The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-08-16
NEWMAN'S WORK
 AS RAILROAD MAN
Dy HOLLAND

New York, August l5.-(Special.)-So far advanced is the real estate development, the greatest of its kind probably ever undertaken. which the former president of the New York Central and allied rail road lines. William H. Newman. con ceived. directed and almost completed that 1t is probable that this stupendous work will be easily continued along tho lines laid down by him. He has been i'll for sometime. but nevertheless was able until few days before his death on Friday of last week to give general directions. and perhaps to look from the windows of his apartment in the great hotel which was erected under his su- pervision and by his advice, and sec that the work which he undertook some eight or nine years ago could be speedily fin- ished by those who succeed him in au- thority.
 MT. Newman had already gained. at least among railroad men. a reputation second to that of no other railroad al . rector of his time. He resigned the pres i. idency Of the various lines comprised in the Vanderbilt system presumably be- cause his health was somewhat impar~d. He was willing to yieid salary believed to have been somewhat in excsas of Noo.- ooo year. 90 that he night be able to give up the onerous and difficult work which he undertook to perform when William K. Vanderbilt called him to the prssidency of the New York Central lines. Just at that time thers began an en- forced attempt 10 utilize electricity for hauling trains on the New York Central. the Haelem and New Haven railroad to and fr0sA the Grand Central terminal The attempt was enforced because the legislature in lsos directed that within five years the use of steam locomotives within the boundaries of New York city shoudi not be permitted. but that cleo tricty should be substituted as the motive power. lt was new problem. In fact. In none of the great industries which manufacture electric apparatus was there Ano electric motor manufactured capable or hauling heavy passenger or frstsat Taan& 6o also it vas . new proposition 70 70 equip the tracks with electric con- ductors as to make the employment Of electricity. In this way safe. convenient and adsqus.ts.
 MIR. NEWMAN,S GREAT WORK
 When Mr. Newman was called by MT. Vanderbilt to the prssidency of the New York Central tt was expected that hs would be chiefly occupied in employing his brilliant organizing capacity in as simiiating. mobilistng and thoroughly css- ordinattng the Michigsn Central, Lake Shore and the Biz Four with the parent line, the New York Central. That was A task great enough fully to occupy . man even though hA 6OsnaRseA tho a,nsrana . ability which distinguished Mr. New man. but. suddenly. he found himEeif confronted with this problem oy electvi fication. With the assistance Of William !. Wingus. an engineer of high repute, the man whu was chiefly responsible tor the successful construction of the tunnai under the Detrolt river. this original problem waa fully solved in less thsn five ysaFs- It sst the example for other railroAds and it was dua to it in grea. measure that President Cassatt of the Ponnsylvania Kailroad company deter mined to conatruct tunnela nndAr the Hudoea and to electri1y the PepnsYt-