The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-10
RIPLEY is HERE
President of Santa Fe Talks
MOdestIy of the Road.
Confirms Report of Purchase of
New Lines.
ROCK ISLAND STORY.
"Wait and See if 1t Is True
He Said.
Annual Meeting of Stockholders
a Formal Proceeding.
ROCK ISLAND STORY

At Z o'clock Wednesday evening E.
p Ripley, Benjamin p Cheney and
Victor Morawitz, the Santa Fe officials
who attended the stockholders meeting
at the general offices today, arrived in
Topeka on a special train composed of
three cars. Mr.. C. S. Gleed of Topeka
came with them. Mr.. Ripley came di-
rectly from his headquarters in Chi
cago. Mr.. Morawitz from New York and
Mr.. Cheney and Mr.. Gleed from Boston.
The party spent the night in their cars
and before going to the general offices
where the meeting convened at precise
ly II o'clock, they made a tour of the
shops and Investigated the many i'm
provements that have been made here
during the last year.
At about 10 o'clock this morning E.
P. Ripley president of the Atchison,
Topeka & Santa Fe railway system.
was seen in his private car by repor
ter for the State Journal Mr.. Ripley
does not care much about reporters
that is, judging from his actions-and
gives out the impression that he would
avoid them if it were possible. He
treats them, however, as he does all
other troubles gets through with them
as soon as possible.
Mr.. Ripley, 1 believe said the re-
porter.
THE same" said the president of the
Santa Fe.
''At the meeting of the stockholders
today will it develop that the Rock
Island has secured sufficient holdings
of Santa Fe stock to entitle that road
to a place on the Santa Fe board of
diractors?"
I would not tell you if I knew"
was Mr.. Ripley's quick reply. "Wheth-
er this is true or not will develop at
the meeting and in. the meantime the
best that you can do is to-wait-"
This reply was short and to the point
and as a result the reporter had
slight attack Of nervousness.
May 1 ask, Mr.. Ripley. what the
present condition of the Santa Fe iss1
both financially and otherwise2'
A slight sardonic smile passed over
the great railway presidents face as
If he was surprised that any one could
possibly have the least doubt that the
Santa F'e was not the best ever.
I think that the newspaper reports
are sufficient reply to that question"
is it ttrue that the Santa Fe has pur-
chased the Cane Belt railway in south
ern Texas?" was asked. "I understand
that the report of its purchasing by the
Santa Fe has been officially confirmed y
The report is true" said Mr.. Ripley
The Cane Belt has been purchased by
the Santa Fe.'
How about the NOrthshore line in
northern Californian was the next
That is also the property of the
Santa Fe. The work of surveying that
line is now in progress and Just as soon
as 1t is completed, construction work
will begin"
Are many improvements on the lines
Of the Santa Fe anticipated for the
coming year?"
mo more than is consistent with the
development of the road.
DO you think that as many improve
ments will be made as have been made
during the year just passed %
Yes"
No directors meeting was held today
1t is the usual custom to hold a direc-
tors meeting Immediately after that of
the stockholders, but as there was not
a sufficient number of directors in the
city today this meeting was abandoned
and the four directors who attended the
meeting of the stockholders left imme-
diately after that meeting was ad-
adjourned.
THE ANNUAL MEETING.
At noon today the stockholders of
the santa Fe railway reelected the
four members of the board of directors
wnos4 terms had expired. thus setting
s1Stent rumOr that the Rock Island
the Union Pacific, the Pennsylvania
or some other road. had secured
resentation on the board.
Ihe meeting, which was held in the
once OF H. U, Nudge. general man
Tger, Tbass convened 1rnsEe1 at u o'clock sharp.
president. Chicago; BENJAMIN p
Cheney. Boston; Victor Morawetz Ne,r
YORK; Charles S. Gleed. Topeka; HoweI
Jones, Topeka; A. c. Jobes Wichita
II IS the usual custom to hold a a.
fectors meeting Immediately after
tnat OF the stockholders but as not a
Suite suLIlclent number of those gentlemen
were present this plan was abandoned
Immediately after the meeting had
convened the call was read and tbe
Poiis We're then declared to be open.
The stockholders voted stocks ana
proxies representing 1909 996 shares of
outstanding. i''-- g
One of the most interesting features
or the meeting was the election of four
new directors to take the places of q
>. Gleed, 7. P. Fowler, H r. Duval
and Victor Morawetz whose terms of
orrice expired today. 1t was thought
Tor some time that not all of these
gentlemen would be elected and that n
new name would hereafter appear on
the list of the names of the members of
the board of directors. This was not
the case, however. for Immediately aft
er the meeting President Ripley an
nounced that all of these gentlemen
mad been reelected and that they
would serve on the board for four years
more.
Did the Rock Island secure repre-
sentation on the board of directors?'
was one of the first questions asked Mr.
ripley as he emerged from the office
OF Mr.. Nudge where the meeting was
held As was expected Mr.. Ripley an
swered in the negative, and it is ex-
pected that this will put an end to the
rulnor of merger between these two
roads Several of the directors were
asked the same question as was asked
Mr.. Ripley and all of them We're equally
vigorous in their denial of it
One of the questions which came uD
before the directors at the stockhold-
ers' meeting was the proposed amend
ments of the bylaws. These amend