The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-04-18
TOPEKA AND THE sANTA FE
Also Something About General Man
ager Nudge


The following COMPLIMENTARY notice
about Topeka, the Santa Fe and General
Manager Nudge appears as a special
article in a number of eastern papers.
who VIII succeed J. NJ. Barr as third
vice president of the Santa Fe is the
query which is just now absorbing the
attention of railroad men and the pub
lie generally. The Santa Fe is the we'll
spring Of Topeka, and the country
through which it passes, and there is
hardly business man who does not
take interest In the company's welfare
and pride in its progress. The payroll
In Topeka is next to a pension disburse-
ment and payday means more in one
sense to the citizens than any national
holiday on the calendar
The elaborate shops voted for at the
recent city election, by practically IN
anlmouS vote and which are already in
course of construction, mean a double
payday, Tor the future and a SOlid1ty
TO the business interests Of Topeka, that
every person appreciates. The present
shops employ nearly 800 men, while the
rolls of the general Office and other de-
partments swell the figures two-fold.
The Topeka shops employ the cream
Of skilled labor and build engines from
the raw material. It is q matter of his
tory that locomotives designed by the
company'S expert, Mr.. John Player. sup
oE4ulenOSnL OF machinery, ana DUH IN
der his supervision, are equal to the pro-
duct of any plant in the world. The
freight car output is not by any means
side issue. They are, like the engines.
built from the rough. the most modern
machinery being in service for their con
struction. They are bolted by air and
painted by air, veritably Harvesting the
Kansas cyclone to push the work The
new shops will double the present labor
and consequent results. and bring add
-~-1 So. 49,
chinery, methods and products not here
tofore possible. insuring a greater To-
peka, and a greater Santa Fe, a mutual
tie at once harmonious with prosperity
and confidence one with the other.
THE Santa. Fe is a Kansas conception
and the state at large is interested in It's
success. It had hardly got the survey
finished when the present general mana
ger, Mr. II. L. Nudge secured employ
nent as a water carrier to the track lay
ers. The force Of American Drawn and
a. tendency to move or got him a posi-
ton a little later as section foreman,
where he was schOoled in track-serVice,
bringing, and road-bed philosophy He
was next initiated as agent operator and
dispatcher, serving an ample apprentice
ship. His attention being drawn 10
train service, he served as brakeman
and conductor The training thus ac-
quired, equipped him for greater respOn-
Sibiliries and wider fields. Step by step
he steadily advanced. From trainmas
ter to division superintendent, in the Ia
ter capacity being changed frequently
from point to point to meet the demand
for more ability in management. In due
course he was made general superin-
tendent which position he held with
special credit until appointed general
manager January 1. 1900. In all his ser
vice his superior officers freely admitted
that they could always learn something
from Nudge Today he is carded as
third vice president to succeed Mr.. Barr.
He deserves the promotion
President Ripley is a keen observer
and keeps close note OF the personnel Of
his staff He is familiar with Mr.
Mudge's ability and is aware of the har-
mony the appointment would insure
among the employees, to say nothing Of
the able administration Mr.. Nudge
would surely effect 1t Is a well known
fact that many railroad men Of &C
knowledged merit. have a fad or spec
ialty One will be distinguished for his
proficiency upon maintenance, another
upon passenger traffic, etc, etc, but Mr..
Nudge is a combination of them all
Plain. honest and faithful, he has spent
the best part of his life. helping in
mastery way, to make the Santa Fe the
greatest railway in the world