The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-07-17

| to confront the problems which Mr..
/ Elliott, from the moment he became
| the executive head of the New Haven,
has been forced to meet. The burdens
were Herculean, mentally and physic-
ally, which he undertook. But he has
paved the way for ultimate success,
and step by step, he is overcoming the
problems which have faced him. He
brought about a successful solution of
the trouble with the department of
justice. He has established a fine
morale among the men of the COM
pany, who see in him an exceptional
| example of courage, patience, merit,
tact and courtesy to the public and
very marked kindness to all con-
nected with the company.
Great Financial Problems.
Mr.. Elliott has been confronted also
With very great financial problems be-
cause of bad business generally and
the destruction of confidence wrought
by the European war. He has just
completed his labors which have re-
suited in the legislatures of Connect
cut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts
passing laws which have been signed
by the governors of those state, which
are the primary steps leading to finan-
cial plans for funding the debt of the
New York, New Haven & Hartford
Railroad company at a very much re-
duced rate of interest. With a change
in business conditions this man, it is
confidently predicted, will eventually
rehabilitate the New Haven and make
it one of the most perfect and valu-
able transportation machines in the
country.
1t has been well said that when a
man who had it in for railroads in
general wanted to give point to his
diatribe he invariably exclaimed,
Look at the New Haven't" For such
purpose the New Haven is fast losing
&C.
when the man who wants to illus
trate intelligence, efficiency and fair
dealing in railroad operation Will
name it among the brightest examples
of these deSira bic qualities. The other
day a big gathering was held in the
Bronx Opera House, New York, at
which President Elliott and other Of
ficialS received some $500 conductors,
engineers, firemen, yardmen and their
wives, greeting them personally and
addressing them on the hopes and
ideals of the New Haven railroad. Eff
safety, economy, courtesy
given by the president, and as concrete
examples of what these words may
mean, he instanced the fact that the
road is laying new rails, has already
purchased nearly 400 steel cars and is
the whole system up to a |
new standard of reasonable speed and |
regularity of service. President Ell |
lott is demonstrating the possibility OF |
a railroad that has lost the |
confidence of both the investing and !
the travelling public, blu pursuing an |
policy in which the spirit |
Of cooperation is invoked to serve the |
public good. In other words, President |
Elliott has conceived the idea that the |
most important function of railroad |
is to furnish safe, comfortable and |
transportation, and thus !
finds himself in full agreement with !
his patrons 1t is, after all, a simple |
Of he nd
ders why it never occurred to the for !
mer management
Married in 1892.
Mr.. Elliott was married in ST. Louis
on October IL, 1892, to Janet, daush-
ter of the late Derich Algernon and
Louis. Children: Janet, born at St
Louis, October II, 1S9'; Edith, No
20, 1895; Howard, Jr., Novem-
Der 26, 1899. While i n st. Louis he
was interested in the social and bust
ness life of the city, and was a mem
Der of the principal organizations.
He served for a long time as direct /
or of the st. Louis Union Trust Com |
pany, but resigned after moving to St |
Paul. He took an active interest in |
the movement for celebrating the one |
anniversary of the Louis |
lana purchase, was a delegate from |
in the convention of states |
that decided to have an exposition or |
worlds fair and served on the execu- |
tive committee of the Louisiana Pur--
chase Exposition company for several |
years, and was asked to give up his
railroad work and associate himself |
with the active management of the |
but declined. He is A mem
Der of the American Academy OF Po-
itical and Social Science; American
Forestry association: American ssoci-
ETY. of Civil Engineers; American Rail
way Engineering association; Amer
can Railway Guild; National Geo
graphic society: Sons of the Aneri-
,an Revolution; and of the following
clubs: University of New York, Al
Commercial, Exchange, Har-
ard, Merchants. Skating, all of Bos-
on; Chamber of Commerce, Boston;
efficiency Society. New York; Har-
ard Engineering Society, New York;
Harvard Club. New York; Harvard
Club, Connecticut; Harvard Club of
Minnesota; National Geographic So
:iety, National Economic League,
Navy League of the United States and
Iew York Railroad club He is one
# the thirty overseers of Harvard
college.
Note-This is the third of a series of
rticles about railroad presidents pub
ished in the State JournaI)