The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-31
RAILROAD NEWS.
Edwin HaWley Is Developing a
TranScOntinental Route.
Latest Master of Roads Gives
Discussion of Plans.
FRIENDLY WITH HILL
Backed by Many Financiers in
Rounding Out His System.
Other Items of Interest in
Railway Circles.

Edwin Hawley began by buying
eggs; he is now buying railroads. He
is rapidly becoming a second Harri-
man. and whereas the latter is aging
and tired. Hawley is younger, of iron
constitution, titanic energy, concen-
tration of purpose and fired by ambi-
ton to emulate the record of his orig
inal sponsor, Coils P. Huntington, to
eclipse the achievements of his quon-
dame associate, Edward H. Hartman,
and to carve for himself unique
place in the railroad history of the
United States. Already he has accom-
plished more than any living rail
road man with the exceptions of Jas.
J. Hill and Mr.. Hartman, statement
that will occasion surprise through
out the country, for outside of Wall
street the name of Hawley is scarce
" known, while even in financial cir
Giles his powerful ramifications are not
adequately appreciated.
He already controls seven railroads
and his close associates dominate two
more; this combined system, $4,000
miles in length, draws gross earnings
of $3.50, 900, 900 from that vast terri
tory bounded on the north by the
Great Lakes, on the south by the Gulf
of Mexico, on the west by the Mis-
Ssouri and Mississippi rivers, on the
7 east by the Atlantic. Net income in
1908, a year of depression, aggregated
$45, 100000 and dividends are now be-
ing paid of more than $1O,00O,000 per
annum. Moreover, between now and
1910 formal announcement may be
made of an offensive and defensive
alliance between Messrs. Hill and
Hawley. OF financial support Edwin
Hawley has now an abundance, al
though he was not always so FORUM
ate. Vanderslip, Speyer, Huntington,
Paul Morton, J. ]. Mitchell, Henry
Walters, John w. Castles. Shonts, ].
n. Wallace, L. c.. Weir-these are
names of national prominence identi-
fed with his enterprises Hawley
himself is on the directorate of some
twenty-five corporations and the roll
is lengthening.
What manner of man is this new
power in American transportation
who is taking rank with our greatest
railroad giants-with Vanderbilt
Gould, Huntington, Hill and Harri-
man?
This colloquy with the writer will
linn his temperament, his aims and
his tenacious determination:
Where were you born?"
I'm Chatham, New York state-it
doesn't matter when"
How did you make your first mon
ey-like John D. Rockefeller, in peul-
try wasn't it,
ct made it by saving it"
when you came to New York you
Joined someone in purchasing a tug
boat and developed that business -
Yes. Vanwie and I finally owned
thirty-eight boats"
your railroad work began on the
Erie, a clerk, when you were II,
and after being with the Ohio & Mis-
sissippi and the Rock island route you
were discovered by Huntington, who
gave you rapid promotion ?"
He didn't give me promotfon-I
earned it,
what was the first road you your
self secured control OFF,
's5.'
"And the next?''
Iowa Central"
what has been your guiding
motto or maxim in getting on?"
ATTEND to business"
How do You think a railroad
should be rum"
''To make money. of course But
to let shippers make money as we'll
as stockholders"