The Topeka state journal., 1903-06-17

Mr. Frey's resignation as general
manager of the Santa Fe was announc-
ed November Is. 1899 and took effect
January J. 1900 He then moved his
family to Albuquerque on account Of
his Wifes health and soon afterward be-
came president of the Denver & Cripple
Creek railroad He held this position
only a year when he began the promo
tion of a a railroad line through Alaska
10 the Behring Straits and he has CON
tinued to work on this project
Mr. Frey came to Topeka as general
manager Of the Santa F7e in April 1893
AT the time of his appointment he was
vice president and general manager of
the East Line & Red River road.
branch of the NJ X. e IT.. which is now
known as the Sherman. Shreveport &
Southern. having retired as general
superintendent of the NJ. K. & T. but a
short time before. He succeeded Mr..
A. A. Robinson, now president of the
Mexican Central road
There is an interesting story told IN
connection with Mr.. t'rey's appointment
as general manager of the Santa Fe.
1t Is to the effect that his connection
with the Santa Fe was due wholly tn
the well known loyalty of George r.
Peck to his friends
AS The story goes. Santa Fe affairs
had shaped themselves after the resig
nation of Mr. Robinson so that the late
* IT, Wade, then general manager OF
the Southern California line, was slated
for the position of general manager
of the Santa Fe proper. At the same
time friends of Mr.. Frey. who We're
in a position to know of Santa F.
moves. were working Tor ms appoin-~
mcnt as a successor of Mr.. Wade i'm an~
ticlpation of the latter's transfer to To-
peka.
Some time previous to this event IN
Santa Fe circles Mr. W. II. RosSingtOh
of this city and a party of friends went
to California on pleasure trip The
Topeka attorney carried with him a
letter Of introduction to the general
manager of the southern California
road from Mr.. Peck. containing the
request that the bearer and party be
shown every courtesy possible durln2
their stay on the line of the California
road. When the party reached the
headquarters of the Southern California
road Mr. Wade was absent. and the
letter was presented to his chief clerk.
with request for certain transpOrta~
tion The chief clerk did not feel az
liberty to honor it, and Mr.. Bossingtoh
and friends were compelled to pay for
tho desired transportation. When the
party returned Mr.. Peck was told OF
the occurrence, and the general solicitor
or the santa Fe announced that h.
held Mr. Wade responsible for the faux
Of his chief clerk in snubbing his
Mr.. Peck did not forget the matter
and il is privately stated that because
of this indirect affront to Mr. Peck =
friends Mr. Wade failed to become gem
eral manager of the Santa Fe Thu
santa Fe general solicitor was slightly
acquainted with Mr. Frey and when
the time came for naming successor
10 Ar Robinson. he swung the balance
in his favor against Alr. Wade. In this
way MI. Wade remained in California
as general manager of the Southern
california, and Mr. Frey came to To-
peka as general manager of the Santa
The year following NIr Frey's connec-
l0n with the Santa Fe. the road be
came involved in the A. r.. u. strike. 1t
was trying time for the new official
with the several thousand miles of the
santa Fe road proper under his control,
ana his actions were closely watched by
me railroad world generally Tt was
tleh taat the executive ability, for
winch he has been noted since the time
ne became general superintendent of the
H. * & n was put 10 the test as
hloeaply two-thirds of the employees
along the line of road were turned
against the management. But Mr. Frey
came out of the trouble with Colors fly
ms and received congratulations from
leiiioaa ot1cials all over the United
states Tor the way i'm which he handled
tne strike Since that time Mr. Frev
circles
Mr. Frey was IL years of age when he
entered railway service as a messenger
hov on The Ohio & Mississippi. with
which road he stayed three years as
messenger boy. operator and night dis
natcher. leaving in 1858 to become train
master on the Missouri Pacific In 1872
t. and ia 1874 became superintendent