The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-11-04
Surprise of Railway World in
Announcement Today.
TELLS NOTHING OF FUTURE
Figured on Rio Grande, but
They Chose Another.
Nudge Lived Many Years in
Topeka and Kansas.

| New York, Nov. Arthur Coppel
was elected president of the Denver
& Rio Grande and Kingdom Gould
vice president and J. c. Jeffery, chair
man of the board, at the meeting of
the roads directors late today.
/ The executive committee of the
road, it was announced, is composed
of George Gould, E. C. Jeffrey, King
don Gould, Arthur Coppel and E. L.
| Marston.
Officers and executive committee
men were elected at a reorganization
meeting of the roads directors, which
was preceded by reports that a spirit
ed contest was anticipated between
the Gould interests and other factions
among the shareholders.
Fight on Nudge.
The Gould faction was said to have
favored tho election of II. T.. Nudge,
former president of the Chicago, Rock
Island & Pacific to the presidency.
Another faction, according TO re-
port, sought the election to the presi-
dency of E. l.. Brown, at present vice
president of the road. A contest over
the craftsmanship of the board also
Arthur Coppel, the newly elected
president, was a director of the road
prior to today's meeting. He is a
member of the brokerage firm of
Maitland, Coppel & Co., with offices
in this city He is also a director in
the Rio Grande Southern, several
steamship companies and several hotel
and real estate organizations
Surprise to Nudge.
Chicago, Ill. Nov. 4.-That H. U.
Nudge, former president, former CO.
receiver and now operating head of
the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific
Railway company under the present
sole receiver, Jacob NJ. Dickinson,
would become president Of the Den
nouncement today.
His election was scheduled at a
meeting of Rio Grande directors at
New York this afternoon.
Mr.. Nudge returned from New York
today.
ST have been in conference with the
directors at New York and made a
proposition which they favored, but
announcement should properly come
from the board. In any event I am
leaving the Rock Island,'' he said.
Mr.. Nudge intimated that should
he be elected he would make his
headquarters in Denver instead of at
ST. Louis, as B. F. Bush, the present
receiver for the Missouri Pacific,
with which the Rio Grande was for
merly allied.
The latter road is now in difficult
terest on S25,OOO,OOO bonds of the
Western Pacific which are now in de-
fault.
Thought 1t Was Cut and Dried.
Election of Arthur Coppel as presf-
dent of the Denver & Rio Grande rail-
H. U. Nudge who regarded his election
to the position as a foregone conclu-
sion.
Mr.. Nudge said he would resign
formerly was president, and is now
chief executive officer under the re-
ceiver.
THE election of Mr. Coppel will
leave the Rock Island at the earliest
convenience of the receiver" conti=l-
ued Mr. Nudge. 1.-THE road is now
able to get along without my assist
western roads in general are, despite
low rates, forced on them
Mr. Nudge was born at Minden,
Mich, June 9, 1856, and was educated
in the public schools of Minden. He
was only Is years old when he began
railway service with the Santa Fe rail-
way in Kansas as water boy. He
rose IN the track department, later
becoming roadmaster and trainmaster
for the Santa Fe. In 1896 he was pro-
NOTED from division superintendent to
general superintendent with headquar-
ters in Topeka.
In 1900 Nudge was made general
of the Santa F'e eastern lines |
He held that position until 1905, when |
he was made second vice president of |
the Rock Island. In 1909 he was |
elected president of the Rock Island |
and for several months this year fol- |
lowing the receivership he was a re- /
ceiver He is now acting as chief ex-
ecutive officer for the receiver.
We'll known Here
Nudge is well known in Topeka, |
where he has frequently visited as |
head of the Rock Island. During the |
many years of his residence here he |
made hundreds of acquaintances and |
ne often spends several days here look /
ng up his old friends.
Local officers of the Rock Island |
said today that this was the first re-
port that they have heard of the |
change. 1t has been rumored at diff /
ferent times since the Rock Island re-
that Nudge might leave the |
Rock Island to go to another line but
these reports were never verified.
Germans Take French Trenches.