The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-04-22
RAILROAD NEWS.
Reported That President Of
Santa Fe viii Retire.
Geo. B. Harris, President Of
Burlington, Nay Succeed Him.
MORTON WON'T GOBACK
The Secretary of the Navy Re-
fuses Old Berth.
Gossip and Matters of Interest
in Railway Circles.
MORTON WON'T GOBACK

The rumor is current again that
President F. P. Ripley viii retire from
the official family of the Santa Fe rail
road This rumor has been reiterated
with such persistency during the past
Few months that it has been given con-
siderable credence.
The report was again talked in Chi
cago yesterday and it is said that Geo.
B. Harris who is now with the Bur
Hngton railroad will succeed Mr.. Rip
ley.
1t is expected that Mr.. Harris viii
retire from the presidency OF the Bur
Hngton because ]. j. Hill wants him to.
Since Hill acquired control Of the Bur
ungton, Darius Mills has been first vice
president in charge Of traffic, and Dan
tel Willard has been second vice presi-
dent in charge of operation. The ap-
pointment of Mr.. Willard was made
despite the opposition of President Har-
ris who insisted that F. A. Delano
then general manager, should be pro-
NOTED because of his long service with
the company and his demonstrated
ability
A number of surprising changes have
just occurred on several Of the big
railway systems, and still others are
said to be pending.
On the Santa Fe the slate" made re-
Gently has been broken. E. D. Kenna
has Withdrawn his resignation as first
vice president and will continue to hold
that position.
When he resigned. the plan was to
have Paul Morton, now secretary of the
navy, return and take charge of traffic.
j. W. Kendrick, who is third vice pres
ident in charge of operation was to be
made second vice president. and the
position of third vice president abolish
ed.
Why the plan approved two months
ago has been changed is kept state
secret at Santa F'e headquarters. A day
OF two ago Mr. Morton stated that ne
did not intend to return to the Santa
Fe railroad, and would not engage in
the railroad business after he left the
cabinet.
Further than this Mr. Morton has not
revealed his plans. 1t will cause little
surprise if he becomes actively inter
ested in the construction of the Panama
canal 1t was mainly upon his recon-
mendatiOn that his Intimate friend and
associate in a number of business en-
terprises, Theodore P. Shonts, was ap-l
pointed chairman of the Panama canal
commission by President Roosevelt.
John F. Stevens, who became vice
president of the Rock Island system,
in charge of operation, during the
regime of c. H. Warren, has rendered
his resignation, and H. Z. Nudge has
been appointed his successor. For sew
eral years Mr. Nudge has been general
manager of the Santa F'e system, with
headquarters at Topeka.
Mr. Stevens retirement leaves no per
son in a high place on the Rock Island
system who was appointed by c. H.
Warren, who has disappeared COM
pletely from the railway world since
his sudden resignation as first vice pres
ident Mr.. Nudge goes to the Rock Is
land May 1.
Since Mr.. Mudge's resignation on the
Santa Fe to become second vice presi-
dent of the Rock Island, considerable /
gossip which had been kept pretty quiet
till that time, has broken out. 1t is
now said that there was considerable /
friction between General Manager /
Nudge and Third Vice President J. w. !
kendrick in regard to the attitude ia
ken by the company in the machinists'
strike
1t is currently rumored that Mr. |
Nudge does not approve of the policy
adopted by Mr.. Kendrick, of absolutely !
Ignoring members of the machinists' |
against the company.
Regardless Of Whather or not this ru-
NOR is true, it is fact that Mr.. Nudge
has been selected for a much more i'm
portant position on the Rock Island
than he has had on the Santa Fe. and
Mt salary of nearly double that which
he received on the Santa F'e. It is re-
ported that his salary will amount to
$4,000 per annum on the Rock Island
1t has even been whispered that Vice /
President Kendrick may leave the
Santa Fe also. At least it is asserted
things do not look very stable, and all
are on the qui vive in anticipation OF
Pending changes.
Mr. Morton will not return to the