The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-10-06
SHAKE up BEGINS.
c. f.. NIcKim Resigns From Rock ISL
and-Hobbs Promoted.

Chicago. Oct. &C. E. McKim, gen
eral superintendent of transportation
of the Rock Island railway system.
has rendered his resignation to Pres
ident Winchell and the resignation was
accepted. w. M. Hobbs, formerly as
sistant general superintendent of
transportation, was promoted to the
vacancy. Nc McKim formerly was su-
perintendent of telegraph for the
! Pennsylvania and was one of the
first men brought to the Rock Island
by l., F. Loree, whose sudden resigna-
ton yesterday as executive head of
the Rock Island caused a sensation in
railway circles
Mr.. Hobbs was formerly from Kan
sas. He is well known and well liked
in Topeka and over the Kansas divi-
sion, as we'll as the other divisions
of the road. His promotion is heart
lily greeted by most of the Rock Island
employees.
A Chicago dispatch today states that
General Manager H L Miller of the
Rock Island has also resigned Mr.
Miller was another of the men brought
to the Rock Island by Mr.. Loree.
1t has leaked out that the Loree
element had a slate fixed up whereby
it was planned to oust President B.
L. Winehell and promote H. 1. Miller
to the presidency of the road. To fill
Mr.. EIiller's place it was planned to
promote Mr.. McKim whose resigna-
ton was asked for and which has just
been rendered. 1t was then planned
to send ]. o. Crockett, the superin-
tendent of the southwestern district at
Kansas City. to Chicago to succeed
Mr.. McKim.
The fact that Mr.. Loree was ousted
from the Rock Island and that B. L.
Winchen came off the victor in his
skirmish with the supreme executive
head of the system. who was considered
a king in the railroad world, has
knocked all those plans in the head.
If the Chicago dispatch above re-
ferred to IS correct local Rock Island
people may look for the resignation of
Mr. j. o. Crock ett- at Kansas City, and
the appointment of c. W. Jones of this
city as his successor as forecasted in
the State Journal yesterday.
Mr.. Jones was out of the city yes
terday and consequently could not be
seen by the reporter for the State
Journal, but it is known that Mr..
Hobbs who has just succeeded Mr..
McKim is very friendly with Mr.. Jones
and that he holds a very high regard
for Mr.. Jones capacity as a railroad
man. 1t is therefore considered like
ly and quite generally believed in
Rock Island circles that Mr.. Jones
will receive this promotion.
The Chicago Record Herald says:
1t is understood that following the
and, disclosing a decrease in net earn
ings far greater than any other west
ern system, the Moore brothers and
their associates began an investigation
to discover the reasons They are said
to have found conditions which were
highly displeasing, although they re-
fused last night to say aught except
praise for Mr.. Loree's ability.
1t was said, however, that Mr..
Loree's failure to gain the approval
of the Moore syndicate was due large
ly to the fact that he applied eastern
railroad methods to a western system
where conditions are totally different
Mr. Loree's first move was to fill
many important operating positions
on the Rock Island with PENNSYLVANIA
men. who are said to have exercised
a disorganization as great as that
brought about under the regime of
C. H Warren. The organization of
the Rock Island was completely
changed from the departmental to the
divisional system. pertaining on the
Pennsylvania, where Mr.. Loree re-
ceived his training.
Accustomed to eastern conditions,
where traffic is so dense that it can
be cut and fitted to meet the exigen-
cies of operation, Mr.. Loree is said
TO have committed the error of Subor-
traffic to operation, and at a
tremendous loss of revenue.
Forced to curtail expenses, the re-
trenchment inaugurated is said to have
been at the expense of the physical
condition IF the property and of the
equipment