property almost exclusively in Mr.. Com
| er's hands.
He continued in charge until Nov. l,
1885, when, under the orders of court. the
property was surrendered to the newly
formed Central of Georgia Railway COM
pany, organized for the purpose of TAX
ing over the system of roads formerly
operated by the Central Railroad and
Banking Company of Georgia.
For the three and a half years of his
receivership Mr.. Conner gave his undivid-
ed attention to the discharge of the duties
| devolving upon him. In more than one
instance he used his high personal credit
for the benefit of the trust. Although
| practically without previous experience in
| railroad work he soon mastered the sub
| ject and at once impressed himself upon
| the railroad world as an executive officer
| of conspicuous ability IL is unnecessary
to refer TO the trying times through
which the property passed under Mr.
| Corners direction, and to the many severe
! trials to which he was subjected Suffice
| il to say that, in spite of the many at
lacks made upon him, he was always
more than vndicated; and in spite of
| great number of obstacles put in his
path his great ability and his high
| character overcame all opposition But
| the strain and labor of this period ire
trievaby undermined his health and his
death a few years later is traced 10 the
effect of them.
so successful was he in the manage
ment of the property, and so much wis
dom had he exhibited in connection with
the reorganization of the property
| 0he main features of which were how
ever beyond his controD that he was
by common consent selected as the
president of the enw corporation to
be formed. Although, for certain tech
nical reasons, the Office of president
was not filled until more than
seven months after the corporation was
organized, Mr.. Conner was, nevertheless,
regarded during ell this period as the
head of the company and was finally,
when the permanent board was selected,
unanimously called to the presidency He
thus added to the many duties still rest
ing upon him in the closing up of the
receivership those of the executive head
of the corporation whose board now pays
this tribute to his memory; and here he
was equally successful
"I3y his course as a citizen, as a rail
road officer in the business world. and
In all positions he gained the respect ana