Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1917-07-05

division 1t was far from the trans.
portation machine it is now. 1t has
frequently been said that his pro-
motion did pot come earlier because
he was too good man for the job
here to make change and some time
ago when the proposition OF sending
him up was broached, Mr.. Webb was
able to say truly that the Wichita divi-
sion was in such excellent shape that
it could run itself for weeks without
a superintendent.
The Wichita division consists of AIS
miles. The territory over which Mr..
Webb will have charge as general
superintendent is known as the West
ern district and is composed Of six di-
visions or about $500 miles, being the
Kansas City terminals, main line from
Kansas City to Omaha and Lincoln,
Kansas City TO Coffeyville, Cofrey-
vile to Larned, Fort Scott to kiowa
and Geneseo. His headquarters will
! be in the Railroad Exchange building
at Kansas City.
"The Old Man," as he is known to
the boys on the Wichita division, has
the reputation of being closer to his
men than any railroad official In the
west. He knows them all by their
first names and it is "John" or "Bill"
when he speaks to them. Although
he expected every man to do his work
to the dot, Mr.. Webb, when not act
ing in the capacity as "The Old Man"
took time to look, after the welfare Of
the employees aud many times has
kept husband and wife from separat'
ing or prevented disastrous move.
\ To the railroad fraternity in st
Louis, where Mr.. Webb was frequent
ly called, he was known as "Colon el''
Webb, given that title because he was
indeed colonel in their ranks. Presi'
dent Bush admired Mr.. Webb very
much and when Bush took charge o
the run. down system he relied upoi
the Wichita official to make the
: Wichita division one OF the best payinl
4 Of the system, pull the road of tn
: financial rocks. And President Busl
did not rely in vain.
. Mr.. Webb is also very close to Helel
Gould Shepherd, daughter Of Js!
Gould, and whenever she toured tn
9 system she invited Mr.. Webb to maxi
u the trip in her private car.
While Wichita knows Mr.. Web
= best as the railroad official, bic &C
y tivities here were not confined t
u railroading. He was active in clu
work, interested In tho upbuilding q
y Of the city, and not afraid to inves
q money In business enterprises an
u real estate. 1t was his recommends
v ton that made possible the Missoul
= Paci cific:terminal here, which means
70 very large monthly payroll.
y The Webb family resides at lot
:, North Lawrence avenue. Mrs. Web
y " and their two daughters, Josephin
4 " and Bessie, will move to Kansas Cit!
= :. The son, Robert Webb, 10 cashier
- J, the Wichita freight office.
4 He IL q member Of the Episcop'
:. church, being vestryman.
Il A very pleasing feature Of II
se change 10 that Mr.. Wills will succse
bt Mr.. Webb, under whom he worked I
4. long. When Mr.. Wills left Wichil
ut to become trainmaster at CofSeyvill
Il hs he'd won the respect Of the entll
division and the family, which reside
IN In West Wichita, Was very much llk'
th indeed.
to How tLe Wichita railroad boys e
i. about the promotion has bssd ~
II put BY D. r. Gsrsty, bio chief cls'
Of here. W
Or ave hats nightly 70 Lore him, p
ars mighty slad n has been sivsn9Al
|ta ! psBsrnasdps plAss, ~