The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-21
RAILROAD NEWS.
Edwin Hawley, Successor to the
Late Hartman.
Will Be First to Realize a Trans
continental Line.
HAS IMMENSE BACKING
New King Is Closely Aligned
With Gould Interests.
Other Items of Interest in Rail-
way Circles.
HAS IMMENSE BACKING

New York, Oct. 21.-Edwin Hawley
has succeeded to the throne of e. H.
Hartman as the ruler of the railroads
of the United States. Within the past
few days there has been change OF
alignment of the greatest financial
powers in Wall street and they have
proffered to Hawley the backing OF
their millions, which were the essence
of the Hartman power, and which,
likewise, make Hawley the dominant
figure in the American railroad world.
This shift of the balance of money
power to the support of Hawley marks
the most important of several changes
in the railroad situation that nave
been brought about by the passing OF
Hartman.
Another change of scarcely less IN
terest during the last few days mas
been the appearance of a well-def1ned
plan to eliminate Hartman influence
from the management OF railroads
outside his own system, into Whch
Hartman forced himself during his
lifetime.
Briefly, the occurrences of the past
few days mean that Edwin Hawley.
by virtue of the backing conferred up
on him by the greatest money dynasty
in America, becomes the new railroad
leader; that with the millions to
WHICH ne Is IIluS given dGCcSS AAC ScAii
acquire, build up and dominate
vast railroad system throughout the
country that probably will overshadoW
even the Hartman system; that Har-
riman's personal power, which en-
abled him to compel admission to the
councils of other railroad systems
died with him and is no longer the
formidable weapon it was as long as
he lived. The new order of things
does not mean, however, that the
Hartman system is to be deprived of
q large share of financial support it
has enjoyed at the hands of the con-
trolling money powers, nor does it
mean that Edwin Hawley is likely to
undertake the control of the Harri
man system, and there is little lilleli-
hood that Hawley will even become
identified with the Hartman system
officially, although there are some
who predict that he will ultimately
become a member of the Union and
Southern Pacific directorates. Those
closest to Hawley, however, believe
that he will reign from throne built
up from the extensive railroad system
he now controls rather than attempt
to transfer the foundation of his
dominance to the Hartman system.
One of the manifestations of Haw-
1ey's accession to railroad srulership
during the past week was his acquis-
ition of the Rock Island and the Mis-
souri,, Kansas and Texas, with it's g.
600 miles of Independent trackage and
its great strategic value as the last of
the so-called north and south lines to
the Gulf. This, with his other hold
ings, gives Hawley the control of
nearly 10000 miles of railroads form
ing chain from the Atlantic sea-
board as far west as ST. Louis and
Kansas City. Those who are closest
to Hawley believe that the Katy is
only one of several roads which will
be brought into the Hawley system in
the near future.
Hawley and the Goulds, with whom
he is closely associated, now control
g complete transcontinental railroad
system, or will when the Western
Pacific is opened to San Francisco in
a few weeks. Hawley is a member of
the executive committee of the West
ern Pacific, and is heavily interested
in Western Pacific securities. Through
the Missouri Pacific at ST Louis and
Kansas City and the Denver and Rio
Grande at Denver Hawley's eastern
chain of roads reaches the Western
Pacific at Salt Lake and gives an all
rail connection from Norfolk the
eastern terminus of the Chesapeake