The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-05-07
H. 8. Gable, New General Super
intendent, Begins Duties.
To Carry Out a Plan of Reor-
ganization.
CONCENTRATE FORCES.
Topeka VIII Become Point of
More Importance
In the Management of Affairs
West of River.


II. S. Cable the newly appointed gen
eraI superintendent of Rock Island rail-
road lines west of the Missouri river
has arrived in Topeka and has assumed
the duties of his new position. Mr. Ca
bic is the son of R. r. Gable, chairman
of the board Of the Rock Island and has
for the past few years and until his
appointment to be general superintend-
ent, been general manager of the Rock
Island and Peoria railroad, a road own
ed by his father and operated as a part
of the Rock Island system.
The installation of Mr. Gable to be
general superintendent of the Rock Is
land lines west of the Missouri river
marks the beginning of a new epoch in
the mana cement of the western lines of
that road which have grown so much
in Importance during the past few
years.
One plan of Importance that is said to
have been decided upon by the manage
ment of the Rock Island is the gradual
concentration of the forces of operating
department and the general oversight of
all the business of the lines west of the
Missouri river at Topeka.
These plans it is said embrace a plan
to build a group of small erecting and
repair shops at this point on the land
bridge over the Kaw river.
The lines of the Rock Island west of
the river are developing and growing
in volume of business a great deal faster
than the lines east of the river. The re-
cent acquisitions to the lines west of
the river and the extensions that have
been made recently have changed the ap-
/ pearance of the map of the road to a
wonderful extent and has opened up
new fields new problems and new con-
ditions that will have to be met on
broader and wider scale than when a
few years ago the road was under an
entirely different management.
The changes in the boundaries of the
divisions that have been announced in the
southern territory of the road shows
that other changes are contemplated in
other sections. Announcements have
been made that the main line in Okla
hOma has been divided into two divis-
ions where heretofore only one existed.
The new division will lie between Enid.
Ok, and Chickasha with W. II. Given OF
Trenton, Mo. as superintendent. Enid
and Harrington will constitute the other
division to be in charge of A. Z. Abb
bolt. Another change that will be an
| nounced soon will be the defining of the
boundaries of the Horton division to in
clude the lines of the road between kan
sas City to Harrington and Belleville
and between Topeka and Horton to-
gether with the Salina branch. When
this change becomes effective it is said
I
ed from Horton to Topeka.
This will be but the beginning of the
plan of concentration at Topeka. The
work will be carried out gradually but
surely. The advantages of this arrange
inent will be readily apparent. ] he
railroad will have @de1uase Office room
he~e and all the business of the western
lines may be transacted here very read
lily where the Topeka office is con-
venient to the Chicago office.
The Rock Island having always had
excellent treatment from the city OF
| Topeka is therefore on friendly terms
with the city and is carrying out these
/ plans for the mutual benefit of both the
/ city and the railroad.
From this date all the officers of the
1 lines Wesr of the river are endowed
with authority to act in matters cover
ing a wider scope than heretofore.
General Manager GoOdnoW, who was
! in Topeka for a few hours last week,
/ and who has returned to Chicago, is
! coming again to Topeka some time dur
/ ing the latter part OF this week when
it is said ne will be in consultation with
the various officers of the road here in
/ regard to the plans of the reorganiza-
ton of the operating department of the
road.
Several weeks ago, when it was an
/ nOunced that the Rock Island had pur-
/ chased the ChOctaw, Oklahoma & Gulf
/ railroad it was rumOred that it had
also secured control of the Choctaw &
/ Northern, n independent line connect
1 ed, however, with the former road.
/ That the rumor was true is now known
I The Choclaw, Oklahoma & Gulf yester-
/ day fled notice with Secretary of State
/ George A. Clark that it had purchased
4 the Choctaw & Northern and had al
/ ready assumed charge of it. This of
/ course. simply means that it has been
/ transferred to the Rock Island along
/ with the Choctaw. Oklahoma & Gulf
/ These two lines, together with it's own
road, g'ves the Rock Island control of
/ some of the best territory in Oklahoma
/ and makes It an especially strong com