The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-02-21
BIG CHANGES
ON SHORT LINE.
Schumacher and Reeves Slated
For Higher Positions.
GRAY GOES 70 SHORT LINE
CONSOLIDATION OF TWO sYs-
TEMs-oTHER CHANGES.

t. NJ Schumacher and d. r. Gray
left yesterday for Chicago.
The foregoing announcement looks in
nocent enough, but back of this trip is
believed to be hidden one of the most
important changes which has dis
turbed the local railroad chessboard in
recent years. Mr.. Schumacher is act
ing traffic manager TOR the Oregon
Short Line and Mr.. Gray has acted as
general agent for the Southern Pacific.
The impression that something cut of
the ordinary, affecting these roads. was
in the air, took form about a week ago
when a rnmor was circulated that j.
c. Stubs, traffic director for the Harri-
man system. expected to visit this city.
The western trip was evidently
abandoned and yesterday the officials
named left for Chicago where they will
meet Mr.. Stubs. 1t is believed that
this trip means a change that is only
the beginning of a series of important
movements effecting the management
of the Short Line system. It is re-
ported that when Mr. Schumacher re-
turns from Chicago he VIII have the
title OF traffic manager instead of act
ing traffic manager. ]. A. Reeves will
be made general freight agent and Mr..
Gray will be his assistant, filling the
POSillOn MI reeves now nOiQS. Inc
position of general freight agent has
been vacant. The office of general
agent of the Southern Pacific would
then be abandoned.
Consolidation of Companies.
It is rumored that ti1e-ehanges sarald
the consolidation of the Oregon Short
Line and the Oregon Railway & Nav
igation company. This change is a
possibility which has been persistently
denied by the Short Line officials but
those awake to the drift of things are
confident of the outcome.
One of the changes this movement
will bring about is the appointment of
L. E. Calvin, general superintendent,
to be general manager of the two sys-
TENS. Mr.. Calvin said several months
ago when il was expected that he was
slated to be general manager of the
Union Pacific to succeed Mr.. Dickin-
son, that he would not take the posi-
ton if it were offered him. 1t was said
at that time that Mr. Calvin would
have something better eventually with
the Oregon Short Line, and it begins
to look now as if that prophecy would
be fulfilled.
L. S. Benson, it is believed, will, in
the event of the change, be general
auditor of the system instead of au-
ditor of the navigation company as
this city from Portland, Ore w. H
Bancroft, it is understood. is slated for
the office of president of the Oregon
Railway & Navigation company, al
though it is believed he would retain
his title as vice president of the Short
Line. Mr.. Bancroft would simply fill
the Office now held by A L. Mohler.
Should Z. H. Hartman retire as
president of the Short Line, as has been
rumored to be one of the possibilities
Mr. Bancroft would become president
of the consolidated system, Mr.. Hafsi-
man simply remaining chairman of the
board Mr. Mohler, it, was reported
weeks ago, will have charge of fhe
steamship service. These changes will
also force the creation of a new office
similar to the one of auditor of equip
ment service which recently went into
effect on the Union Pacific. The man
most eligible for this Office is believed
to be a. F. Brewer, car ace Juilsant
for the Short Line. If he IS promoted
to this office it would very likely re-
suit in his removal to Portland, ore.