The sun., 1918-08-11
W. H. NEWMAN DIES;
EX-HEADOF CENTRAL
From Brakeman to Chief Of
Vanderbilt System in 81
Years His Record.
LONG ILL BEFORE END
Noted Railroad Man Got
Salary Of $4,000
Year.

William II. newman, IorHlei p'eo'Ne"t
Of the New York Central lines. died In
hts apartment in the Hotel Biltmore yes
terday. He was 10 years old and had
been Ill for some time.
Mr.. Newman's rise from brakeman to
chief executive Of the Vanderbilt rail-
road system in thirty-o ne years was the
marvel of the railroad world. BY him.
however. II was regarded as nothing
more than proof Of his own theory that
hard, unremitting toll Is the most impor-
tant ingredient in the synthesis or sue
cess After his retirement from the
presidency of the New York Central
lines in 1903 he retained his dictatorship
in the various Vanderbilt roads and con-
tinued 10 serve In that capacity
Mr.. Newman was born September b,
1S47. In the picturesquely named town
Of Chicken Bristle. in the feud famous
county Of Metcalfe, Ky. There Is no
evidence that he ever received more than
the usual amount Of book learning
melted out to the youngsters in his dis
trict at that time When he was tow
headed youth Uf twenty one he managed
to get employment as clerk In the OLD
United States Hotel in Louisville. Ky"
where his willingness and his skill at
meeting people soon won recognition
from the owners Of the establishment.
Col r. p. Hall and John g. Long.
Newman's First Chance.
II there was any element Of luck in
Mr. Newmans meteor,c career as rail-
roader II can be traced back to the i'm
preston which he made upon the hotel
management, for not very long after his
appearance in Louisville Col. Hall was
elected president OF the Texas PACING
and found Il necessary to move 10
Shreveport, La He disliked leaving his
friends in Louisville. however. so he
suggested to his partner. MI Long. that
he accompany him to Shreveport. MT
| Long refused, but suggested that Col
Hall take Newman with him
That's a good idea remarked Col.
Hail, "and that reminds me that ne
would like TO 60. He's bright fellow,
and | believe I'll take him"
Although Newman was sponsored by
the head OF the road, he was sppar-
entity given to understand that he would
shave to work himself up from the bot
: tom and that his promotions would be
| based on merit entirely. for his first 5oh
was as brakeman. Six months later ne
was made the Texas Pacific station
| agent at Shreveport. Here again oppor'
/ tunity plus the ability to seize 1t played
1 n part in his career. One day pas
/ senger, train arrived In the Shreveport
station with a drunken engineer at the
throttle. Newman mounted the loco
motive and ran the train safely to the
next station, where an engineer wal
found to take 1t OF the rest OF its way.
1t happened that the wife Of Texas
| Pacific high official was aboard tina
/ train and she reported the matter to he'
husband. Three days later Newman
was made general freight agent of thu
road. In this position he hustled da,
and night for business, with such success
that he was made traffic manager OF tn
Southwestern system shortly after
That was in 1883 -Four years lat"r III
became traffic manager for the Hissour
Pacific system. Another two Ars saw
him third vice president OF he Chicast
and Northwestern Railway.
| Shortly after he was made secont
v,ce-president OF the Chicago and North
western he became vice-president or I'M
Great Northern. His connection will
the Vanderbilt system began in May
1898. when ne became president of thu
Lake Shore and Michigan Southern
From that road he went to the New
York Central as president. and in $50
was made head of all the Vanderbilt
lines.
Huge salary Awarded.
-Four years later 1t was rumored tina
Newman had been guaranteed a salar!
OF $4,000, a palatia home in New
York city and a sumptuous private car
This arrangement suggested by w. x
Vanderbilt himself. made Newman tn
highest paid railroad official in III
country.
Mr.. Newman had an intense and un
affected distaste for publicity In hi
eight years as head OF the Vanderbilt
system he never once allowed a photo
graph OF himself TO be taken for publ
cation. and he discouraged interviewers
For that reason he was not as we
known as some other railroad executive,
but while the latter were getting tn
publicity he was quietly carrying on
stupendous work. namely. the reorgani
cation OF the New York Central line
into one vast system. with 10000 mile
Of trackage and embracing about one
tenth OF the total railroad mileage of tn
> country.
After completing this task Mr.. New
man figured that he was entitled to
rest. and on December %, l90s. hande
IN his resignation 70 the board Of direc
tors, saying that he had worked Ion
and hard enough 10 take more ''leisur
. and freedom from care than Is possih