The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-17
Topeka Railroad Men Divided
on the Appointment.
KOUNS is FAVORED.
General Manager Prominent on
the Santa Fe.
Fox Is General Superintendent
OF Eastern Lines.

l0S entire OlllCldi SNdll VI ehS <1eO-.-
son, Topeka & Santa Fe. and the blow
of his unexpected departure democrat
izing any Immediate action on their
part as far as a new appointment to
the office of general manager is con-
cerned little is known today OF MI
Hurley's possible successor.
Few railroad men will speak on the
subject-it is hard for them to believe
that General Manager Hurley IS not IN
his same position-just on vacation.
1t is the general opinion in SANTA re
railroad circles that nothing VIII pc
done by the Santa Fe until aIter tne
burial of Mr.. Hurley.
Despite the sad circumstances sur
rounding the death of Mr. Hurley
Tuesday and the attitude OF respect 10
his name held by the ofncers ana
workers of the Santa Fe- the wheels
of this big railroad system must keep
moving though the Hurley cog Will
never be replaced with its FORMER
strength and popularity. and the avail
able material for the general manager
ship of the Eastern lines must be sep
arated.
Up in the Air.
Nobody seems to know who will be
appointed to the vacant office in To-
peka. Whom will the Santa Fe make
general manager over the most I'M
portant grand division of the system?
VIII the appointments be made from
this division or will men from other
divisions be brought TO Topeka for the
place -? These are the preliminary ques-
tions to be settled.
From the present whisperings of re-
spect heard around local railroad CIR
Giles it is believed that the new aP-
pointment lies between two men-C.
w. Kouns, general manager of the
western grand division (wcstern 'lines), ,
and Fred c. Fox, general superintend-
ent of the eastern grand division (east-
ern lines). Mr.. KounS has headquar-
ters at Amarillo, Tex, where he has
charge of the western lines. Mr.. FOX
IS in Topeka over the eastern lines.
With General Manager Kouns it de-
pends upon whether the Santa Fe
considers the general managership
over the eastern lines a promotion
from the general managershlp or the
western lines. The eastern lines are
considered of greater Importance than
the western lines to local railroad men
and many are of the opinion that Mr..
Kouns will be the man for the place.
In case Mr.. Kouns was given the
general managership at To Oeka, 1t is
probable that either General Superin-
dent Fox of the eastern lines or Gener-
al Superintendent Parker of the west
ern lines would be made general man
ager of the western lines with head
quarters in Amarillo. If the Santa Fe
another the chances favor Mr.. Fox.
Then the general superintendency at
Topeka would be filled, Undoubtedly,
by either H. w. Sharp, general super
intendent of the western district of the
eastern lines or R. J. Parker, general
superintendent of the western lines.
IN case General superintendent Fox
OF Topeka is promoted to the general
managership In this city, it is likely
that either Mr.. Parker or Mr.. Sharp
will succeed him. If the Santa Fe de-
cfdes that the eastern lines should re-
main intact and that all appointments
and promotions should be limited to
the different sections of the road, it
means that Mr.. Fox will be given the
position. Having been general super
intendent in Topeka for some time,
we'll acquainted with the work on
these lines. and close associate with
Mr.. Hurley. the chances seem 20 favor
Mr.. Fox.
Divide the Territory.
For some time the Santa Fe has
been planning on dividing the west
ern lines of the road. These lines
have been extended and built until
they cover the largest territory of any
of the lines of the road. The west
ern lines include the Western, the
Arkansas River, the Colorado, the
New Mexico, the Panhandle. the
Southern Kansas railways of Texas,
the Pecos Valley and the Rio Grande
divisions.
It is planned to divide this terri
tory, making the headquarters of one
general superintendent at La Junta,
in charge of the Western, the Ar
kansas River, the Colorado and the
New Mexico divisions. The other Will
include the remaining divisions, with
headquarters at Amarillo. The dope"
has 1t that General superintendent
Parker will be given the La Junta ter
ritory and H. A. Tice of Dodge City
the Amarillo. H. A. Tice is the old
est division superintendent in this dis
trict and is a valuable man with the
Santa Fe.
II this Is done, the odds for the
general managership in Topeka favors
the appointment of Fred c. Fox.
But it is hard to tell what a rail-
road will do in case of this kind.
When the time comes for the appoint
ment some man from a far away dis
trict might be given the position. Rail-
roads have markers of their own and
they recognize ability whether it be
in the general offices or whether it is
out on the plains.
Both General Superintendent Fox
and General Manager Kouns are ex-
celIent examples of Santa Fe and
western railroad men. They have
been with the Santa Fe for many
vears-and the Santa Fe has turned
out some of the greatest railroad men
in the country today. In the case of
General superintendent Fox-he has
grown up with the road and has had
the environment of Santa Fe as an
addition to his exceptional abilities.
Railroad men venture today that the
choice will cause the scratching of
many a Santa Fe head in Chicago.
The Santa Fe officials in Topeka
have refused to make any comment on
the appointment. In fact they declare
that there is nothing to be known from
the Topeka offices concerning the mat
ter. The appointment comes from
Chicago and nothing is known here
until the statements are issued from
tho office of ]. W. Kendrick, vice pres
ident.
In answer to an inquiry from tht
T.autz assistant to general manager
made the following statement;
your inquiry about successor q
ar. Hurley: know voice the senti