Delaware gazette and state journal., 1902-12-25
THE P. R. R. CHANGES.
Some OF the omciaIs Promoted Arc Known
Here.


Here.
At a special meeting in Philadelphia
lasting less than 10 minutes, the di-
rector5 of the Pennsylvania railroad on
Saturday made some important changes
in the operating department of the
company. These changes are far more
important than the transfers which have
ever attended any change in the presi-
dency, broke precedents in jumping
young men over those supposed to be
fixed for life. and arranged to transfer
to other offices men who had been tried
in high positions. The predicted
''shake-up'' at Broad street station and
along the Pennsylvania system came
suddenly and unexpectedly. 1t was ac-
companied by the semi-official an
nouncement that the work had only
begun; that other changes would be
announced on Wednesday next, and that
the work of reorganization in the oper-
atiHg departments would be kept up for
six months at least.
1t was also added that when the line
changes should be completed attention
would he turned to Offices in Broad
street station, and that the '.shake-
up'' would reach most of the floors in
the big building 1t is known that
President Cassatt intends to present a
changed front to his rivals, and that he
will no longer permit his line to be
congested by freight for year without
any vigorous effort heing made to re-
lieve it.
Division superintendents were changed
on Saturday with rapidity that was
bewildering. The changes made in
yolve the transfer of hundreds of men,
but they are trifiing compared with
those yet to come, If reports from those
best informed are to be believed. New
men, not now connected with the Penn
sylvania, are to go to Broad street
station. Positions not now named in
tbs roster are to be created for them,
and the new men will bring with them
new methods of operation. The new
policy is said to have been ordered by
President Cassatt, who is reported to
have decided that traditions and "pull'
viii be no longer effective, and that
only the men who will produce results
will be promoted.
After the meeting on Saturday one of
the board said to a reporter for the
Philadelphia Public Ledger:
I'VE will have some more changes to
announce early in the year, and may
y l.
movement has only begun, and before
it is finished will affect some offices in
Broad street station, where it is thought
that nothing can ever happen until
there is a change in the presidency.
The notion that when man gets a
position on the Pennsylvania be is
fixed for life, SO long as his pull
lasts, no matter whether he is efficient
or ohliging or not, has got to be
changed. The Pennsylvania has now
conditions confronting it, and there
will be some important changes in the
Broad street station household.
We have discussed the matter of APP
pointing fifth vice. president, and it is
strongly favored, but it will require a
change in the organization. though this
can't be made easily. There will be
other changes made at Broad street,
and they will have the effect of sncour-
aging young men to go in and do their
best Thess appointments today show
that traditions have been cast aside.
Men have been promoted on their
merits, and others passed over. Mr..
| Cassatt is doing it all. He says the
Pennsylvania is spending more money
| than any other railroad in the world,
| but he insists that this expenditure be
| directed by the best talent he can OBJ
4 tain. He is not satisfied with the work
of his force in 1902, and this shake
up is the protest he enters. %
Several Of the officials promoted are
| known here.
William W. Atterbury, who succeeds
J. B. Hutchinson as general manager,
was born in New Albany. Ind, SO years
1 ago. He graduated from Yale and en-
| tered the railroad service in 1886 as an
| apprentice in the Altoona shops. From
| 1888 to 1892 he was engaged on various
| divisions of the Pennsylvania and P.
| W. l. B. railroads as road foreman oi
engines. He was advanced from time
| to time and in 1901 became general
superintendent of motive power of the
Pennsylvania lines east of Pittsburg
and Erie, which position he now holds,
Alfred W. Gibbs, who has been ap-
| pointed general superintendent Of
motive power, was born in New Mexico
| 46 years ago. In September, 1902, he
was appointed superintendent of motive
I power of the p, w. a. b. railroad.
| Simon Cameron Long, who becomes
| superintendent of the Pittsburg divi-
sion, was appointed assistant engineer
| of the Delaware division on November
| lst, 1889, and to the same position on
the Maryland division on January 1st,
1888, which he filled until August 1st,
1900, when he was again promoted to
another division.
The men promoted will assume their
new duties on January 1st Another
meeting of the board will be held on
Wednesday, when additional changes
may be decided upon.
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