A FORTUNATE RAILWAY, MANAGER.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1919, 19 April 1880, Page 3

A FORTUNATE RAILWAY, MANAGER.

The retirement of Mr AHport from the post of general manager of the Midland Railway, which ho haa so long and successfully occupied, has been made the occasion of a presentation, which is without parallel in the history of railways. The shareholders of tho company, at their meeting in February, made Mr Allport a gift of £IO,OOO, and elected him one of the directors of their line in succession to the late Mr Ellia. Such a recognition of long and Bucceßßful services is, sayß the " Daily News," as honorable to those who make it as to him who receives it. Mr Allport has been something more than one ef the mOBt successful railway managers in the kingdom. He has been the chief founder of the fortunes of the Midland Railway. Twenty-seven years ago the Midland was a mere group of branch lines; it is now one of the largest of our great railway undertakings. It haa been distinguished moreover for its enterprise, not merely in stretching out its hands to London in one direction, and to the Scottish Border in the other, but in offering new conveniences and attractions to travellers. The system of booking thirdclass passengers by every train was one of the boldest of railway innovations when the Midland first startled the railway world by making it; but probably all the great companies are now agreed that it ia the basis of very much of their prosperity. The adoption of improved methods and appliances in which the Midland has been foremost is also a part of the same policy. In all this extension of the convenience and usefulness of the railway system Mr Allport has had a large sharo. Tho public will see in his election to the Midland Board an additional pledge that tho popular system of administration adopted on that line will undergo no change.