The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-04

official list became apparent Changes in
opeTaLlon were made. ]. f. Stevens
was brought to the road as chief engi-
neer. During the latter part of 1903
3. L Winchell, particularly bright
traffic man, who formerly lived in Kan
sas and who first began to make rapid
StrldeS to the top on Colorado rail-
road, was appointed third vice president
IN charge of traffic. Mr.. Warren was
still first vice president in charge of
operation. The first part of 1904 j. F.
stevens was appointed fourth vice pres
loent H. 4. Byram, an old Rock Island
man was assistant to Mr.. Stevens but
MI warren was really the head of the
department. H. I Miller was brought
N as general manager from the B. &
o., ana ]. o. Crockett appeared in the
ohlcial list as assistant to Mr.. Miller.
More changes were made in the person
mel OF the official list and still more
changes in the plan of operation. The
districts were re-arranged and the du-
ties of officers re-distributed.
The merger plans were being carried
out and more mileage was gradually
being added to the system till at this
time there was nearly 5000 miles in the
system. The eastern operating officials
who were gradually finding their way to
the Rock Island thought the former Of
ficials did not know anything about
railroading, and many changes of meth
well, and in various ways the properties
began to depreciate in value and useful
ness.
In 1903 matters came to a critical
point. The proper amount of money
had not been placed in the mainten-
ance of the road, and strenuous moves
were necessary to rehabilitate the sys-
| tenn which by this time had grown to
nearly 1000 miles.
L. F. Loree, an experienced eastern
railway man of big calibre, on the Penn
| Syivania system. was thought to be the
man who could best weld the many ac-
! QUESTIONS of the Moores, Leeds and
| Reid into a harmonious whole.
| Consequently he was offered a bonus
| of half million dollars to come to the
Rock Island, and an annual salary of
| $4,000. He accepted and took charge
/ of the system as chairman of the execu
tive committee of the board of directors.
Meanwhile B. L. Winchel had been
climbing steadily to the front and he
at this time appeared as president OF
| the system. Mr.. Stevens was made
second vice president.
| In accordance with Mr.. Lorees plans,
wholesale changes in the plan of opera
| ton followed. The divisional plan OF
operation which gave division superin-
| tendents supreme authority on their
respective divisions, both in mainten-
ance and transportation matters was
| discarded for the departmental plan as
in vogue on the Pennsylvania.
The departments were built up and
| were made to carry a tremendous SAL
partn1ents became enormous where the
matters had heretofore been handled
without the consequent delays. The
business of the Rock Island was in no
way similar to that of the Pennsylvania
and the experience of the Loree admin
istration proved that the departmental
| system was not so good for the west
ern road at least as the divisional plan
of operation, to which Mr.. Nudge is
gradually bringing it back.
@ H Warren 0iSaDDear6d from the
official list about this time, but H. 1.
Miller was still general manager. w.
G. Bierd was made assistant to the gen.
eral manager and J. 0. Crockett was
!, appointed to be general superintendent
of the southwestern district, after the
road had been divided in districts to
correspond with the Pennsylvania way
of railroading. Crockett had formerly
been assistant to the general manager
Pennsylvania and other eastern railroad
officials began to find their way to the
Rock Island, and scores of shifts of Off
| Gals were made. Maintenance appro-
priations We're shut off to large ex-
tent for weeks at a time, for the appar-
ent reason that a showing was desired
in the financial statement.
Things went from bad to worse and
: there was internal dissolution among
the heads of the executive family. II
led to a trip over the system in a spec
ial train, of all the higher officials and
directors. Open dissatisfaction at Mr.
Lorees results were expressed.
It is said B. L. Winchell who was
, then the president, was particularly dis
| satisfied with the Loree management
and was able. to point out many of its
defects At any rate the trip lasted
about two weeks, and shortly after the
trip was ended at Chicago, Mr.. Ioree
: resigned, having held the place at the
head of the Rock Island for less thar
: nine months. He had five year con-
! tract and it cost the Rock Island the
! face of the contract, $75O,00o for f1vt
years. to let him go. He therefore re-
| ceived nearly million dollars for less
than nine months service.
After LoTee disappeared from the
! Rock Island the Pennsylvania faces II
the official list began to quickly dis
appear.
, ed after that time with the handling
of the operation and traffic of the ROAD
and Robert Mather, a bright young
, lawyer, who had forged to the from
: step by step on the Rock Island was
selected to be chairman of the executive
, committee, principally to attend to tht
, legal and financial problems presented
: in finally welding together the many
: strands of the railroad merger.
Mr. Winchell began at this time bl
strengthening the official list will
,, men who could do real and telling
service for the Rock Island. He frs
: took W. B. Biddle. from the stronges
competitor. the Rock Island railwa!
: has. the Santa Fe. Mr.. Biddle was ap
pointed third vice president of thu
: Rock Island in charge of traffic, bu
, he has refrained from making radica
: changes in either the personnel of tn
: department or the methods of hand
ling the business.
Z Meanwhile Fl. I. Miller resigned al
: general manager. and Mr.. Winchel
) tried to get Mr.. Nudge to go to tn
, Rock Island as general manager. Mr.
= Nudge declined, and when John F
! Stevens was appointed by the govern
) ment to go to the Philippine island
! | to build the government railways, Mr.
+ Nudge was appointed to succeed hin
: as second vice president in charge o
+ operation. He has begun his admins
) | tration with the Rock Island in
+ manner which inspires the utmos
confidence of his subordinates. H
was highly esteemed by his associate