The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-14
General Executive Agent of
Southern Railway System
Elected by Sloss Direc-
tors in New York
GIVES UP PLACE
HELD MANY YEARS
WITH SOUTHERN
Association With President
Mcqueen Recalls Many
Years of Intimate
Friendship

L. Sewer, general executive agent
of the Southern railway system in
Birmingham, has been elected vice
president of the Sloss-Sheffield Steel
and Iron company to succeed j. w.
Mcqueen, who was recently promoted
to the presidency. Mr.. Sewer was also
elected director of the company.
The action was taken at a meeting
of the directors of the company held
in New York yesterday and becomes
effective Immediately, March 16 be-
ing the date fixed upon which his new
duties actually begin.
Mr. Sewer simultaneously gives up his
position with the Southern. which he has
held for several years past.
1t was understood yesterday that Mr.
Sewers new duties as vice president of
the Sloss company will have chiefly to do
with the handling of the company's
transportation problems though is it re-
garded as likely that he will be worked
gra dually into the sales department and
other features which were handled by
Mr.. Mcqueen during his vice presidency,
which will give the new president more
and more time to devote to the financial
and purely executive branches of the
conpany's activities.
Friends of Mr.. Sewer feel that his
railroad work of the past in the Bir-
mingham district has equipped him spe-
cially to take UP the new duties which
he is now assuming with one of the
districts largest Industrial concerns. One
of his new duties as executive agent
with the Southern has been the handling
of questions of policy in dealing with
those who had business with the South
ern system and this training and expert
ence are expected to stand him in good
stead in promoting closer and more cor
dial relations between the Sloss COM
pany and those who do business with it.
1t is not known here whether Pres
ident Fairfax Harrison of the Southern
will designate successor to Mr.. Sewer
as general agent just at this time. While
his services have been highly regarded
by the Southern executive and there
would have been no thought of accept
ing his resignation unless Mr.. Sewer had
seen fit to accept the new office at
largely increased salary, it is known
that under the federal administration of
the railroads the officials of the lines
have been going slowly in putting on
more men or in making further changes
until Director McAdoo and the other
railroad authorities have had more time
| to familiarize themselves with the situa-
| ton and to determine just where such
| changes are necessary for increased eff
| ssciency in operation
| The change made by Mr.. Sewer and
| the close association which he will thus
| have with Mr.. Mcqueen call attention
| to what might be termed one OF the ro-
mances of Alabama's industrial life. 1t
shows the close relation that has always
existed between Mr.. Mcqueen and Mr.
Sewer. Both started their business ca
reers with the Alabama Great Southern
railway, a part of the Southern system.
Away back in the early nineties. Mr..
Mcqueen was telegraph operator in the
! Alabama Great Southern station at
Woodstock, when Mr.. Sewer was a rate
clerk in the Birmingham offices of the
company.
| Mr.. Mcqueen later came to Birming-
ham and was chief dispatcher in the
superintendents office here. Mr.. Sewer
meantime continued, his career in the
traffic department OF the company. being
promoted from one post to another until
he became general agent or personal
representative Of the president of the
system for the Birmingham territory.
Mr.. Mcqueen, shortly after coming to
Birmingham, gave up the railroad field
and went with the Sloss company in
| a minor capacity. He was steadily pro-
noted from one position to another, until
his recent election to the presidency
| to succeed Waddill Catchings.
Mr.. SEWER came to Birmingham In
/ December of 1887, and has been contin-
Iuously with the Southern system since
THAT time. with the exception of ~ years
spent with the Seaboard Air Line