The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-04-26
RAILROAD NEWS
President Hays of Grand Trunk
Had Faith.
His Road Most NortherIy in
the Country.
WAS RIVAL OF HARTMAN
Two Could Not Cooperate on
One Line.
other Items of General Interest
I'm Traffic World.

Four days after the Titanic sank and
the first report of the safety of Charles
Melville Hays. president of the Great
Trunk Railway company and all of its
allied lines. was by later dispatches
shown to be unfounded came informa-
ton from Montreal that the contem-
plated railroad from Montreal to James
bay is now assured. The Canadian
government has guaranteed a certain
subsidy and the province OF quebec -2aS
pledged itself to a very large lana
subsidy. This material financial aid
having been secured. the construction OF
this railway is speedily to begin
Unless President Hays had changed
his mind since last summer he looked
with disfavor, and even incredullty. up
to the time of his death upon the pro-
posed construction of a railway run
ming from Montreal to the small bay
called James which opens into the
greater HudsOnS bay. Some OF the
railway men who were very closeiy
essocisted with President Hays, who
visited New York last fall, reported
him as convinced that the proposition
both from a financial and from a COM
rnercfal point of view. was unworthy
the consideration of any business man.
President Hays knew that, so far as
the engineering difficulties were con
cerned these could be overcome he
knew what the engineers had accom-
plished in the construction OF the eX-
tension of the Grand Trunk system
toward the pacific coast. But he did
not believe that the short season, not
more than three months, IN winch
James bay and Hudson bay were Iree
from ice was a sufficient time TO Pc
NIT ocean steamship service from
James bay to Europe to be CONNER
cially practicable.
Yet President Hays forecasted the
future of Canada. and especially OF
British North America with a KeeHel
and more Tar sighted vision than any
of the great railway intellects that nave
achieved so marvelously in Canadian
railway construction He had aDuAu-
ant faith in the resources and the sue
cessful exploitation of them of the vast
region of upper British North America
which until within a few years mas
been presumed to be a forest and
desert defiant of the approaches OF
men.
ResembIed E. HI. Hartman.
In many respects, especially IN en-
ergy enthusiasm and in somewhat ar
hiTrarv personal direction and aoso- |
int self confidence, President hays |
greatly resem bled the late E. H Harrl- |
man The two men were too neaflS
alike to make it possible for one TO
serve under the other or for both OF |
them to serve side by side in perfect |
co-operation That is understood TO |
he the reason why Mr.. Hays, IN 1SOl'
gave I'D his connection with the Soutn-
err Pacific railroad. He respected Mr.. |
Harriman's ability as greatly as Mr. |
Hartman admired the intellect ana the |
energy of Mr.. Hays himself BUT II
VS. the case of two generals OF eauai
rank and, as Mr. Hartman hao the |
greater financial power W. W. a1ide
found it the better part to step asloe- i
He probably knew where he could 60
when he resigned the presidency OF tue |
Southern Pacific railroad.
The Grand Trunk management hao
been Reckoning to him for some time |
n vent to Canada. with purposes quite |
os comprehensive and gigantic as were |
those of Mr.. Hartman when ne tooA
s1orene control of the Union Paclhc,
t. is due largely to the inspiration ana
energy of President Hays that the
Grand Trunk management decided 10
,,,alxe its system transcontinental one
- 70 ope.l a railroad 5000 miles IN |
length. from sea to sea, which was TO
he the most nOrtherly railroad III lie
,,.orld excepting the Russian system |
.b-o1eb siberia President Hays was /
CONVINCED that trade would 1oAoW the
rafls He assured his business assn
Gates that immigration would pehe-
tra+e the wilds of British North Amer |
- 80 in the course of a few years |
deveIoD he agricultural and the TIM
11s- resources to commercial pront- |
both for the railroads ana Ior the PS+
1eers He fixed upon a seaport Just |
ileloy,- the southern boundary of Alaska /
,vnicb was to be the Pacific terminal |
He contemplated a commerce from
nat mort which would utilize the ran
ana canal and would also extend across
the Pacific.
Not His Only Plan
In addition to these plans President !
Havs determined to conquer for the
Grand Trunk system a part, at least I
~ New England. What effect his |
death will have upon the skillfully |
Conceived plan which originated in ms |
own mind and had for its conSumma- |
tion an entrance into the city of Bos- |
ton remains to be developed. 1t was |
due chiefly to the energy of President |
Havs that the Grand Trunk railway, |
through one of it's allies-the Central |
~ vermont-secured a right of way |
from a point a little east of Springfield, !
Mass to Providence. r. L Whether |
that was a part of the strategic plan |
for gaining an entrance to Boston, only |
an miles away or whether he purpos- |
"a an extension Of the Central Vermont !
line from a point near Brattleboro, /
VI across the state of Massachusetts |
to Boston ne alone knew Some of his |
business intimates. who visited New !
York last summer, suspected that he |
carried both plans in mind in the eX-
nectatfon that if one failed the other |