New-York tribune., 1908-12-24

ciated. The only enterprises IN the management
OF which he retains a hand the Morton Trust
ComUanv the National Bank OF Commerce, IN
both Of which he is vice-president and director.
and the American Tobacco Company, OF which
he is a director
Mr. Ryan's action was taken in pursuance or
policy Of retirement first adopted two years
ago At that time he told by his physi-
clans that the multiplicity OF cares devolvins
upon him as the chief steersman Of so many
financial organizations some Of which, such as
rha Equitable Life Assurance Society and the
Tnterborough-M metropolitan Street Railway sys-
tenn of New York were more than sufficient by
themselves to tax the endurance Of any one per-
son. was rapidly undermining his health. After
a busy career Of forty years, most OF which had
been spent in mapping out and carrying tossuc-
cessf1l issue consultations Of street railway and
lighting interests OF gigantic magnitude, Mr.
Ryan felt that he could unharness himself from
his MANY business responsibilities and devote
the remaining years Of his life 70 comparative
leisure
In speaking Of his withdrawal Mr. Ryan said
yesterday:
This step has been taken after long and ma
tire deIiberation. There is no significance 10 II
other than that my doctors told me ought 70
let I'D. They first advised me TO unload some
Of my responsibilities two years ago. and since
then have gradually withdrawn from the di-
rectorates Of thirty-four corporations Ny re-
cent designations are but the cOrTinuance OF the
policy adopted two years ago OF unloading bust
ness responsibilities as rapidly as I can in JUS
+ice 10 the interests involved There is abso-
1u4eIv nothing more to it than that
According TO the latest issue OF the Directory
Of Directors" the only corporations Of which MI
r7y-an has been a director in the last year. in
addition 10 he three in which he announces he
stfu remains an officer director. are the Fifth
Av.nue Trust Company. the Mercantile Trust
Company. the Commercial Trust Company, Of
Philadelphia: the Industrial Trust Company. Of
Providence; the Continental Rubber Company
and the Sea board Air Line Railway.
The industrial companies and railways from
,,-bicb Mr. RYAN has retired as a director IN the
last two years are the Havana Tobacco Com
many the International Cigar Machinery Com
many. the United Lead Company, the Metropol-
itau Securities Company. the Consolidated Gas
,,oronanv. tie Consolidated Gas. Electric Light
and power Company. the East River Gas Com
many. the New York Carbide and AcetyIene
CornDanv the Bethlehem Steel Corporation. the
cuba Company the Hooking Valley Railway
f~on,Danv the Union Elevated Railway Com
panv, Chicago; the Electric Storage Battery
COMPANY the New York City Railway Com
parv and three OF It's subsidiaries, the Fulton
street Railroad Company. the 34th Street
Crosstown Railway Company and the Central
Crosstcwn Railroad Company; the Pine Prod
nets Company the Union Bleaching and Finish
ing Company and the Universal Accountant
Machine Company.
He mas also resigned vicc-president and
director of the following institutions; The Amer
icau Surety Company. the Union Exchange
Rank. the Newport Trust Company Newport
p /. and the Washington Life Insurance Com
pany.
Mr.. Ryan was left an orphan at an early age
In 1865 he went to Baltimore. where he found
work in the drygoods commission store OF John
: Barry where he remained two years and
then came TO this city and entered banking
house. Two years later. at the age of twenty
one he formed a partnership with a member Of
Continued second page.