The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-11-12

Mr. Mellen) said Of hAn The selection
OF G. 3. Mellen for the presidency of the
! Northern Pacific was in the nature OF a
/ surprise II was not that he had not
been talked up for the place. because
he had been. although the talk did not
succeed In reaching the daily press. IT
was not that he Is not an excellent man
for the place because his ability is recog-
nized and he has had the necessary trans
continental experience with the Union
Pacific. The surprise was occasioned more
BY the fact that Mr.. Mellen is generally
regarded a. exclusively traffic man."
while there was every evidence that the
man who was being looked for was an
operating man. A man OF Mr..
Mellen's calibre. however, is not 'ex-
clusively' anything. and, as a matter OF
fact, he had a peculiarly varied and sll
round experience OF railway work =
In his connection with the New Haven
road Mr.. Mellen has always been a good
deal more than traffic man."
The ST. Paul Dispatch Il a recent issue
said: 1T was not 20 be expected from
the recent curious chapters OF railroad
history I'm the Northwest that Mr.. Mellen
wt.,ld remain in a position where he
could not continue to represent himself =
I'm his road where he would have TO
lower TO the level OF men who exploited
railroad Systems as apparant security
for Wall street imitation.
Eighteen months ago the Dispatch
predicted Mr.. Mellens departure from
the presidency of the Northern Pacific.
and the present moment OF resignation
is significant as crisis In railroad affairs
OF the Northwest Mr. Melen was re-
garded by the people OF the Northwest
as a bulwsrk. the greatest bulwsrk TO
secure them against greed and dishonor
In railroad affairs.
THE ABLEsT PRESIDENT.
Mr. Mellen will be missed from the
social as well as from the business life
OF the Northwest He is a man among
men; loyalty OF his friendship repeats
the integrity OF his presidency. lie is
a man who may be approached without
the golden sceptre. lie recognizes worth.
whether IL he an apprentice or in a mas
ter; he recognizes the sham, whether Il
be In a clerk, or in railroad president
He is man who confers honor on his
friends ard on his calling The position
70 which he goes is the height OF rail-
road ambition. but II will develop no
quality with which we have not been
femiliar here. The measurement OF the
man. taken during a period which tried
every hbr-. was determined i'm the North
ern Pacific presidency. c'he New Haven
but honors herself In securing his SER
vices"
The Spokane washington Spokesman
Review, saws: by the resignation of G.
=. Mellen the Northern Pacific loses the
abcst president IL has ever had In
i've wears Mr. Mellen has accomplished
wonders. ne has converted n poorly
built railroad into one OF the best con-
structed systems in the United states.
and at the same time has seen its net
earnings become nearly as great as were
its gross earnings when he was called /
10 the presidency. As a matter OF fact, 4
the net earnings Of the past year are
considerably greater than the gross earn 4
ings for the fiscal year ending juno 20. 7
1895. The road earned the past year
over ns.ccoo0o gross and over SO 900 900
net, as compared with slssSs. lt9 gross and /
sl2. osS,ssS net in 1898 The net earnings /
for 1926 were sl.se5,752 less stln than /
those for 1895
Mr.. Mellen belongs TO a high class
type OF American railroad men who be-
lieve in running railroads for the stock
holders snd the public. and have no
for stock jobbing and egisla-
tive manipulation. Hiis sterling In
dependence was shown when recently. n
he had the courage 70 declare 10 J. Pier
pont Morgan that he would support
for nomination. and that he
would have had less respect for the presi-
sent " he had not done his duty by at
lacking the merger 10 the courts
The West learns with regret that 7
Mell.n IL to leave the northern
Pacific
The Portsmouth. ~. H Dail. Cbron
Gle Oct g. 1913. said president Meflen
" the New York New Haven and Hart.
ord railroad. (but recently appointed 20
hat position Is distinctiveiy New
England man. % broad ideas. of splendid
abroad training and OF that capacity
hat will enable him 70 manage the New
Haven road as no other railroad man
probably. IN the country could do a."