The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-11-24
BAKER IS
GENERAL MANAGER
Succeeds W. A, Garrett With
Queen & Crescent Route
OTHER RAILROAD NEWS
M. M. Richey Says Some of the Policy
of the Southern Railway ls to In
crease Efficiency of
Service.

crease Efficiency of
Service.
Of the southern district of the Missouri
Pacific, known as the st. Louis, Iron
Mountain and Southern railway, has been
appointed to succeed w, A. Garrett as
general manager of the Queen and Ores.
cent route.
Mr., Baker takes charge of the Queen
and Crescent on December /, at which
time Mr., Garrett goes to the seahoard as
first vice president In charge of all oper-
atlng and traffic,
Mr., Baker has his headquarters In Little
Rock at present, where he has been for
something over a year, He was formerly
superintendent of the Chicago uIvision of
the 1llionis Central railroad, and after
wards was superintendent of the Charlotte
division of the Southern, and later he was
assistant general superintendent of the
eastern district, He resigned this posi-
ton to accept the present one at Little
Rock.
Mr.. Baker went with the Southern when
several of the western railroad men We're
appointed to positions on that system. He
Is, therefore, well known to Il number of
the higher officials of the Southern, some
Of whom are also officers and directors of
the Cincinnati Southern and the Alaba ma
Great Southern.
At the meeting OF the directors In Gin
cinnah last Tuesday Mr., Baker was
elected, but his name was not made pub
lie until yesterday, owing to his eonnec-
ton with the other railroad.
Several railroad men in Birmingha m
know Mr.. Baker well, and they speak
very highly of him as a railroad man. 1t
Is probable that he will be In Birming-
ham shortly after the first of next month
on trip of inspection. He is still young
man and is considered very energetic and
thorough in his discipline. He is a trans
portation man almost exclusively.
The Knoxville Journal and Tribune OF
Thursday prints a lengthy interview with
NJ. NJ. Richey, who has just assumed his
duties as general superintendent of the
middle district of the Southern railway.
Mr. Rchey was formerly assistant gem
eral superintendent in Birmingham and
recently resigned as first vice president
of the Sloss-S Sheffield Steel and Iron COM
pany. The article is as follows:
NJ. NJ Richey, the new general super
intendent of the middle district of the
Southern railway took charge of his new
office yesterday. He had just arrived
from Washington, where for lew days
he was preparing to begin work as as
sistant to the general manager when he
was given the present appointment.
When seen by a reporter of the Journal
and Tribune, Mr.. Richey expressed HIM
self as being pleased to be located in
Knoxville, adding that while he did not
know much of Knoxville he knew of its
good reputation
When asked If he would make any
changes in the office force which served
Mr.. Loyal, he said that he did not con-
template any changes. He did not know
what Mr. Loyal intended to do, but IL he
took away any of his office force here,
that he (Mr. Rlchey) would turn to some
of the old men who served him when he
was connected with the road before. For
| several years Clifton Reeder, a Knoxville
Young man. was his secretary at Brming-
ham, and Mr.. Rchey said that he ex-
pected to give him employment again.
Mr.. Richey's attention was called to a
mention in a dispatch from Washing ton
| to the effect that there was to be a re-
districting of the Southern. He said that
this plan would be carried out as soon
as practicable. The intention Is to lessen
the territory for each division. do away
with the assistant superintendent and
arrange It that the division superintendent
shall come closer in contact with the
shipper.
In view of this policy Mr.. Richey was
asked what would probably come OF the
Knoxville division. lie said that it would
probably be cut up into three divisions.
Knoxville being the headquarters of two
| and Chattanooga of another. 1t was
gathered that the policy is to incorporate
some of the Memphis line out of Chatta-
nooga with a part of the Knoxville d.
| vision TO make one of the new divisions
SO that Chattanooga will be at about
the center of 1t and therefore the logical
place for the headquarters of one of the
| divisions. The general superintendent 3
office of the middle division will remain
In Knoxville.
The new office Of manager of, trans
portation to which J. n. Scale was ap-
pointed Mr.. Richey said has been created
that such official may distribute equip
| ment to each of the districts: the general
superintendent in turn distributing the
equipment to each Of the divisions as they
| needed It.
| Mr.. Richey said that 1t is true that the
road is embarrassed for lack of cars and
equipment but that the roads business is
enormous and beyond all expectations
He says the road is graphing with its
problem and doing the best It can and
that 1t Is to be hoped that the people will
be charitable. 1t is his opinion that the
road will not find complete relief until
there Is considerable double tracking
where business is heaviest. This work Is