Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-04-22

opinion in cities along the B. & 0. that
Mr.. Thomas Fitzgerald will be the new
general manager of the B. & o. The re-
ports in circulation in New York hint
that nls selection will be made partly
through the influence of the Pennsyl-
vania railroad in the B. & O. prop
erty.
The only changes which are certain
in the affairs of this company are the
retirement on May 1 of Vice President
and General Manager Underwood, and
the assistant general manager, Mr..
Daniel Willard.
Nothing definite is known up to the
present as to their successors. While it
is conceded that the men to be chosen
must necessarily be not objectionable
to such large interest in the prop
erty as the Pennsylvania railroad, it is
believed that this influence will be ex-
erted more in an advisory way to select
the most capable men than used as a
pressure to install any particular in
dividual.
1t is pointed out that the Pennsylva-
MAS general policy in it's own road has
been to push forward men who have
shown ability in the service regard
less of other influences. 1t Is this pol
icy that has created the splendid disci-
pline in the Pennsylvania service, and
the knowledge that promotion is to be
won by meritorious service is respon-
sible for the spirit with which suboroi-
nate employees work.
1t is seriously doubted that the Penn
sylvania would want to let out of its
service a man big enough for the B.
& o. general managership. In Baltimore
& Ohio circles the prevailing impress
sion is that Mr.. Thomas Fitzgerald,
now general superintendent, will be ap-
pointed general manager. This is heard
from all parts of the system, but is
without Official announcement.
AT one time or another curing his 35
years connection with the Baltimore
and Ohio, Mr.. Fitzgerald has been in
personal touch with every division of
the entire system. His simple, direct
and forceful way with natural railroad
talent brought him promotion through
the many stages from water boy on the
Monongahela bridge to his present po-
sition in charge of the most important
part of the system. The knowledge of
his ability is so general that this ac-
counts for the persistence of the re-
ports that he will be the choice for gen.
eral manager.
According to New York gossip, the
acquisition by the Baltimore and Ohio
during the past year of the Pittsburg
and Western, the Cleveland Terminal
and Valley, the Baltimore and Ohio
Southwestern and the Cleveland, Lorain
and Wheeling was expected to work
some surprising and important changes
in departments and their subordinates,
and these are regarded as made easier
by the approaching retirement of Mr..
Underwood and Mr.. Willard. This talk
Is of more closely cementing the rela-
lions of these various properties to the
parent company and to follow me Penn
sylvania plan of having each operate
independently according to fixed policy
mapped out by the head of the operat-
ing department in the east. There is
again a discussion of the relations OF
the Baltimore and Ohio to the Jersey
Central and the Reading.
This revives the proposition that the
Baltimore and Ohio will withdraw from
Its agreement with these lines and use
the tracks of the Pennsylvania railroad
from Philadelphia to New York. At
present the situation in this regard is
that the interests are satisfied to main
tain the situation as it stands, and it is
even considered doubtful that the Penn
sylvania, with its rapidly growing trafic
between New York and Philadelphia,
would care to undertake handling Bal
timore and Ohio trains, with the prob
ability Of eventually overcrowding the
facilities for its own business.
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