The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-07-01
Railroad Sensation.

fe f-DONe dISI1atCn created a "nlrlWlnQ
OF excitement in Salt Lake railroad cir
Giles Wednesday night. II was not un-
expected, In. some respects. especially
concerning Delano. as It has been ru-
several weeks that he was slated TO sue
ceed President Jeffery. But the predic
tlon that William Lee Park is TO take
Ridgway's place general manager
started a storm of questions in all di-
rections,
Even the phlegmatic old timers, who
have experienced violent and sweeping
changes in the course OF railroading,
We're literally knocked off their bearings.
rms combination of names is a tre-
mendous thing TO reckon with in the rail-
that alone is not sensational But Della
no succeeding Jeffery. and w. l.. Park
taking taking Ridsway,s place, all at the same
uHl" makes quite serious sItua tion,
The names stand for themselves.
But the tying OF them together por-
tends one of the most tremendous rail-
road revolutions ever known in this
Delaro had always been an out and out
Jim" Hin man. until ne suddenly
switched to the Wabash, OF which he is
now president. At that time it was said
that the wizard OF the northwest had
gathered George Gould In tow. But now
that falls to pieces. And II Delano is
0omng sans that fs the oSo p "a & g. # simply
openly taken over the Gould system, In
the light OF Parks coming to fill Ridg-
ways place, this solution OF the problem
appears to be the only reasonable one,
II Hartman really means to build up the
Denver & Rio Grande, and make IL one
OF the most dangerous and powerful wea-
pons in his gigantic system, he could not
choose better matched couple to do the
work than Frederic A Delano and Will
liam Lee Park. Delano Is the general.
the schemer. the executive, the manager.
to plan campaigns. Park is the leuten-
ant, with the dash, vlgor and experience
necessary 70 carry the plans out to a
successful finish.
Connecting Link,
Parks taking Ridgways place is mere
~ one more Significant link In the long
chain that has so swiftly been connect
Ing Hartman with the Gould system. The
$50, 600. 900 Western Pacific bond incident
was the pointer. and old railroad men
have long been wise" TO the situation
Park has always been on the Hartman
string. His entire service has been on
the Union Pacific. Of which he IS now
the practical head.
II there ever was the slightest doubt
In the minds Of the uninitiated that Har-
rtman had gotten his claws on the D &
r. c.. the latest dope" that Dclano Is
Ridsway's place. clinches the matter alb
solutely.
But Schlacks has been saying. ever
since Ridgway's resignation became pub
lie. that the vacancy would remain un-
filled. 1T Is history that the JOB Of gem
eral manager was created for Ridgway,
when he first went into the Rio Grande.
But It Is not probable that Ridgway's
JOB will stay untitled. There must be
some new man to do the work. as 1t
would be impossible for Schlacks to han
die the great amount of extra work.
Regrets are expressed in all railroad
circles over Ridgway's retirement No
better railroad man ever was In the west
say the men who know. Ridgway had
tremendous capacity for work.
Who They Are.
Following is a brief history OF the rail-
road life of Delano and Park.
wabash. was born G september 10, O. 1853
at Hongkong. China. He graduated from
Harvard university. He entered the rail-
way service in 1885, since which he has
ist apprentice in erecting shops for the
Chicago, Burlington G. Quincy railroad ct
Aurora, Ill; July. 1887. to April, 1889. in
charge OF bureau OF steel rail inspection
1889, 10 July, 1890. assistant to second
vice president; July, 1890, to January 81.
1899. superintendent OF freight terminals
at Chicago; and from February J., 1899,
Tor several years, superintendent of mo-
Tive power on the Burlington. He rose
TO the highest positions on the Burling.
ton, and finally switched from Hill TO
Gould Gould taking the presidency of the Wa
Dash, where he has remained.
Frederick Delano is very wealthy
man. He follows railroading because he
loves II. and for no other reason.
William Lee Park was born August 6.
1859, ct ovid, Mich. He entered railway
service in 1875, since which he has been
consecutlvely. to 1878, brakeman on the
Union Pacific RAILWAY 1878 10 1882,
freight conductor: 1882 TO August 10. 1890,
passenger conductor: 1890 TO June l. 1900,
division superintendent at North Platte,
Neo.: division superintendent at Chey-
enne; superintendent and general mana
ger He is now and always has been
with the Union Pacific,