The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-12-10
Conference With State
Officials Over r.. F.
q p. Situation.
BELIEVED RODGERS
WILL OPERATE ROAD
Scott and Hamilton Also Men.
tioned-Barbour Thompson
May Be Selected as Com
Promise-Much In
terest Taken in
Deliberations.

The directors OF the Richmond Wash
ington Line. the holding company con-
trolling the Richmond. Frefer4olee,.,~s-
and Potomac Railroad will meet tn -orl
senr-tives Of the States interest In that
property at the Governors Office to-da,
ln conference, with a view 10 agreeing
upon some mutually acceptable man for
the presidency Of the road. Il this ba
possible. u IS expected that Chairman
Iit-rFy walters OF the Atlantic Coast
l-lne' Presidents Alfred Walter Of tne
9eaeoard Air Line; George ". Stevens
OF the Chesapeake and Ohio VINO also
represents the Baltimore and Ohio and
the Pennsylvania; Finley. Of the Southern
Railway and Vice President Samuel Rea-
or the Pennsylvania, VIII be n attend
The state VIII be represented ~, tho
Governor. Auditor Marye. second Audftor
Dew. Treasurer Ruffin, Lieutenant-Cove-.
nor J. Taylor Elyson. who IS a director
Of the road for the State; Judge A. I.
Holiday and others
May Be Rodgers.
The indications are that Mr.. J O. RodE-
ers or the New York, PhHadel0hta ana
norfolk road. originally recommended
BY Mr.. Rhea. representing the dominant
interests IN the property. VIII probably
oe selected as president. II not and
the choice % a president r. conceded 10
the State he VIII be merely adrnintstra-
i've president. and Mr. Rodgers Will
LNoDaoly be the operative president The
lnolcauons are that the State will en-
ceaVor 10 secure tho selection OF a Viz
gtnian as president while the railway
interests dominated by the Pennsvlvani.
VIII probably insist upon choosing a nao
OF large operating experience as admin
trauve president It was reported last
night that Judge LealCe Is not likely ID
oe the man chosen.
Representatives OF the State. while ex-
ceedingly reticent as 10 the matter. prac-
ucaliy concedo that they viii NOT in
slst upon his selection
on the other hand. il is quietly in
ufnated that the Pennsylvania Will come
armed with statistics and facts designed
70 disarrn any fears that may be enter
tained that the Pennsylvania is seeking
70 divert business from the Richmond
Fredericksburg and Potomac, and win
present these with convincing force II
is not unlikely that the Pennsylvania
which owns hfty-twO per cent OF the
voting stock Of the road will Guietyv
but firmly, insist upon Mr. Rodgers who
IS said 10 be capable and we'll quail
fed railroad man. OF large operating ex-
perience. Another rumor is that the
state may in the event Of failure 70 se-
cure the man II may offer. propose the
name Of Mr. ]. s Barbour Thomson
OF Atlanta. assistant 10 the president OF
the Southern Road. q Virginian. q rail-
way man OF operating experience and a
man related to many well known people
in Virginia
This suggestion may be sprung as n
coup. II the parties TO the conference fail
10 agree upon those first suggested by
tho other.
Railroad men predict that the Penn
sylvania. having given the States rep-
resentatives time 20 ponder the matter
will endeavor 10 disarm opposition to
Nj. Rodgers. which IS based eutirel,.
upon his afiliation with a road controlled
by the Pennsylvania. The idea ~ tho
dominant interests in the property dem
reciating its value and earning capacity
py diverting traffic 70 some alternative
route is dismissed as untenabIe by them
The Atlantic Coast Line and the Seaboard
Air Line. each OF which owns one-sisth
OF the Richmond Washington line are
practically dependent upon its traclcage
for their main lines northward from this
city and. Il IS said would have no IN
terest in the diversion Of trahlc or the
diminution Of the road's profts bv raa-
son Of their own interest I'm it
These roads run their through Florida
trains over this nno and are building up
q fine tourist business. The Sout1ern
handles its traffic over Its own through
line VIA Danvlle and Lynchburg save
the purely local trafic between this CITY