The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-19
Long Service with A. c. l..

l~pccl3l 10 me l ltl:S- -l'lSpItth.I !
Wilmington. y. c.. December IS
The expected happened in the election
to-day of John r. kenly as president
Of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
Company. II WAS known that once be-
fore Mr.. Kcnly had declined the prcsi-
dency on account OF his health. which,
however. has greatly improved within
the past two years. Mr.. kcnly now
appearing better than in n score of
years.
John Y. Kcnly Is known as one of
the creates. organizers and deepest
thinkers in the railroad world He
was born in Baltimore. Nd, on Jan
uary II. lSi7. and entered the rail
road service in July, 1868. becoming
resident engineer OF construction OF
the Pittsburgh and Connellsville. He
held this position until he accepted Il
similar position with the Union Rail
way Tunnel in 1873 at Baltimore. and
his work on the big tunnel at Balti-
more was OF mastery type In August
OF the same year he became engineer
and roadmaster OF the Union Railway
OF Baltimore
In 1876 he became engineer and SUI
pcrintendcnt OF that road ana thcn
commenced the work that soon made
him power in the railroad field OF
the South, and connected him promi-
The burning of the old wooden rail
road bridge over the James River ut
Richmond called for Immediate and
vigorous nginecring. in order to meet
tne cNiGencicS Of the occasion und
allow traffic 10 How again. MIR Ecnly
directed this work. and In railroad Cir
c!cS his achievement in this bridge
building. both for quickness ana con
StructIon. is always praised ana de-
& n 70, i.. I'll.
superintendent OF the Richmond and
Petersburg road in ISS2. being sta
toned at Richmond, and held mat po-
altlon untii lSS5. wncn he became SUI
pcrintendeut of transportation OF the
Atlantic Coast Lire, having his head
quarters here.
Ills Advance Rapid.
bufihS thesc years lie was closely
associated with both Henry Walters
and the late Thomas Martin Emerson
"hom ne succeeds, ana in 1889 he was
made assistant general manager: i'm
1871 he became general manager; in
i'oZ he was made fourth vice pres dent.
but still holding the general manage
nent. ana ia 1905 he became third
vice president of the system to.J,y
which has grown tremendously since
he became connected with il.
besides being head of the Atlantic
Coast Line, Mr.. Kenly is director ana
oiHc"r IN Il large number of subsidiary
roads and independent concerns among
these being president OF the Savannah
Union station. head OF the Jackson
vile. Fla. Terminal Company. and
president of the Pee Dee Land Com
pany of South Carolina
He has been married twice and has
two daughters by his nrst wife. They
are Miss Edna kcnly and Mrs. carl
Bacon. the latter of Boston
Mr.. Kenly is a man Of charming per
sonality. rather reticent and of mod
est nature. However. he is a forceful
speaker. His ability for organization
is wonderful and his execution of well
laid plans is mastcrly II Is told that
in years when the cars of the Atlantic
Coast Line had to be changed from
narrow TO broad gauge. Mr.. Kcnly so
diretced this work that it was accom-
plished III something like n day with
out delay or putting rolling stock out
of commission. The cars were run over
pit. narrow gauge track quickly re-
moved and the broad gauge ones put
in place and the ears continued their
journey. His organization OF the vesti-
built service on the Atlantic Coast Line
was another one OF his big achieve
ments.t Mr.. Keniy is connected with
the leading clubs Of Wilmington and
has handsome home in this city on
one of the main boulevardS