The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-08

Howard Elliott's election to the
presidency of the Northern Pacific
railway, Cornelius Vanderbilt's active
Interest in the affairs Of the Illinois
Central, the entry of William K. Van
d}erbilt, Jr., into the financial depart
nhent Of the New York Central, the
placing Of John D. Rockefeller, Jr..
OH important committees in the Lack
atwanna directorate and the designa-
tton Of Fourth Vice President Samuel
IRea of the Pennsylvania to have full
charge of the $5O,OOO,000 tunnel and
terminal work at New York are the
most recent and conspicuous evil
dences that young men are rapidly
coming to the front in railroad man
agement.
James J. Hill, who is training his
son to take his place as the head of
the Great Northern system, said to
the writer of this sketch not long
ago: 1T is to the young men that
the railroads Of this country must
look for progressive development
within the next few years.
Present conditions affecting rail-
road management are radically differ
ent from what they were decade
ago. Quicker action, greater alert
ness and the tireless energy Of youth
are now essentials in making great
railway system pay. The older men,
like MI Hill, A. j. Cassatt. Marvin
IIughitt Roswell Miller, Horace
Burt, Samuel Spencer, E. P. Ripley,
Charles S. Mellen, w. H. Newman and
Nj. E. ingalls,, have all done splendid
pioneer work. The admirable cOndi-
ton of the railroads in the United
States to-day is largely the result of
their untiring efforts, long practical
experience and well-seasoned judg-
ments. 1t now becomes incumbent
on the rising generation to take up
the task of supplying the vim, energy
and vigilance that this fast moving
age calls for.
Howard Elliott, the new president
of the Northern Pacific system, is one
Of the best types Of the capable, self
reliant and progressive young railroad
man. At the age Of 40 years he is at
the head of one of the most i'm
portant and prosperous railway sys-
TENS in the world and so great is the
confidence that the principal owners
of the property repose in him that
no restraint has been placed upon his
policy or methods! Mr.. Elliott at
tended Harvard college while Theo-
dore Roosevelt was there, and, altho
they were not classmates, they be-
came close friends. During Mr.. FL
ltott's first visit to New York after
his election to his present position he
was summoned to the White House to
receive congratulations and enjoy a
sociable luncheon with his distin-
guished college mate.
The advancement Of Mr.. Elliott
made way for the advancement of an
other young man who has shown re-
markable capacity for doing a great
variety of things in the railway
service. Daniel Willard, who sue
ceeds Elliott as second vice president
of the great Burlington system, had
but just begun to make a record as
first vice president of the Erie. His
new position, however, will give him
a larger sphere of action. Beginning
as a track laborer, Mr.. Willard has
come up thru every grade in the
operating department - brakeman
fireman, engineer, conductor, station
tendent, assistant superintendent, SUI
perintendent, general manager, etc.
Cornelius Vanderbilts activities in
the railroad field now embrace both
the mechanical and financial depart
8nents. 1t is just about ten years age
that this young man first put on over
alls and went into the new York Cen
trail machine-shops to find out how
to build q LOGON tive. He learned his
lesson thoroly and he has been devils
ing alterations and improvements tC
Lie locomotive ever Slnce lie mas
taken out a dozen or more patents an6
the Vanderbilt fire box is now widely
used on freight engines. For the pas
few years Mr.. Vanderbilt has beer
8giVing much attention to the perfec
Etion Of new type of tank car. HI
has found time, however, to investi
gate the condition and prospectus O.
different railroad properties and is al
ready an influential stockholder in the
Illinois Central the Southern, thu
eAtlantic Coast Line, the Rock Islant
gand two or three others. His judg
qment is regarded by his business asso
soiates as being remarkably mature ant
Sound for man of his age. a
John D. Rockefeller, Jr., came int
public view as a railroad man abOu