The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-12
 MARKHAM BECOMES
 PRESIDENT TODAY Succeeds Harahan As Head of
 Illinois Central ROSE FROM THE RANKS Will Make General Inspection Trip of Roads Properties and Will Prob ably Visit Birmingham-Bnn-
 quet to Harahan
ROSE FROM THE RANKS
By CLYDE ". ENNIS

The active management of the Illinois Central railroad will pass today into the hands of Charles Markham, Tennessee lad who has climbed from a section gang in arid New Mexico to the presidency of this great corporation
 He will succeed James T. Harahan, whose active duties ended yesterday and in whose honor largely attended ban quet will be rendered tonight in Chl- cago
 MT. Markham will have supreme con trol of the Ilinios Central railroad with direct supervision over every department. He has gone through the mill of railroad ing and is capable in every feature of the work. He is traffic man, a trans portation wizard, and is expert in every way as far as railroad work Is con- cerned
 He has been connected with the Harri- man railroads for many years and active ly to this time. with the exception of a few years with an oil company, which polished him off in what is termed com mercial business
 He is known to all railroad men who watch events as q constructonists, build CT and progressive. He is of the south and the local industrial men and rail- road officers expect him to display the same friendship to this district as has the retiring chief of the Illinios Central.
 MT. Markham will attend the banquet tonight in Chicago, which has been ar ranged in compliment to the retiring vet eran. After this, local information has it, he will make general trip of inspec- ton of the roads properties, which will naturally include visit to this city. The inspection of the properties will be made by the entire official family. according to local gossip. An inspection trip of all properties is clearly in line of natural occurrences and is confidently anticipated.
 As to the future of the Illinois Central the very best of opinions prevail. With it's connection here with the Central of Georgia the Illinois Central is expected to conserve and improve it's strategic po- sition as regards the Atlantic seaboard outlet. As for building into Birmingham the most optimistic believe this will be announced when the rate cases are de- cded one way or the other.
 The new president of the Illinois Cen tral will. it is believed, exercise more
  than has been done formerly Affairs have changed wonderfully on the two lines in the past six months, which brings the idea up that closer work will be done with an eye to more satisfactory re- suits.
 A spirit of slight uneasiness prevails, it is rumored, in Illinois Central circles that Mr. Markham will start his admin lstration with a shake-up. It is said he will appoint an old Union Pacific man to a prominent post now vacant over an old employe. It is not the best prevail ing opinion that he will do this. but that lie will recognize the loyalty of the vet eran men in service and promote as did Mr. Harahan.
 Today is confidently believed to be an epoch-makng day in Illinois Central cir cles, which will result in progressive movements and magnificent results for enc of the most popular lines in Amer ica