The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-03-06
Thomas Alexander Scott,
THE AMERICAN RAILROAD KING.

lhE AMERlCAN RAlLROAD KING.
Thomas Alexander Scott, the railroad king
OF America, is native of Louden, Franklin
county, Pa, and was born December %, 1924.
He began his business career as boy in q
learning all he could in the village school.
In 1884, on his fathers death, he went to
Waynesborough, in Franklin county, to live
with his married sister, whose husband kept
country store. He remained there year
and half. Then he. lived with his brother,
James ID. Scott a merchant at Bridgeport,
Franklin county. He then lived with Met
calf and Richie, merchants in Mercersburg.
He then became clerk to his brother-in-law,
James Patton, collector of tolls at Columbia,
Pa, on the State road. He was transferred
to the employ of the Leeches, large ware
house and commission merchants at Colum-
bia. In 1S47 he moved to Philadelphia as
chief clerk of H. B. Cummings, collector OF
tolls at the eastern end of the State public
works.
In 1850 he first entered the service of the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company. His loca-
tion was at Duncanville, and he was the gen.
eral agent of the Eastern Division of the
road. When the Western Division was open
ed, he was put in charge of it. He held that
office until he was placed in charge of the
entire road, owing to the ill health of the
General Superintendent, III. j. Lombaert.
In 1850 the Vice-President of the road, VIM.
B. Foster, dying, he was appointed to sue
ceed him.
From his boyhood up, his quickness, ener-
gy, integrity, order and clear intellect gained
him the confidence and respect of all his en-
ployers.
When the war broke out Mr.. Lincoln,
fully aware of Mr.. Scott's peculiar fitness for
the post, appointed him Assistant Secretary
of War. He had general charge of the vast
military transportation of the Federal army,
and his mastery administration of this ex-
ceedingly difficult and onerous duty gained
him very high position in the confidence OF
all branches of the general government.
After the war he entered upon the remark
able career of railroad Capitalization and CO.
operation, which has made his name as a
household word in this and other countries
As President of the Pennsylvania Central
Road, through the many other lines and
branches it has leased, under his vast anC
comprehensive plans, he controls 1000 mile:
of railroad. As President of the Union Pa
cific Railroad Company, which is an enter
prise not directly connected with the Penn
sylvania Central, or with his duties therein
he has rescued from confusion, peril and los,
thousand miles of railroad. He is, as one
of the principal proprietors and directors, {
leading spirit in the management of the
Northern Pacific, the Denver Pacific, the
Kansas Pacific, the Denver and Rio Grandt
Narrow Gauge Road, and other newly pro
jected and important Western roads. lie mas
| just been elected President of the Southern
| Pacific railroad-an enterprise OF natlona
importance; of more Importance, in fact
than the other Pacific road, and one In which
New Orleans is vitally interested.
He has lately become, too, the heart of an
other important railroad combination tn
ssSouthern Railroad Security Company
which is controlled by many of the leadin,
CAPITALISTS and business men of the country
and which has of late leased large numbe
of Southern railroads, combining them unde
one general plan. 1t is under this organic
ton that the Memphis and Little Rock an
the Memphis and Charleston roads haye bee
lately leased.
Mr.. Scott is reported as combining wit
great clearness of intellect, far-reaching an
comprehensive views, quickness of decision
and energy of execution, cheerful tempe
and genial manners, which makes even hi
'no" to a request, acceptable 70 the recipl
ent. Mr.. Scots first wife was Miss Nun
son, OF Columbia, Pennsylvania, by whom
had son and daughter. The former, latel
graduated from a scientific academy, Is nov
in a Philadelphia banking house. IN
DAUGHTER. an accomplished lady, is ON the ev
of marriage with New York banker. MI
Scott's second wife was Miss Annie Riddle