Las Vegas optic., 1912-02-15
OUTSIDE MAN MAY
SUCCEED v. F.
BUCK
SUCCESSOR TO CHIEF OF ME-
cHANlcAL DEPARTMENT MAY
NOT BE SANTA FE EMPLoYE


Topeka railway circles have it that
the successor to w. F. Buck as super
intendent of motive power of the San
ia Fe will be mechanical man from
another railroad. No /one in Topeka
seems to know who the outside off.
cial will be- In fact there is no guess
on the railroad from which he will
be secured. But it is believed that
the new superintendent of motive
power will be a man unknown in the
mechanical department of the Santa
Fe.
In Topeka there are many rumors
favoring H. W. Jacobs for the posi-
ton. Mr.. Jacobs is assistant super
intendent of motive power. Then
there are some who believe that John
Purcell, superintendent of shops, will
be in line for the place, and others
believe that a mechanical superin-
tendent from another part of the line
or J. H. McGoff, mechanical superin
tendent of Topeka, will be selected.
Put it is believed generally that w.
B. Storey, Jr, vice president in charge
of operation, will perfect a reorgani-
zation of the mechanical department
of the road This is the first time Vice
President Storey has been able to car
rv ont his ideas ei~c~ 4he
place vacated by J. W. Kendrick, not
many months ago.
Just what Vice President Storey
will do in reorganiZing the mechanic
al department no one dares to pre-
dict Bur it is thought that he will
place the work under closer super
vision and organization than before.
May Abolish the Office
With the rumors that are running
wild concerning the probable success
sor to the late w. F. Buck as superin-
tendent of motive power of the Santa
Fe comes the report that the Santa
Fe will adopt soon what is known as
the divisional system. This plan turns
over to the operating department the
entire authority of the railroad.
With the divisional system on the
Santa Fe it is possible that there
would be no superintendent of motive
power. The mechanical superintendent
ents would report to the general man
ayers and as a supreme court of last
resort it is likely that a new vice
president will be appointed.
The divisional system makes the
division superintendent the royal head
of his district. The master mechanic
reports to the division superintendent
instead of to his mechanical superior
officer The trainmasters, the road
masters, the master mechanics and all
make their reports to the division su-
perintendent.
This entire divisional organization
was explained in detail some time
ago. It is plan that is practiced sue
cessfully on the Union Pacific, the
Pennsylvania railroad and the Rock
Island.
On the Union Pacific it is carried
out to such an extent that the general
manager has an assistant at the head
of the engineering department, the
mechanical department and the oper-
ating department. No more general
superintendents on the Union Pacific.
The Santa Fe has been talking of
the divisional idea for some time. Nov
that w. B. Storey, Jr., vice president
at the head of the operating depart
ment has his say on the Buck success
sor and has his first chance to manage
the affairs of the mechanical depart
ment it is possible that he will place
in operation the divisional methods.
In the four districts of the Santa Fe
the eastern lines, the western lines
the coast lines and the gulf lines, the
general managers would have contro
over everything. Mechanical officials
would report to them.
The Pennsylvania and Union Pacifi,
methods are opposed by majority o
the mechnical men. They will not ad
nit that there is any logic in tn,
change. But to the operating officials
the divisional method is the real SO
lution of successful railroading AM
authority.
Jacobs VIII Stay Here
1t is probable that H. w. Jacobs viii
remain in Topeka as assistant super
intendent of motive power. Mr.. Jacob
has done a wonderful work at tn,
head of shop practices, bonus matter
and methods. He is the court of las
resort in matters of this kind and ha!
been instrumental in working out
compact system on the Santa Fe.
Assistant Superintendent Jacobs /
an organizer. He is a student of tn
concentration of shop work and h,
has gathered around him in Topek;
some of the best mecanical men il