Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-02-19
TIE nam Of s'LLIess.
Ten Scstt-The Railroad Ioss-The Great
lgead.eentre sf PsHnSyIyanla
Who he ls-HbeFe he came from Ahat he
has aoHs-AHe what he proposes
70 DO.

Thomas Alexander Scott was born
in the village OF LOuden, Franklin
county, Pennsylvania, on the 28ih of
December, 1824,and hence on the very
day we imperieetiy sketch his life, is
forty-seven years old. He begau as
A MERE BOY
in a country store at a very low salary,
after having completed his education
in the one village school with the one
teacher, Robert Kirby, Of Louden
and upon the death of his father, in
1884, went to live with his eldest sis.
ter, whose husband kept a country
store near WaynesbOrough, in
franklin county, where he remained
eighteen months; then he lived
short time with his brother, James ID.
Scott, also merchant at Bridgeport,
in the same county; then with Met
calks& Richie, merchants IN Mercers-
burg. In all these situations he eX
hibited the same quiekness and eneF-
gy, and had the confidence and re-
spect of employers and associates, for
the ability and correctness now 50
universally awarded to the man. In
ali his past history, his frank, clear,
prompt and decisive manner in busi-
ness transactions hes deservedly Sc
cured him the confidence and respect
OF the business world. Colonel For
new, Of the Philadelphia Press, who
has known Colonel Scott long and in
timately, thus writes of this early part
of his career: my first recollection
of him was in Lancaster county,
where he was clerk Of Major James
Patton,
HIS BROTHER IN-LAW,
who was collector OF tolls at Column
bia, ,-on the State road, under the ad- /
ministration Of Governor Porter, 1 |
think, in the year 1888. From this he
was transferred TO the extensive
warehouse and commission establish |
ment of the Leeches, at COlum bia, |
where he remained until 1847, when |
he came to Philadelphia as chief
clerk under 81. Boyd Cummings, col
IectOr Of tolls at the eastern ends Of
the public works. In 1850 he entered
the service of the great Pennsylvania
Central at DuncanVille, as their gen
ersl agent of the Mountain or Eastern
division. On the opening Of the west |
ern division he was put in charge Of
that, and there he remained until he
Wa3 called to take control Of the en-
tire line, ia consequences Of the i'll
he lth of General II. J. Lombaert,
THE SUPERINTENDENT.
In 1850, on the death of Hon, Wun,
B. Foster, Vice-president Of the road, |
he was elected to that position, which
he continues to fn. During the ear
lier period of our late civil war, when !
all was hubbub and confusion, and
before the country had full time to
either make or ind its most efficient
workers and fighters, the prestige
which even then attached to Scott as
administrative and executive officer
of rare ability, and marvellous quick. |
ness, attracted the attention of Lin |
coin, and he was called to Washing
ton as assistant secretary of war. at
that time the war department was
greatly Overpressed with the multitu-
dinOus eXaetions OF a bloody war,
springing from long and profound
peace. The whole North, taken, as
1t was, entirely at unaWares, was al
most panie-stricken, and in a perilGus
state of confusion, its capital cut of by
THE AUDACIoUs REBEL HOSTS.
The very qualities which made a first.
class railroad general, were required
here and nova man of nerve, quick
ness, system, and clear-headedness |
Scott promptly hurried to his new
post, and all know of the marvellous
change ne soon made. He knew no
rest day or night. He brought order
out OF confusion, confidence out OF
dismaY and was of most efficient aid ia
restoring our broken lines Of eOmmu,
nicatiOn, and so saving Washington
from capture. He remained at his
desk in the war department, unless
when called on to superintend the
vast military transportation of the
army at other points until the crisis
was over, and then returned to his
post at Philadelphia, attended by the
CONFIDENCE AND GRATITUDE
of every branch Of the government,
| executive and legislative, His cheer
full and buoyant temper, his bright |
face, genial, gentle manners, and |
above all the readiness with which ne
answered every request, and the grace
with which he would say no, as he |
had frequently to do, proved that OIL |
cisl labOrs came easy and natural to |
him and that the cares so sure to break !
down an ordinary man bore lightly up |
on him. 1t was pleasant TO note-as !
we are sure many Of this section did |
nOte-hOw quietly he met the leaders |
of armies and the leaders of the SEN
ate, and how, In every circle, no mat |
ter what was the theme, he was ever |
self-pOised and self-reliant. At this
time, however, Colonel Scott had not !
fully developed what he really was |
capable Of; he had never even touched |
HIS RESERVE FORCES.
1t is since the war that he has exhib-
tied powers that even those who knew |
him most Intimately have marveled |
at. 1t is not easy for man Of average |
ability to bring the vast and multi |
piled enterprises of which Colonel |
Scott sis the Heading inspiration,
into one view as a comprehensive /
whole, and yet he is complete master
of the details and results of each and
all; and what is more, and that which
best attests his wonderful ability, he
combines, adjusts, and imparts his
own life and electric force to the
whole, energizing and harmonizing
all. His labors as viee-president Of |
the Pennsylvania railroad company
are but the starting point Of his cOnti-
mental activities.
AS PRESIDENT OF THE UNION PACIFIC
RAILROAD COMPANY
he has in a few short months brought
that great corporation out of con-
fusion and peril to an assured success.
And this was his cwn personal work,
a mere episode, as it were, and not at
all associated with the Pennsylvania
Central interests; yet It changed the
fortunes of a thousand miles Of rail-
road. As president Of the "Penn-
sylvania eomS Sany 1.-THE corporation
by which tha entire system Of roads
west of Pittsburg, owned or leased
by the Pennsylvania railroad COM
pany, Is operated and governed-hei is
the chief over nearly four thousand
other miles Of railroad. AS a leading
proprietor or director, he is called
upon for advice by numerous other
great railroad enterprises, such as the
KANSAS sPACIFICRAILRoADCo COMPANY,
the Denver Pacific, the Denver and
Rio Grande Narrow. Gauge, the
Northern Pacific, and other great
Western enterprises now awakening
into life, and destined to q great fu.
ture. OF these roads we OF this sec
ton scarce know the existence, much
less comprehend the prospective i'm
portance. It is in this capacity, also,
that he is not only the inspiration, but
the right arm Of another great COM
pany, OF which Gen. George w. Cass
Is president, called the ''SOuthern Rail-
vVav Sae1rffv Q0nanauxy - orrthrapfuey |