The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-20
FROM SECTION HAND
 ID THE PRESIDENCY Harahan's Rise Marvel of Rail-
 road World RETIRES IN JANUARY Was for Many Years Prominent in the L. & N. Before Going With Illinois
 Central-A1ways n Friend
 to Birmingham
BY CLYDE ". ENNIS


 After serving the Illinois Central rail- road for 20 years, President J. T. Hara- han will be retired under the pension system he formulated January Il, 1911. He has reached the age limit of TO years.
 His work in the railroad field has been so unmistakably intertwined with the progress of Birmingham and the south that his retirement at the age limit for employees should and does attract more than ordinary attention in this city and the south.
 He was general manager for the Louis vile and Nashville railroad from 1885 to 1888, during which time he assisted great mingham what it is today. He always agreed to the opinions advanced by Mill ton H. Smith about Birmingham's fu- ture and the two harnessed the entire Birmingham district with their line and allied ones until they serve every im- portant industry in the district
 With his retirement will pass one of the most picturesque and romantic personal ities of present day railroading. It is oodDllu4 II lHiS SOulltly VIII tNtT Sec figures that are embodied in Harahan and host of the early ones whose rise and power were due to no training in colleges or to anything except sheer grit, determination and ability inborn.
 Never Lost Interest in City
 MT. Harahan upon becoming second vice president of the Illinois Central railroad l II. t.-ko l.. manifested in his early work on, the Louisville and Nashville. And to him may be chiefly attributed the entrance Into this city of his lines. Before he retires next year 1t is almost certain that he will endeavor to secure the assurance from his successor that his pet scheme to enter Birmingham over his own rails will not be passed up.
 His successor as president will be Will Nam L. Park, the present senior vice president. who was placed on the Illinois Central from the Southern Pacific by Judge Lovett who represents the interests of the late Edward Henry Hartman.
 During his entire 20 years of service in the railroad world there is perhaps no incident in the life of MT. Harahan that is more indelibly stamped on his Stuyvesant Fish, Harahan and the late MT. Hartman for control For several days the giants of finance wrestled over the control of the Illinois Central and finally the interests of MT. Hartman pre- vailed MT. Harahan, for his loyalty at that time, was made president from the position of vice president. That battle ragged for several days and nights, dur ing which time the fighters could not foresee what development would come up which might place them outside the off cial salary crowd.
 However, the late unpleasantness be- tween the interests was soon forgotten and MT. Harahan was given the entire support of the defeated crowd in his next work.
 Rise From Section Hand
 His spectacular rise from a position of section hand to that of president of one Of the largest lines in America is little less than marvellous. He is proud of the fact that on the Louisville and Nashville he was a section hand and never neglects an opportunity to talk about Pulaski. Tenn, where he started on the Louisville and Nashville. He has always believed that Birmingham will be the greatest city in the south at no far distant date and his opinions will be very weighty with the management in furnishing Birmingham with a new trunk line. Mir. Harahan, ac- cording to the general understanding, will continue after January to be in an ad- visory capacity with the company. He will receive $6000 per year as a pension. He has accumulated quite fortune and is several times a millionaire.
 His railroad life may be summarized as follows:
 Sketch of Career
 Born, 1S4S. at Lowell. Mass; entered railway service in 1864 at Alexandria, Va. Subsequently, in the employ of the Orange and Alexandria road at Alexandria one year. From the fall of 1865 to the sum mer of 1866 in the employ of the Nash vile and Decatur road at Nashville. Tenn. From 1866 to 1870 in the employ of the Louisville and Nashville road in various capacities. From 1870 to August, 1872. in charge of Shelby road. August, 1872. to 1879 roadmaster Nashville and De- catur road He was appointed superin- tendent Memphis line of the Louisville and Nashville in 1879 and remained in that capacity until 1SS1 From that time until December 1883, superintendent of New Orleans division. December, 1883, to July 1, 1884, general superintendent same road south of Decatur. July 1, 1884, to January 1, 1885, general manager entire line. January 1 to April 1, 1885, general superintendent Pittsburg division. Balti- more and Ohio road. April to October, 1885. assistant general manager Louisville and NashviIel road. October. 1885. to Oc- tober, 1888, general manager of Louisville and Nashville railroad. From October, 1888. to November 1, 1890, successively as- sistant general manager Lake Shore and Michigan Southern, general manager Chesapeake and Ohio and general man ager of the Louisville, New Orleans and Texas railway. He was appointed second vice president of the Illinois Central No vember 1, 1890; was made president at the time Etuyvesant Fish and the late Ed rrara IIo rrir,nan had their battle for cnrl-