Will George Van Vleck, whose election as vice-president and general manager of the Southern Pacific lines in Texas and Louisiana, with office at Houston, Tex, has been announced in these columns, was born March 5, 1857, at Elbridge, Onondaga county, N. Y. He received a common school education, and began railway work in August, 1873, as a telegraph operator with the Grand Rapids & Indiana, remaining with that company for two years. He went with the Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio in October, 1875, where he until 1885 was consecutively, for one year telegraph operator, four years despatcher, one year chief despatcher, one year trainmaster of the Mexican & Pacific extension, and two years division superintendent. For over two years from March, 1885, he was superintendent of the San Antonio division; he was then transferred to the Louisiana division of the Southern Pacific Company, and six months later was made general superintendent of the lines in Texas. From October, 1895, until the time of his recent promotion he was manager of the Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio, and the Texas & New Orleans, and for a number of years was also second vice-president of those lines.