The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-06-11
HEAD OF BIG SYSTEM
TALKS FOR THE TIMES
Samuel M FELTON, to Present Railroads Side of Rate
Controversy to Sunday Readers2Was Dominant
Figure at White House Conference.

Nj T elton 10 give ALG GA1AA Nof-AAleL-
tive an interview
The railroads make the broad. general
assertion that rates must go up be
cause the expense Of operation and
maintenance has gone up
Other Side to Be Presented.
Nobody in the country knows more
about that very condition than Sam
ueI Morse FELTON,. His statement. there
fore, is well worthy Of consideration by
the Government. the shippers and the
public. The Times does not indorse
Mr.. Felton's conclusions II merely
presents them as being the opinions
OF a man thoroughly informed on his
subject The railroads side OF the
question OF increased rates certainly
could not be presented from better
source
Later. The Times viii give space to
an exhaustive study by the other
parties 70 the controversy One well
qualified 10 speak for the shippers and
me paolle VII be given opportunity 70
set forth his views on the subject
from the shippers and public's side.
with the privilege OF replying 20 any
statements made by Mr. FELTON,.
Mr. FELTON, was born in Philadelphia,
February 3, 1885, and comes Of a long
line OF colonial and revolutionary
heroes. His father was a railroad man
before him. being president Of the Phil
adelphia. Wilmington, a2d Baltimore.
An uncle was president OF Harvard
from 1850 TO 1862.
Began Work at Fifteen.
In 1868. when fifteen years old. young
FELTON, began his railroad career as a
rod boy for the Chester Creek railroad.
In 1870 he vas an assistant engineer on
the Lancaster railway, and the next
year went TO the Massachusetts Insti-
tute Of Technology. from which he
was graduated in 1873 He was immedi-
ately made chief engineer Of the Ches-
ter and Delaware River railroad and
in 1874 was appointed general superin-
tendent Of the Pittsburg. Cincinnati.
and ST. Louis.
He was general superintendent Of this
road until 1852 and in that time was
also general superintendent OF the Gin
cinnati and Muskingum and the Little
Miami Mr. FELTON, was made general
manager of the New York and New
England in 1SS2. and soon afterWard be-
came assistant 70 the president of the
New York, Lake Erie. and Western
He was chosen general manager Of the
New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio il
1894 and the next year was elected vice
president Of The New YorS Lake Erie
and Western, now the Erie, later be-
coming vice president OF the whole sys-
In 1890. Mr.. FELTON, accepted the presi
dency Of the East Tennessee Virginia
and Georgia railroad In 1873 he was
president Of the Louisville Southern and
the Alabama Great Southern At the
same time he was vice president of tn,
Memphis and Charleston, the Mobile anC
Birmingham, and the Knoxville anC
/ Ohio.
A Man of Action.
From then until 1899 he was busily
! engaged holding down jobs that would
/ have kept half dozen men of ordinar1
ability busy. He was president and re
| ceiver Of the Cincinnati, New Orleans
and Texas Pacific. receiver for the san
/ dusky and Hooking, and receiver 70
( the Kentucky and Indiana Bridge Com
pany.
/ In 1899 Mr.. FELTON, was brought promi
nently TO the attention Of the genera
+ public by his election to the presidenc,
I of the Chicago and Alton. succeeding E
/ H. Hartman, who became chairman o
/ the executive board. He held this posi-
! ton for eight years, rsisfgning in 100
/ to become president OF the Mexican Cen
! trail railway. This position he held unit
/ he resigned to become president OF tn
I reOrganiZed Chicago Great Western las
/ September. When he gets the Grea
/ Westerns affairs thoroughly straighten
I ed out and establishes the road as
/ modern. paying property there vii
/ probably be some other particular harl
1 trying job ready for him TO take hold OF
Mr.. FELTON,, however, is so constitute
I that he could not hold a snap. He
I the sort of man who would explode IN
{ less he could devote his energies I
/ fighting out some particularly hard bat
/ industrial