The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-29
FALSE
HE DECLARES

report was generally CREDITED and n
friend of Mr.. Williams was quoted as
snying that the latter had recently do
clared his intention of retiring
= Another special from Baltimore says:
Financial interests close to Mr.. John
Skeleton Williams. who have; always
possessed accurate Information state that
Mr.. Williams will resign as president OF
the Senboartl Air Line, ana that ht will
be succeeded by James NJ. Barr, vice
president ana general manager Of The
company MIR. Williams will remain a
director Of tho road md retain his interest
in banking affairs. 1t Is believed that tho
depression in Seaboard stock to-day was
due to selling by Baltimore interests that
have stood with the Williams in terests
to hold control Of tho road In southern
hands. Tho buying was for tho Ryan
Coolidge interests. which recently OBJ
tanned practical control Of the, road. rEho
Board Of Directors will meet in a few
days wien Official announcements are ex-
pected. II \. "a IN 1850 rsEs E
.Mr. Williams was seen Tonight at his
apartments on West Twcnty-third Street.
New York, and asked to confirm the re-
port that he would resign at the next
meeting and James NJ. Barr, would DO
his successor.
"Nrr Williams said: "Thcre Is no truth
in the report that have resigned. have.
not resigned as president Of the Seaboard
Air Line; further than this have no
thing TO say
Oh being asked whether no contenlplates
resigning III the near future he refused
to either confirm or deny it.
Believed in Norfolk.
a special from Norfolk hns this to say
Tho report that james NJ. Barr, first
VICE president and general manager of
the Seaboard Air Line Railway has been
or Will be made president Of the system
IS believed hero to be true. Mr.. Barr
when seen tonight, declared that he has
not yet been advised of his election. lie
implied that he WaE expecting such adj
vices, although he would not say any
thing further than that ho had not been
advised. lis election to the head of the
company would not be surprise
Seaboard's Annual Meeting.
the annual meeting Of tho stockholders
OF the Seabonrd Afr Line Railway was
held yesterday at the general Office of the
company. III Petersburg, practically every
share Of the stock being present in per-
son or by proxy. The acts of the direo-
tors for the previous year we're ratified
and. approved. The following board OF li-
rectors was then elected: John Skslton
Williams, Thomas r. Ryan James A.
Blair. j, (. William Mddendorf, S. Davies
Warfield c. Sidney Shepard, r. 10 fferson
Coolidge, Jr, James ii. DooleS. John r
Dennis. James NJ. Barr. George W.
Watts. Ernst Thalmann Norman b.
Ream, Nathaniel Tllaycr, B. r. Yoakun,
II. Clay PIERCE.
The old board was reelected, with the
addition Of MI George L, Watts, Of Dur
ham n. c., the board being incrta scd
from fifteen to sixteen. Hon. Leigh r.
Watts. general counsel OF Lie company
/ presided over the mesting.
The annuu, report Of the company for
the year ending June S0th, 1908, which
was submitted to the meeting. showed
gross earnings OF the system for that
period, So T06 527S2, being an Increase of
Sl,126, Il2a5. Net earnings, S3,3S7 T4S. 90,
a decrease of Sd7.Si63o. The surplus over
interest and fixed charges for the twelvs
month was sSsaa,dsoso. being sl.,aai.So
Increase over the previous year