Arizona republican., 1905-05-07

The New General Manager of the
 Santa Fe.

The appointment of J. E. Hurley to be general manager of the Santa Fe railway system administers another jolt to MT. William J. Bryan's theory that there Is no chance. these days, for the young man Absalom." The history of Mir Hurley's advancement reads like a romance. The facts should be an inspiration for every young man of ambition. Twenty years ago MT. Hurley was the driver of the town omnibus in a Kansas will lage. Living at Cottonwood Falls, he regularly made" the trains at Strong City, three miles away. And he is a young man. still. He was born at WapeIlo, Iowa, in 1861.
 Young Hurley was diligent hack driver but he had ambitions higher than that calling, and he got a job as a trackman on the railroad. Every position that he has obtained since then has been due solely to merit, and not to pull" of any kind. Following his employment at the hard labor of a trackman, he was employed as a baggageman and freight handler at Arkansas City, Kansas. He learned to be a telegraph operator meanwhile. having put to use every available hour in Improving his mind" He was promoted to the position of telegraph operator at Augusta. Two years af- terward he was sent to New Mexico as a relief agent. Returning to Kan sas he was made cashier of the Hutch inson station. In 1883 he was promot- ed to the position of station agent at Florence, Kansas. It was while he was agent at Florence that MT. Hur- ley's first opportunity presented itself for him to make rapid strides in his career.
 One day George L. Sands, who was then general superintendent of the Santa Fe lines. went to Florence on an inspection trip.
 Hurley hadn't shaved for several days and his face was covered with a heavy growth of whiskers. The gen eral superintendent noticed this at once and decided to inquire into the reason for 1t.
 Hurley, 1t strikes me that the sta tion agent at Florence ought to keep his face shaved" he said.
 Agent Hurley, who was always ready with an answer, no matter ~ hat the emergency. wheeled round and re- piled in his characteristic manner.
 He said: Well. it strikes me that the station agent at Florence hasn't time to get shaved"
 The answer pleased Sands. He be- gan an investigation and found that Hurley was a worker" and that he really didn't have time to get shaved at all times.
 In a few days Hurley received in structions to go to Emporia as train master.
 Sands kept his eye on Hurley and it was not long until he was selected to be chief clerk to the general super intendent at Topeka. He was next made assistant superintendent of the Marceline and Fort Madison division, and was next put in charge of the New Mexican and Rio Grande division. which position he held from 1894 to 1901. He was then appointed to be acting general superintendent of the Santa Fe Pacific and Southern Cali fornia railroad at Los Angeles.
 His next step was when he received the appointment as general superin tendent of the western grand divi- sion of the Santa Fe at La Junta, and in July, 1902 he was promoted to be gv,4 oF grand division at Topeka.
 On May 1 he assumed the title and duties of the office of general man ager of tho Santa Fe.
 As division superintendent of the Rio Grande division MT. Hurley like MT. Nudge. his predecessor in the of flee of general manager, gained some of the best experience of his railway career. The Rio Grande, New Mexican and Arizona divisions have the repu- tation of being the hardest on the system because the lines of the road go through the mountain passes and canyons and over the mountains When the superintendent is not trying to solve the problem of hauling or pushing a longer 1relght tram over the grades, he Is trying to solve the problems presented by the floods and freshets of the mountains which have Q habit of bursting out almost any time and damaging the right of way of the railroad.
 MT. Hurley is a man of remarkable energy, quick and sound judgment and is noted for his patience and cour- tesy.