The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-09-27
Elected Presid e mt at
Meeting Held in New
York Yesterday.
LEAVES ERIE ROAD
FOR NEW POSITION
Is Southerner by Birth, and Has
Long Railroad Experience.
Also Made Director-Presi-
dents Office Will Be
Moved From New York
to Portsmouth.

William Harahan was yesterday
elected president of the Seaboard Ar
Line Railway. succeeding y. s. Mel
drum. who retired. The meeting at
which the election ok place was held
in New York. the action having been
recommended by a special committee
appointed TO select a president
W. B. DOMAIN having resigned az
director Mr.. Harahan was also elected
to the board
The new president Of the Seaboaro
Air Line Railway was born in the
South and spent three-fourths OF his
life there. He won his way from an
apprentice boy in the Louisville ana
Nashville shops 20 high resronsibili-
ties in railroad work and came under
the eyes Of great masters of railroad
operations like Hartman. with the in
evi,able result OF removal to broader
activities. He now leaves the vice.
presidency OF the Erie in the prime OF
life T. come back South, trained in the
school OF experience
President Underwood OF the Erie
Railroad says: The Erie Railroad re-
grets exceedingly to lose his services,
for the reason that he has been con-
stantly placed in delicate and respon-
sible positions and has Invariably
made good. He is a man OF c,nspicu-
Gus ability and tact When S. Davies
Waraeld, chairman Of the executive
committee of the Seaboard, sa~ me in
reference to Mr. Harahan. told him
that in my Judgment he could not select
man better qualified to fill the re-
quirements for president OF the Sea-
board Air Line Railway"
Native of Tennessee.
Tenn, on December %, 1867, being the
S IN of James T. Harahan. railroad
man. whose life was spent in the de-
velopment Of the South. His earliest
recollections were In connection with
the railroad business, and his inclina-
tions and sentiments were IN that direc-
ton from his birth. In fact he learned
to read from the time card rather than
from the primer.
His first work was during vacation
season. beginning in 1881 in the posi-
ron of office boy in the superintend-
ent's Office OF the Louisville and Nash
Vile Railroad. at New Orleans, La.
In 1854 ne went to work in the Louis
vile and Nashville shops at Louisville.
KY. learning the trade Of machinist.
thus beginning his railroad career at
the bottom In 1856 Mr.. Harahan went
tItc anu .NdSHSiAte eNSi-
neering department. and remained in
that department until 1892. having held
the positions OF chairman, rodman.
levelman, resident engineer IN con-
struction and assistant engineer OF
maintenance OF way. Louisville and
Nashville Railroad: engineer Of main
tenance of way of the Chesapeake and
ohio Railroad and engineer in charge
of bridges Of the Baltimore ard Ohio
Southwestern Railroad. In 1892 he en-
tered the operating department Of the
Illinois Central and was successfully
trainmaster. assistant superintendent,
superintendent. chief engineer. assist
ant general manager. general manager
and vice-president. He left the ILL.,
bis Central in 100. to go with the Erie
Railroad
In accordance with the new policy
TO locate the operations Of the system
in the South. the ONCE Of the president
will be moved from New York &, Nor
folk and Portsmouth. Va. where the
general offices Of the system are 10
Gated