New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-19
SIR GEORGE S. GLIB.
Who Succeeds Mr. Yerkes as Head
of London's Underground Railscdys.

From The London Daily Telegraph. January
It is announced that Edgar Speyer has accepted
the Craftsmanship Of the Underground Electric Rail-
ways Company. of London, and that Sir George
Glib the general manager of the Eastern
Railway, has accepted the Office of chairman and
managing director of the Metropolitan District
Railway, in succession to the late c. T. Yerkes.
Both these appointments were naturally very well
received IN the city, the deservedly high reputation
which Mr.. Speyer enjoys in financial circles. and
the wide experience Of Sir G. GLIB in railway
matters being regarded good augury for the
success OF the District and the affiliated Under
ground companies. It may he mentioned that Sir
G. Glib of the first to introduce auto
cars for the working of branch line passenger
traffic, and that by electrifying the Newcastle
Suburban Railways he has efectually met the
petition Of electric tramways. and has greatly IN
creased the local traffic OF the North Eastern Rail
way. Sir George Glib, IN order to take up his
post, has resigned the general nanagershp Of the
North Eastern Railway, which he has held for the
last fourteen years.
The selection of Sir George stegmaun GLIB as
controlling influence the Metropolitan District
Railway is event of wide interest and deep i'm
portance that large section OF the London public
which habitualy uses the line in question. For
Sir George has superior and few equals as
railway organizer. No one who has not resided in
the north of England properly appreciate the
Improvement he has brought about the great line
which IS now to lose his services His policy was
concisely stated by himself at dinner given at Har
roeate last year TO celebrate his knighthood He
then said that he had learned important lesson
during his study of traffic problems. It was that
the supreme test Of railway management was pub
lie service. If a railway undertaking did not serve
the public efficiently and well, then the manage
ment did not deserve well of the prop7etors OF the
railway however great might be the appearance or
nrosperity In the long the interests OF the
nronrietors were identical with, and dependent on,
the efficiency with which the railway undertaking
promoted. assisted and mnistered to the district
which 1t served That, IN his Judgment, was the
only sound and true policy of railway manage
,nent It was obviously the only doctrine on the
ha sis of which monopoly of railway service In
any district could be maintained. and there was no
belief connected with railway policy and admin
fstration which he held with frmer confidence than
that each great district should. In the public inter
est be served by undertaking under one man
sgeuent.
These maxims. which very similar to those
on which the late Mr.. Yerkes built up his sue
cess were put into practice on the huge system
Of the North Eastern Railway. The company. which
is the largest of those which have no terminus In
the metropolis, owns nearly 1000 miles OF lines
and a greater area Of docks-on the Tyne and at
Mtddlesborough, West Hartlepool and Huffman
any similar corporation in the kingdom. With the
two exceptions of the German State railways ana
the Pennsylvania Railroad, it is the largest car
rer of merchandise in the whole world. Sir George
GLIB was able TO tell the gathering referred to
above that during the thirteen years Of his ad-
nninStratOn the annual revenue na0 increased Dy
no less than 100000. Though. how
ever 1t was the goods traffic which brought the
largest return. it was the passenger facilities
accorded by Sir George which made the deepest
On ns ANA on tbe line
was characterized by solidity and security, from
the permanent way to the umbrella racks. It
must be ten years ago that the company intro
duced into all but their suburban service type
of third-class carriage which, even at the present
date certainly superior, and probably no
equal, any Of the South country railways In
deed, these broad, lofty, and brilliantly lighted
compartments, fitted and upholstered with a like
regard the requirements of comfort and taste,
and every two provided with well arranged
lavatory provide conditions for Journey Infinitely
preferable those which vouchsafed to most
f1rst-class travellers Then the plan of reduced
rates very early adopted on the system At
one point the rth-Eastern lines to any other
point less than twenty miles distant and back
again for 8 single fare. An enterprising spirit
also shown IN the plan of extended pleasure tours
at remarkably low rates. Electric traction has
been In for local services the railway for a
number Of years
It is a curious thing that Sir George Gibbs
meter is not the which he was brought up.
An Aberdonian by birth and education, he COM
| menced his business career clerk in q ship
| owners office. and from there passed to marine
insurance. N 1872 at the age of twenty-five, he
| took to the law" and his first connection with
railways IN the solicitors Office of tho Great
Western Company. He actually practised an
independent solicitor in Fenchurch-st for a couple
of years, during which he performed service
election agent. He appointed solicitor to the
North Eastern Railway in 1892 and became general
| him a position both on the War Office Reorgani-
zation Committee and on the Traffic Commission
| Sir George has recently been investigating the
| nrobeu of urban traffic America and on the
Continent. The cty's view OF his capacity for his
| new appointment was seen in rise District
| stock the Exchange.