The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1906-12-13

Atlanta Constitution.

By the action OF it's directors, the
Southern railway now has at it's head
one of the most widely experienced,
energetic and capable railroad men
known to the American railroad
world-President W. W. Finley.
AS indicative of his ability it will be
only necessary to recall that he is the
man to whom President James j.
Hill, the Western railroad genius,
once said: "Come to the Great North
ern and name your own salary"
1t was promotion and a wider
sphere of influence that brought him
back to the Southern, where, to the
day of Mr.. Spencer's death, he stood
in all matters next to the president
Mr.. Finley was, therefore, eminently
the man upon whose shoulders the
mantle OF the Southern's presidency
should fall, as it has done and as it
was logically expected it would.
ASouthern mana Mississippian-
from him the South, where the South
ern' s interests lie, has much to hope
for, nor do we believe he will disap.
point it's people.
Before him he has not only great
opportunity, but the ability to meet
and to cope with it, and coupled with
that quality, he has the will.
The Southern railway directors
have acted wisely in their choice.
SKETCH OF MR.. FINLEY.
Mr.. Finley was born September Fl
1853, at Pass Christian, Miss. He en-
tered the railroad service May LIST,
1873, since which he has been con-
nectively to March 1st, 1888, on the
New Orleans, Jackson and Great
Northern, and the Chicago, st Louis
and New Orleans; three years stem
ographer vice-president's Office, nine
months receivers secretary, one year
secretary to agent for trustees, four
years chief clerk in the general freight
department, three years general
freight agent. From March /, 1883,
to December Is, 1885, assistant gen.
eral freight agent OF the Texas and
Pacific division of the Missouri Pacific
Railway. From December Is, 1885,
to July, 1886, he was assistant gen.
eral agent for receiver, Of Texas and
Pacific Railway; July, 1885 to Sep
TENDER Is, 1888, general freight
agent same road; September Is,
1888, to May, 1889, general freight
agent Pan Handle Route, comprising
Fort Worth and Denver City, Denver
and Texas, Fort Worth and Denver,
Texas and Gull roads; May, 1889, to
October /, 1890, chairman Trans
Missouri Traffic Association at
Kansas City, Mo-; October l, 1890.
to May 20, 1892, chairman Western
Passenger Association, Chicago, ILL.,;
May 20, 1892, to April 10, 1896, gen.
eral traffic manager Great Northern
and Montana Central Railway; April
10, 1895. to Octo Der, 1895, Commits
sioner of Southern States Passenger
Association at Atlanta, Ga; October
/, 1895, to May Is, 1896, third vice
president Southern Railway; May Is,
to September Is, 1896, second vice
president Great Northern Railway;
September 10, 1896, to date, second
vice-president Southern Railway.
The list Of officers prior to the death
OF President Spencer was as follows:
A. B. Andrews, first vice-president;
J. NJ. Culp, third vice-president;C. H.
Ackert, fourth vice-president; T. c.
Powell, fifth vice-president; II. B.
Spencer, sixth vice-president; Fairfax
Harrison, assistant to the president.
The directors Of the Southern as
listed in PoOr's Manual are as follows:
II. C. Fahnestock, New York; W. w.
Finley, Washington, D. C.; Samuel
Spencer, New York; Charles Steele,
New York; A. B. Andrews, Raleigh,
n c.; Joseph Ryan, Richmond, Va;
S, M. Inman, Atlanta. Ga; R. NJ. Gal
loway, New York; Charles Lanier,
New York; E. d. Randolph, New York;
and J. r. Woodward, New York.