The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-11
Charges Of Mismanagement
Made Against James NJ. Barr.
Was Formerly Third Vice Pres
ident of Santa Fe.
NOW WITH SEABOARD.
Was Given a 100000 Bonus to
Join SeabOard.
Gossip and Matters of Interest
in Railway Circles.

Charges of gross acknowledgements.
Incompetence, or intentional injury TO
the properties of the Seaboard Air
Line, have been made against James
M. Barr, president of the Seaboard, by
the banking firm of John L. Williams
& Sons, which firm has been largely
Identified with the railroad in a hnan-
cial manner.
James Barr was formerly third vice
president of the Santa F'e railroad He
came to the Santa Fe in 1899 when
the position Of third vice president
was created He was in the service
of the Santa Fe for about a year and
half and it is generally understood
that he found it more convenient to
leave the Santa Fe than to stay with
the company for the reason that his
ideas did not coincide with those of
the other officers and directors
Mr.. Barr went to the Seaboard as
vice president and general manager
under a five year contract. He was
later made president. It is related
that he was given a bonus of 100000
to join the Seaboard.
Recently there has been consider
able dispute and much feeling ex-
pressed by the contending factions in
the SeabOard in regard to the matter
of the poor showings which have q
parently been made with the property.
The banking firm of Williams r.
Sons has isued a pamphlet of % pa ges
ski inches, printed in small tyne
containing a sensational arraignment
of Mr.. Barr and censuring him on ac-
count of alleged nlismanagement
and incompetence, and chara cterizirl.5
him as being wholly unfit to be in
charge of railways affairs.
The pamphlet relates that the bank
ing firm of Williams & Sons and an
other financial institution interested in
the Seaboard, personally paid Mr.
Barr the bonus of 100000 in order
that the sum need not be taken from
oa of 70 1,o u
among the stockholders as dividends
The pamphlet recites that the first
two years of Mr.. Bars administra-
ton did not show satisfacto results
but that they had hoped for better
results the third year. The third
year, it is alleged, has also proven dis
appointing.
The review of Mr. Bars admins
tration of the affairs of the Seaboard
alleges lack of competence in hand
ling the maintenance of way ard
maintenance of equipment matters;
lack of competence exhibited in the
construction of the Atlantic and Birn1-
ingham railroad which cost the COM
pany four times as much to build as
it cost a competing line of road to
build between the same points. with
the Seaboard's route; and a woeful
exhibit in the record of comparisons
of wrecks and persons injured under
the Barr management.
Inc 2S pages or matter compose a
most severe arrangement of the
methods and administration of Mr..
Barr. Tt is being sent to All stock
holders of the road and to railway Of
fcials in all parts of the country.
Copies of the pamphlet have been
received by railway men in Topeka
To date nothing has been received
from Mr.. Barr refuting the charges.
Very likely some refutation may fol-
low later. Up to the present time.
however. Mr.. Barr has had the best of
the controversy. All efforts on the
part of the banking institution to GUST
him have been unsuccessful.