The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-12-28
MORTON is AGENT.
Rock Island Passenger Man Is
in Charge of Local Business.
REORGANIZATION of the Force
Takes Place.
FULLER is ASSISTANT.
Ora Collins Is Made the Night
Agent.
Other Changes Elsewhere Are
Also Announced.
FULLER is ASSISTANT.

CHARLES E. Morton better known to
ms friends as Chalk" the present
travelling passenger agent of the Rock
tsIano, VIII become city passenger ana
ticket agent of the Rock Island in this
city January 1. Captain A M Fuller
the present incumbent of the office will
become assistant city passenger and
ticket agent and will work as agent
during the day. Ora Dick Collins,
the present day ticket clerk will be
come night ticket agent All these
changes take effect January 1, nexs
Wednesday,
The recent merger of the passenger
and freight departments of the Rock
Island and Frisco lines is the cause of
the change in the local ticket office
All the offices Of the two roads in cities
like Kansas City, Wichita, ST. Louis
Oklahoma City and in fact every town
where the two roads converge were
merged. This consequently left the two
roads with a superfluity of employees
on their hands, most of whom were
taken care of. Some of course could
not be accommodated and were let out
Then, too. general railroad retrench-
ment is at the present time affecting all
roads and the roads are not inclined to
create many new offices but instead
are abolishing many of the present
offices.
Along with the changes in the local
passenger force of the Rock Island is
the announcement of several changes
in the passenger department of the en-
tire system. H. s. Ray who has held
the position of assistant general pas
senger agent at ST. Louis, will be trans
ferred to Chicago, and will have charge
of the advertising.
J. A. Stewart, another passenger Off
cial of the Rock Island, is appointed as
sistant general passenger agent at Kan
sas City and will have charge Of the
passenger department of the Rock Is
land and Frisco lines west of the Mis-
under his jurisdiction. J. c. Lovrien,
formerly assistant general passenger
agent for the Frisco at Kansas City,
becomes general travelling passenger
agent at Chicago under the new ar
rangement.
Another change is made in the Rock
Island office at Wichita. F. E. Clark
who has been connected with the F'ris-
CO at that place as district passenger
agent, will become district passenger
agent for both the Rock Island and
Frisco lines.
The office of travelling passenger
agent which has been held by Mr.. Nor
ton will be abolished January 1. The
duties of this office have been assigned
to the office of the travelling passenger
agent, J. M. Stroud, whose headquar-
tiers are in Kansas City. The office of
travelling freight agent for Kansas will
be abolished at the same time. E. H.
Harding, who holds this office, will be
transferred to Fairbury, Neb., where he
will become agent for the Rock Island.
None of the employees of the local
office will be let out. All will be re-
tanned in an effort to make the present
force of the Rock Island more efficient
In view of the fact that many of
the Rock Island and Frisco officials
are being let out of the service entire
ly, and that others are being given
ones, the appointment of Mr.. Morton
to the position of city passenger and
ticket agent, shows that he is con-
sidered very capable man, by his SUI
periors in the Rock Island service. His
new position will come to him as a
promotion as it is generally consider
ed a higher position than his present
one.
In addition to the work of city pas
senger and ticket agent, Mr.. Morton
will have charge of the advertising of
the Rock Island-Frisco system in To-
peka. He will be personally in charge
Of the local ticket office and also in
charge of the passenger affairs of the
city The office room formerly oc-
cupied by D. E. Cain as general man
ager of the Rock Island, which is now
occupied by Mr.. Morton as travelling
passenger agent, will be retained by
him as a private office.
The railroad career of the new To- |
peka agent, dates back to 1898. After |
the war with Spain, in which Mr.. |
served as sergeant under |
Lieutenant General Miles, ne worked
in several different positions on the
Denver & Rio Grande road From |
this road he went to the Missouri, |
Kansas & Texas and soon became as
sistant ticket agent for this road at
Sedalia, Mo. Later on he was ap- |
pointed as a personal conductor on |
the Southern Pacific in which posi- |
ton he had charge of special trains on |
this system. While holding this job, |
'tChick" crossed the continent twenty |
six times in the interests of the "Es- |
pee"
In 1904, Mr.. Morton came to the |
Rock Island and has been with the |
road ever since, making nearly four
years of service. His first position i
was ticket agent at st. Joseph. Mo.
Later he went to Atchison as city |
passenger agent. He came to Topeka
as travelling passenger agent Febru-
airy p, 1906, and has since held this
position.
From his varied railroad experience.
Mr.. Morton is peculiarly fitted for his
new position. In his short residence
IN Topeka he has made. many friends
who will be glad to learn of his pro-
notion and who wish him great sue
cess.