The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1921-03-23
MAPOTHER IS
HEAD OF l. & N.
Former Clerk Becomes One Of
Youngest Railway Line Chiefs
in Country. Main Aid of M.
II. Smith.

Wide l.. MapOtner yesterday was
elected president OF the Louisville &
Nashville Railroad Company. succeed
ing Milton II Smith, who died Feb
ruary -. He becomes one of the
youngest transportation heads in the
United States.
October II. 1883. a frowsy-headed
16-year-old lad entered the employ of
the L. & n. as errand boy and file
clerk. Applying himelf, he soon be-
came noted for his knowledge of the
systems affairs and a year later was
transferred to the executive depart
ment controlled by Mr.. Smith, then
vice president.
Mr. Smith, ever appreciative of
ability, soon became interested in the
youth. and whenever possible called
his attention to the various problems
incident to rairoading.
Industry Is Rewarded.
J. T. Harahan. who long since has
been accorded his place among the
wizards of traffic, was secretary at the
time, and Eckstein Norton was presi-
dent Both did all in their power to
help young Mapother along the way.
And he did not need much urging.
Those who knew him in the old days
say his pleasures were not the pleas
ures of his immediate associates.
When other youngsters were celebrat-
ing the death of a grandmother by at
tending ball game While" was tg-
uring out how much coal was needed
to pull train of seventy-two freight
cars through the Cumberland Noun
tains.
In 1905 his industry was rewarded.
Acting on the wishes of Mr. Smith,
who had been advanced to the presi
dency. the directorate elected him first
vice PRECEDENT. an office he held until
July I, 1913, when he was appointed
Federal manager of the l.. K n. and
the Louisville, Henderson & St. Louis
Railroads by William G. McAdoo,
Secretary of the Treasury.
Became Chief Executive.
After the Office was abolished be-
cause of the dissolution of the United
States Railway Administration, which
controlled all systems throughout the
war Mr. Mapother reverted to the
vice presidency, but soon after was
named chief executive officer because
of the infrmities of Mr. Smith.
During his thirty-three years of SER
vice Mr. Mapother has seen the L.
& N develop from a vision into an
actual network of steel filaments serv-
ing the entire south.
Today the Louisville & Nashville
Railroad penetrates thirteen States
and employs approximately 10000
l.. .i,a col -, tt1fg
per mile aggregated $s,071. In 1920
the amount had been more than dou-
Bile.
Mr.. Mapother was born in Louis
vile. September %, 1872, the son OF
d. H. Mapother and Mary Cruise
He attended the graded
schools.
When he was appointed vice presi-
dent he was 80 years old, probably
the youngest man to hold such posi-
ton on record.
Today. at the age of forty-nine, he
is president of one of the greatest
traffic corporations i'll the United
States Louisville railmen believe, they
say that he is the youngest chief rail
executive in the country
Understudy Is Question.
Mr. Mapother had learned his
trade" under the tutelage of Mr..
Smith. When the master died, the
directors, who met in New York yes
erday, had no alternative but to place
he erstwhile apprentice in full con-
rol.
And who will be Mr. Mapother's
Officials of the l.. & n, refused to
tate, saying it is a question the new
president will have to answer for
himself
According to special telegram
rom The Courier journals New York
Times Bureau, Mr. Mapother already
las displayed his intention of follow
ng the precepts laid down by his
PREDECESSOR.
Mr.. Smith had a marked aversion
o publicity. Those assigned to inter-
Jew him generally returned with
mpty hands.
The new president refused to be in
erviewed yesterday.
Mr. MaDOther married Miss Amelia