The Washington herald., 1906-12-06

William Wilson Finley, Of Washington,
was elected president OF the Southern
Railway az a meeting Of the directors Ia
New York yesterday, to succeed the late
Samuel Spencer. who was killed in the
wreck at Lawyers, Va, early on the
morning Of Thanksgiving Day. MI Fin
| ley was in New York at the time the
appointment was made. News Of his cleo
| ton TO the highest position Of the road
vas received in Washington shortly after
> o'clock yesterday afternoon.
Among the officials Of the Southern
here Mr.. Ffnley's election created no sur
prise, as many Of them were Of the optn-
/ ion that he would receive the appoint
ment. Among others have been men
toned to iii the vacancy caused by the
death Of Mr.. Spencer was Stuyvesant
| Fish. former president Of the Illinois
Central Mr. Finley's successor as sec
/ Ond vice president Of the Southern
Railway has not been named There IS
a probability that the place may remain
vacant some time.
Has Been Vice President Ten Years.
/ Mr.. Finley was former vice president Of
the Southern, which position ne has held
for the last ten years. In his career be
| fore taking up his duties as vice presi-
| dent Of the Southern he had been con-
nected with many OF the great railway
systems Of the country He was at one
/ time intimately associated with James J.
Hin, and was considered by Mr.. HiU as a
/ railroad man OF exceptional ability. He
| is resident Of Washington. his home
/ being at 1915 Connecticut avenue. with
a summer place at II LenOx. Chevy
I Chase Md
Dir. Finley began his railroad career as
a stenographer thiTty-thFee years ago.
and has worked his way 10 the TOD until
/ he now occupies one Of the most impor-
/ tant railroad positions n the country.
/ When less than twenty years OF age, he
/ entered the service OF the New Orleans,
I Jackson and Great Northern as a stem
/ ographer 20 the vice president He was
an energetic youth from the start and
soon attracted the attenu6n os those
above hlTn
Satisfactory as Stenographer.
His work was satisfactory as a stenog-
rapher, and eventually he was promoted
to be assistant general freight agent Of
4 the same road. Later he wehf ~ b e
! Chicago. st. Louis and New Orleans Rail-
road. where he remained until ISS3.
/ For three years he was assistant gen
/ eral freight agent OF the New Orleans di-
/ vision Of the Texas Pacific Railway,
when, in 1856. he was appointed TO i'll the
/ position Of general freight agent After
/ two years in this service he accepted an
I offer to ill the same position with the
/ L "a
pacity for two years.
/ In 1859 Mr. Finley was selected chair
man OF the Trans Missouri Traffic AssO-
/ citation, with headquarters at Kansas
/ City In 1880 he was chosen chairman
/ OF the Western Passenger Association
/ where he remained two years. He was
appointed general traffic manager OF the
4 Great Northern and Montana Central
/ -,ailroad in 1892, which position he held
for three years. During the year OF 1895
/ he was a commissioner TO the Southern
/ States Passenger Association from April
10 October.
Has Been Long With Southern
/ Shortly afterward he was elected third
| vice president Of the Southern Railway
where he remained until the following
year. when he was selected as manager Of
I -
! tember Of 1895 Mr.. Finley was second vice
president of the Great Northern. when
he received a similar appointment with
/ the system of which ne is now the head.
Mr.. Finley is fifty-six years Of age and
/ is native Of Mississippi. He was born at
Pass Christian September ?. 1883. His
predecessor. President Spencer, was also
q SOutherneT
Like President J. T Harahan. OF the
Illinois Central Railroad, and President
/ F. d. Underwood. CT the Erie Railroad.
Mr.. Finley will be an operating presi-
dent
| Col A. B. Andrews. first vice president
of the Southern, acts as counsel for the
company, and did not wish 10 have his
name considered for the presidency.
The meeting Of the board of directors
was a special one called for the purpose
of appointing a president Of the Southern
Railway. II was held in the offices Of the
company at 50 Broadway, New York