The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-11
Resigns Position of General
Manager Of Illinois Central.
SANTA FE MAN
Was Bridge Engineer and Built
Chicago Terminals.
Will Get a Salary OF $4,000
a Year.


the appointment Of chief engineer in
charge of the construction Of the
canal Mr.. Wallace viii receive a sal
airy of $4,000 a year
Mr.. Wallace viii take up his work
with the commission June L He viii
arrive in Washington on OF before
that date and for a time will have his
offices at the headquarters Of the com
mission in this city 1t has not been
determined when he viii visit the
isthnus all matters of detail being
left for a future conference with the
commission
gives I'D his business in this country
for it will require all his time on the
fsthrnus for an indefinite period, said
Admiral Walker today
Chicago. May lit IS estimated
that about two years viii be required
to complete the surveys, make the es-
Inmates of cost and decide on the final
plans for the canal In round figures
the canal will cost 200 million dollars
and will require ten years to finish
Aside from the engineers. machinists
and other skilled labor. the construc-
tive work viii give employment to
$4,000 men
Possibly the most important quail
featiou possessed by Mr. Wallace is
his ability and tact in the manage
ment of men. Fer several years all
Dor and the control of labor Organi-
cations in the entire system of the
Illinois Central railroad company have
devolved upon him for settlement
The twenty-three different labor or
ganfzatious found among the en-
pIOyes of the Illinois Central have al
ways had impHcfr confidence in his
decisions They have never appealed
from his decisions to higher authority
since he has been general manager Of
the road
John F'fndley Wallace was born in
Fall River. Mass. in 1852. and was
educated as civil engineer at Mon
mouth university, Monmouth. III. Of
which his father, the Rev David A
Wallace. was the founder and first
president In 1869 he entered the
road as rodman- In 1870 he was as
sistaut engineer on surveys for the
Quincy, Alton & St Louis railroad
From 1871 to 1875 he was assistant
engineer OF the United States eugi-
neering corps at Rock Island. III
During this time he excavared a chan
mel through the st Louis chain OF
rocks by machinery of his own de-
sign
In 1873 Mr. Wallace was appointed
chief engineer Of the Peoria. & Farm
ingtOn railroad This road later was
consolidated with the Iowa Central
and Mr.. Wallace had charge of op-
GRAFTON as master Of trains
Employed by Santa Fe-
During 1887 Mr.. Wallace was employ
ed by the Atchison. Topeka & Santa Fe
railroad as bridge engineer He design
ed the piers of the Fort Madison, Ia
bridge and had charge of the construc-
ton of the bridge over the Missouri
river at Sibley. Mo- for the Santa Fe-
He also had charge OF a system OF riv-
CT Improvement work controlling the
Missouri river Subsequently he was
connected with Z L. CortheI. in gen
eraI engineering work with headqual-
tiers IN Chicago His principal work at
this time was the construction of the
joint enrance Of the Atchison, Topeka
& Santa Fe and Illinois Central lines
into Chicago from the west together
with improvements OF the Chicago &
Alton terminal entrance
January 1, 1891. Mr.. Walker was en-
ployed by the Illinois Central to assist
in handling the Worlds fair Transport
tation problem and submit plans for
taking care of this business and the
general Improvement of the terminal
property OF the Illinois Central These
plans were finally adopted by the rail-
road company and Mr. Wallace was
appointed chief engineer Of the Illinois
Central During the seven years he
occupied this position the Illinois Cen
traI property was practically rebuilt
Mr.. Wallace was appointed assistant
second vice president January 1. 1885
His title was changed to assistant gen
eraI manager January L 1901. and he
ing department, having in charge the
engineering. roadway, transpOrratiOr
machinery, and other departments
CIsssad under the head of operation
In September. 1902. Mr. Wallace WIS
appointed general manager He is also
chairman of the advisory board of joint
track elevation in Chicago Mr. Wal
lace is an ex-president of the American
Society of Civil Engineers. American
Railroad Engineering and Maintenance
Of Way association and Western SOcie-
ty of Engineers
Wallace Accepts the Job
Washington, May 11--AdniraI
Walker, president fthe Panama
canal commission. received a telegram
from John FiudIey Wallace OF Chi
cage. general manager OF the Illinois
Central railway accepting the ap-
pOintmeut of chief engineer in charge
Of the construction Of the canal Mr.
Wallace viii receive salary OF sz5,-
600 a year
Mr. Wallace has been considered
for sometime by members Of the canal
engineer said Admiral Walker No
one stands higher in his profession or
is better equipped to take up the work
mapped out than he. and the commits
sion Is TO be congratulated on secur-
ing the services of such q man
During the recent trip OF the Pana-
ma canal commission to the IsIhu1uS
one of the subjects Of discussion was
the aPpOinLfl9u I OF tLA-A engineer Al
was agreed by every one that tn man
selected must possess exec pIIonal
Qualifications must be not only an en-
gineer but an administrator and ex-
ecutive- must have mature judgment
and yet energetic of accomplishment,
must be well known and tav0rab y
known. as a very great measure Of the
success Of the cOEa mission would de-
pend on the chief engineer
While the commission was at sea
on the way TO the isthnus a letter
was written to Mr. Wallace asking
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