The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-07-22
RAILROAD NEWS.
Gray to Succeed FELTON, as
President of the Alton.
Latter Will Retire From Office
on October 1.
ECONOMY IS DESIRED.
Frisco Vice President Chosen
to ReOrganize Property.
Other Items of Interest to
Railway People.

Chicago, July 22.-S. NJ. FELTON,,
president of the Chicago and Alton
will retire from his office on October
l, and will probably be succeeded by
c. R. Gray. of st. Louis. vice president
of the Frisco. The Rock Island in
terest, which control the common
stock of the Alton, desire to inaug-
urate a policy of economy, and they
have chosen Mr.. Gray to reorganize
the systhem.
Mr.. Gray is now in Texas, inspect
ing properties of the Frisco, and he is
not expected back at his headquarters
in st. Louis before the end of this
week. Before he departed on the trip,
he was asked whether he had decided
to accept the presidency of the Alton.
In reply, he said;
has never been suggested to me. If
the directors of the Alton wish to
elect me president I am not aware of
their intention. In fact. 1 doubt the
report very much"
But member of the executive COM
mittee of the Rock Island practically
confirmed the plan to elect Mr. Gray
president of the Alton by saying: at
is very obvious that there must be a
change in the policy of the Alton in
order to bring about more economy
and concentrate the organization. AS
the Rock Island controls the common
stock of the Alton, it is in position,
and should be- to chose a successor to
Mr.. FELTON,, should he wish to retire.
81 do not know whether a definite
decision has been reached as to who
will succeed Mr.. FELTON,, but that is
practically settled. / might intimate
that he is man whose office is not as
high as that of President Davidson
of the Frisco, yet is almost as impor-
tant. That is the sort of man who will
succeed Mr.. Felton,
1t has been reported that Mr.. FELTON,
would succeed ]. I. Harahan as presi-
dent of the Illinois Central. But this
has been denied by E. H. Hartman.
MI. Gray has been a most valuable
man to the Rock Island and Frisco in
terests. He has had a strenuous ca
reer. 1t was through his courage,
principally, that the present powers in
gained strength at q critical time to
enlarge their sphere, and consolidate
their interests and energies. --
Mr.. Gray is credited with having
started the movem efit which resulted
in the retirement of L. F. Loree from
the presidency of the Frisco. Mr.
Loree went to st Louis and, it is said.
began to burden the road, then COM
paratively new and small company,
with unnecessary officials and useless
organization. Mr.. Gray indicated the
expensiveness of the new policy. AS a
result, Mr.. Loree received the amount
due on his contract. and B. F.
Yoakum took full charge of the sys-
tenn.
Mr.. Gray, who comes from Arkan-
sas, is 40 years old. He became
telegraph operator on the Frisco at
Little Rock in 1882. After service as
station agent and clerk in traffic of
fees, he was appointed commercial
agent in 1890.
In 1897 he was appointed division
freight agent; in October. 1897. di-
vision superintendent; in 1900, super
intendent of transportation; in 1904,
general manager; November, 1904,
second vice president, and a year ago,
vice president.