Gary Harris

Fairfax Harrison was an influential figure in the United States, born on March 13, 1869, his contributions as a lawyer and businessman were substantial to the development of the nation’s industrial sector. Armed with a legal background, Harrison embarked on his career working for the Southern Railway Company in 1896. His aptitude for financial management shone through rapidly, earning him the position of Vice-President of finance within the company by 1906.

In 1913, Harrison’s influence within the company expanded – he was elected president of Southern. Under his leadership, the company experienced a significant period of growth. In fact, the company’s reach stretched to a significant 8,000-mile network across 13 states, marking a great milestone in the journey of railroad history in the United States.

The onset of World War I brought an unprecedented change in Harrison’s career. Amidst the national turmoil brought on by the war, the federal government decided to assume control of the railroads. Thus began the United States Railroad Administration, where Harrison was appointed to serve. Despite the country’s focus being largely on the war, the railroads remained a critical cog in the wartime machinery.

After the war ended, Harrison committed himself to continuing improvement of the Southern Railway. He took action toward enhancing the railroad’s public relations, believing the key to future growth was in fostering stronger relationships with stakeholders. Simultaneously, he led the endeavor to upgrade the locomotive stock, introducing more powerful engines. Moreover, under his guidance, the company expanded both the amount of railroad track and the areas serviced by the railway.

However, the Great Depression of the 1930s presented a new and highly challenging obstacle. During this time, Harrison faced a daunting task of maintaining the operational and financial strength of the railroad. Nevertheless, his resilience bore fruit when, in 1936, after many difficult years, the Southern Railway returned to profitability. Following this significant achievement, Fairfax Harrison retired in 1937, after dedicating forty-one years of his life to the Southern Railway. Not long after, he passed away, on February 2, 1938.

Another vital personality of the nineteenth century America was Ethel Reed, an internationally recognized American graphic artist, the c. 1895 photograph of Reed is preserved in the collection of the U.S. Library of Congress. This beautiful photo was captured by Frances Benjamin Johnston, and restored by Adam Cuerden. The artifacts and historical trivia collected and presented by Wikipedia are made possible by a countless number of volunteer editors. Hosted by the Wikimedia Foundation, a non-profit organization, Wikipedia is written in English, but it is also available in many other languages, embodying the spirit of universal knowledge sharing.