The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-23

pensioned executive of the Illinois Gen. tral railroad, east an indescribable gloom over local railroad circles yester- day, especially among the employees qf that line, who have been in the har- ness with the former chieftian who died upon the rails.
 Not only on account of his official connection with the Illinois Central, which he brought to Birmingham. was the district shocked and railroad men grieved. As much regret was expressed by reason of the fact that up and down the Louisville and Nashville railroad, in our midst, was MT. Harahan trained for his future railroad work. His ca - reer from the section crew to the high est office on the great Illinois Central Is well known in and about Birming ham. As a mere youth he went to Pulaski, where he started out with the grim determination to do something. He shoveled dirt under cross ties and placed slag on the present main line of the Louisville and Nashville with greater efficiency than any section hand on the line. He went later to Montgomery where he continued the same menial labor, and finally he be- came the proud possessor of job a little bit more important, and then, after many ups and downs, he landed as assistant general manager of the Louisville and Nashville.
 MT. Harahan continued to rise in the railroad world during the rough days by indomitable courage, splendid strength of purpose and with an en- ergy indefatigable, until his name was held in the very highest esteem wherever the Illinois Central tracks touched.
 He learned in the early days that Birmingham could not stand back, that her resources meant moro than the average man could grasp, and when he was elected vice president of the Illi- nois Central he continually recom- mended that Birmingham be touched with Illinois Central rails from Mis- sissippi points. When that wonderful war of stocks came up ending in the utter rout of Stuyvesant Fish from the Illinois Central presidency he was placed at the helm. Ii was through the late railroad wizard. Edward H. Hartman that MT. Harahan headed the company, and he turned his eyes after the fray upon Birmingham. At a terrific cost and in the face of ob- iecting directors he formulated traf- fc arrangements with the Frisco and built a line into Birmingham. From 4l. Id Harahan, now vice president of the Erie under that remarkable executive, Fred Underwood, announced that the Illinois Central was coming here, until the date of his retirement he was first and last a Birmingham booster. Many troubles and trials confronted MT liar ahan in his achievements of touching Birmingham, but the same spirit that strengthened him as section hand caused his mighty resolve to push on and touch the richest mineral district in the whole country.
 There have been few men In railroad circles to face so many trials as the late Mir. Harahan. Aside from oper- atlng difficulties, stock worries and other propositions his last year with the Illinois Central was fraught with that frightful graft investigation that caused Ira Rawn to commit suicide It Is accepted as true that Detective William J. Burns told MT. Harahan after a preliminary survey of the case that high officials would be impli- cated and that MT Burns said. Shall go ahead?"
 MT. Harahan. replied: Burns. you go the limit and catch those crooks, and if you get me place me in jail."N
 That is fair example of his utter dis regard for any one when it came to a matter concerning the property over which he was master.
 No man ever headed the Illinois Central who was held in higher esteem than was MT. Harahan. 1t is said that in many rural communities in Illinois the Illinois Central is called by the people Our rail road'
 MT. Harahan has commented many times upon that remarkable public atti- tude toward his company and in speak ing of the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company advertising their good traits here. he said that was the solution of all corporation ills
 ''The people are fair" he often said. ',Tell them about your trials, worries and difficulties and explain minutely all the points. You will find that in all things the great strata of humanity may well be trusted"
 He held the entire Illinois Central situa- tion, with It's radiating mileage, within the hollow of his hand and never was there a moment of his active connection with that line but what he was scheming to handle the line better than any rail- road in the country.
 It's worries were his worries, it's achieve ments his achievements and from fighting snowdrifts in the far west to repairing a storm swept right of way in the sunny south, he was equal to any and all of these various troubles. that beset a great system of rails.
 He retired from active railroad work about one year ago. He had been in ser vice the necessary 20 years and could have retired 10 years ago on pension, but he remained in harness until the very last. At the age of 70 all employees must retire from the service of the Illinois Central by operation of the pension plan similar to the Steel corporation. So one year ago he passed up the active work but re- mained a director. He was accordingly T years of age when he met death yes'