Evening star., 1903-12-31
BARR now PRESIDENT
He il Made Chairman Of the Board
Air Line Directors Elected
Interesting Biographies.

special dispatch to the Baltimore Sun
from New York last might says: John Skel-
ton Williams today resigned as president Of
the Seaboard Air Line to accept the chair
manship Of the board of directors. a posi-
ton which was created for him. ]. N. Barr,
vice president and general manager, was
chosen to succeed Mr.. Williams as presi-
dent and general manager OF the company.
In an oficial statement. issued at the
company's ONCE. this explanation Of the
change was made: -
Mr.. Williams expressed desire to be
relieved of the active management in order
to give more Of his time to his banking ius
terests and personal affairs. It was there
fore decided to amend the bylaws and to
establish the Office of chairman of the
board, to which he was then elected
Other offcers were reelected as follows:
p. c. Porteous. secretary; T. w. Roby,
controller; members OF the executive COM
mittee. Thomas F. Ryan, T: Jefferson Cool
idge. IT.. James A. Blair. John SHELTON Will
Jams. John b. Dennis, b. F. Yoakum and
8. Davies Warf1eld.
Directors Of the company passed reso-
luton commendatory Of Mr.. williams
system.
The following statement was adopted and
ordered to be entered upon the minutes Of
the meeting: %,
Official Testimonial.
Mr.. John Shelton. Williams having this
day declined a reelection to the presidency
of the Seaboard Air Line Railway Com
pany. preferring. for personal reasons, to
assume the position of chairman of the
board. the directors cannot let this occasion
pass without expressing their appreciation
OF the great services which he has rendered
during his occupation of his high Office.
Out Of q number of disjointed and COM
paratively Improbable railroads his genius
and energy evolved In wonderfully brief
period of time new and consolidated sys-
tenn OF roads under one management ex-
tending to all the Atlantic ports south of
washington and to the gulf of Mexico in
the south and to Birmingham and Mont
gomery on the southwest. Under his able
management this system of railroads has
been built up. improved and extended. until
1T has become a successful and formidable
competitor with the older north and south
lines Under his administration the earn
ings of the system have increased from $8,-
OOOOOO to more than $4,000. 900.
He retires from the presidency at time
when the prospects for increased business
are bright and frightening every day"
A Practical Railroad Man.
MI ]. M. Barr, the newly elected presi-
dent, is said to be a good operative and
trafhc-getting railroad man. He made a
record in rehabilitatn dthe Norfolk and
Western railway. Mr., Barr was superin-
tendent of the Chicago Burlington and
Northern railroad fOr some time up to Feb
ruary, 1888. From that time until January
1. 1889. he was superintendent of the
Wyoming division of 1thet Union Pacific and
later superintendent of the Chicago and
Evanston and Chicago. and Council Bluffs
Paul railway. He then went with the Nor
folk and Western and since April. 1901, has
been vice president and general manager
OF the Seaboard. NJ 20 91 ol; -:
Mr.. Barr's Headquarters are now in Ports
mouth. Va, and in future win probably be:
there or In Richmond. stssus -4Gfo,
Mr.. Williams, with Mkz Middenderf and
Mr.. ,Warfelds worked out the plan for the
ton of the SeaboardI Ain Lime, the Florida
Central and Peninsula ps Georgia. and Ala
bama and their subsidiary lines under the
name Of the Seaboard Air Line Railway
Company. % SIX e'4f;T a.
An Aggressive Opponent to Morgan.
For years Mr.. John Skelton Williams has
been hailedFas 1.-THE J. Pierpont Morgan of
the SOUTH although he Is only about forty
three years old. He has been interested in
almost every large railroad, banking and
industrial enterprise. south Of Mason and
Dixon's line for decade.
Banks, trust companies. cotton and wool
en- mills. phosphate mines and railroads
have been projected. "fnanciered." COM
bined and doomed by him almost with
out number. He is a big energetic man,
and for his aggressive opposition to Mr..
Morgan has won the admiration of a GER
tain coterie in Wall street as he has else
where.
For years Mr.. Williams, to use Wall
street phrase. has ''bucked" Mr.. J. Pier
pont Morgan In his fight against the South
ern railway. and the announcement of the
Louisville e-Atlantic Coast deal aroused the
keenest interest In consequence, for 1t was
apparent that the three Morgan roads-the
Atlantic Coast, the Southern and the Louis
vile and Nashvflle-would work together
to the detriment of Williams single road
the Seaboard Air Line.
Since the recent reorganizations, caused
by the control Of the road passing into the
hands of the Ryan-Blafr-Coolidge syndi-
cate, the Seaboard is on the best of terms
with the Southern and other Morgan reads.