New Orleans Republican., 1873-02-23
foreign Markets.
Colonel Thomas 4. scott.
is sketch of an illustrious railroad man

This sketch Of an illustrious railroad man
is copied from the TcraS Iron Age:
This gentleman. who, u few years ago,
was comparatively unknown, has. within
tue past few years, unostentatiously, quiet
" and almost nOiS.lesslv reached position
where he controls and directs the opera
lions at more miles of railroad than either
Vanderbilt or any of his great competitors,
aud that. TOO. before the country realized
:ae magultude Of his schemes or the great.
ness OF his operations. To him We owe the
prospective wealth which the building and
completion Of the Texas Pacific railway
will develop and add to our resources, and
the life and activity thereby infused into
all the channels of trade and commerce.
The life of such a man always possesses
Il fascinating interest. and the following
sketch may interest our readers.
Thomas Alexander Scott was born in
ioudon, Franklin county, Pennsylvania, on
the twenty eighth of December. 1921. and
- now in the forty eighth year of his age.
In village school, from one teacher. he OBJ
tanned lis education. While youth be
was clerk in the store of his brOther-in-law
;Or shOr5 time. and was noted for his
quick apprehension, industrious habits. and
correct department. At the age OF four
Seen we .in,! him clerk at Columbia, assist
ing in the collection of tolls. la the twelve
years following this time. 10 the period
when he entered the strI ice Of the Penn
sylvania Railroad Company. he was EN-.
gagged in clrrking for different merchants.
hut always in these changes departing from
one post TO another of greater trust and II.
spOnsibilty. and taking with him the al.
probation and good wishes of his former
employers.
In 1890 he entered the service OF the
pennsy,vania Railroad Company. Engaged
first a6 manager OF the Eastern division.
upon the completion Of that great thorough.
fare he was made solo manager Of the
whole line. lie was then Twenty-Five years
old. On the death Of William b. Foster,
ne was elected vice president OF the road.
&: the breaking out OF the war. Colonel
Scott had become so conspicuous for his
activity. energy and great executive abIli-
ties, that President Lincoln invited him to
Washington. and offered him the position
q! Assistant Secretary of War. which he
accepted. In this position the value ef his
services 10 the government were immense.
Order came ont of confusion. and confidence
.egnrd, where doubts had before existed.
The great amount OF labor necessary 70
diTec: the management of 30 many rail
roads. and provide the rolling stock neces-
sary to meet the wants of the government.
wOuld have prostrated - less vigorous phys
Ical system or persistent worker. :Subse-
1urntly. Colonel Scott was for a short time
;,Uesiirn: OF the Union Pacific railroad,
which resulted in placing that road Un a
'i!r"r and more acceptable basis.
At the present time. first as president Of
:he r"mn.S Slvania Railroad Company. and
as :. stakeholder and director of many rail
roads in the South and West. he ia chiet in
command of the operation, Of over .iye
Thousand miles OF railroads.
ih"I" IL some hing wOuderfu' N such a
.p!endii success, when We consider the
imited rducatiGn he received in early life.
We EGsi conclude that ho has been bO'h d
hart 'tuGcnt and wo! ker. is not only the
Posses ot genius, but Is a practical man,
we'll suited 10 practical age holding in
hi1 bands great power and influence, and
controlling ID larger moueyed interest than
any other man in the nation. who can fore
tell his iutures 1t is gratifying to know
;ha' IN al this splendid success, which
reads almost like a fairy tale, his name has
ranked among the foremost, for unflInching
integrity. and that we hear no complaint of
:nTldual or corporate monOpOlies organ
tied 10y him against the interests OF the
people.
Building contracts for the first 500 miles
of the road have been made. and the work
Is progressing rapidly. There are sixtv-six
and one-halt miles in good running order |
from Shreveport to Longviev. There are |
:wentl five miles OF road graded from Long |
view west. which is now ready for the iron I
and ties. From Dallas east fortv-sigbt |
mi!es Of grading has been completed, and !
Is also ready for tracklaying; fifty miles of !
the TransconJiuental road, from Sherman |
east. will he ready for the iron and ,ies by |
;hc first OF March next. All the ties re. |
4uired from iongview TO the Sabine river !
vii! be delivered by the tenth of February,
and the cutting and delivering OF ties al |
o1her points along the route is progressing |
satisfactorily