. Fifty years of railway life in England, Scotland and Ireland . the railway was in a very bad con-dition, wretchedly run down, and woefully mismanaged. Indeed, accord-ing to an official report at the lime, worse than mismanagement existed. Itwas stated: There were grave charges of official corruption which necessi-tated the retirement of one of the leading officers from the companysservice. This was very exceptional in railway history, for British andIrish railways possess a record that has rarely been sullied. In my longcareer I only remember two other instances—one, the famous Redpalh fraud
. Fifty years of railway life in England, Scotland and Ireland . the railway was in a very bad con-dition, wretchedly run down, and woefully mismanaged. Indeed, accord-ing to an official report at the lime, worse than mismanagement existed. Itwas stated: There were grave charges of official corruption which necessi-tated the retirement of one of the leading officers from the companysservice. This was very exceptional in railway history, for British andIrish railways possess a record that has rarely been sullied. In my longcareer I only remember two other instances—one, the famous Redpalh fraud(a name not inappropriate for one whose destiny it was to tread a road thatled to his ruin) on the Great Northern in 1856, which Sir Henry (then Mr.)Oakley greatly assisted in discovering, and which, I believe, led to his firstsubstantial advancement; the other on the Belfast and Northern Counties in1886. This was in Edward John Cottons time, but it would be superfluousto say that he was clear of blame for he was integrity itself. That the To face page Lafajiete, Ltd.] SIR RALPH CUSACK, From a photooraph taken at the age of 84, on his retirement from tlie Chairmansliip of the Midland Great Western Railway. MIDLAND GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY OF IRELAND 119 occurrence could have happened during his management distressed himgreatly I know. When he was elected to the office of Chairman, Sir Ralph, it is said,accepted the position on the understanding that he should have autocraticpower. In the task he undertook this was very likely desirable, and onceacquired he was not the man to let such power slip from his grasp. Hisstrong hands would firmly retain whatever they wished to hold. In 1865 no less than 15 directors adorned the Midland Great WesternBoard, twice too many no doubt the chairman thought for a railway of 344miles. In 1867 they were reduced to 8; in 1877 to 7; since when they havenever numbered more. During the long period of Sir Ralphs occupancyof the chair no dep
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, booksubjectrailroa, bookyear1920
