The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-06-02
THE DEAD RAILROAD KING.
JOHN E. THOMPSON.

THE LEADER OF MANY LINEs-A GREAT LIFE
WORK.
The Philadelphia Bulletin gives these in
teresting facts in the life of the dead presi-
dent of the Pennsylvania aud Pan Handle
railroad SYSTEM:
Jchn Edgar Thompson, the president of
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, kas
been suffering for some tiuse from compli-
cstion 'ot diseases, and during the past three
weeks has been confined TO his residence at
Eighteonth and Spruce streets, where he
died Between twelve ard one O'CLOCK this
morning.
John Edgar Thomson was the son of John
Thof1son, Esq. also scivil engineer of Della
ware county, Pennsylvania, who died in
1872 The latter wss weE known during
the active period 'ef his he. for kis enter
prise and early interest in che cause of in
ternal Improvements. During the dawning
effOrts of this country to construct canals,
towards the close OF the hast century. he wss
e'lgaged with the celebrated Benjamin III.
I atrObe. Esq engineer and architect, in
laying out . canal between the Delaware
and Chesapeake bays, which project then
isiell through from the 'fkaure to raise the
requisite means TO accomplish the object de-
/ sired. BE was also for several years in the
service OF the great '7dollanG Land Com.
pany," in Western Pennsylvania
and New York. At the close of
one of these engagements (1793) he en-
camped at Presque fsse, now Erie, Pa, and
with one assistant and without other tools
than usually attend an engineering expedi-
tion, built the schooner White Fish, IN which
| he sailed from that place for Philadelphia,
conveying the steamer by teams OF oxen
around the Falls of Niagara to Lake Onta-
rio, thence to where Oswego now stands,
and up n small river 20 Oneida Lake,
passing through which. and carrying his
4 ee.nl L
followed that stream 20 the Hudson, and
thence to the Atlantic ocean. From this he
entered Deiawere Bay and reached Philadel-
phia, where his schooner was taken to Inde-
pendence square, where it remained until
destroyed by time. This was the first vessel
that ever passedfrom Lake Erie to New York
and Philadelphia. Edgar was born at the
family nj Eansi0n in Delaware county in lS0S,
Both of his parents were descended from the
pioneers Th0 accom- panied William Penn to
this country. One of these Samuel Lewis)
was a minister of the Society of Friends,
and meaaber of the first legislative assem-
bly,, and another b. Cope) of the provincial
council. Mr.. Thompson cOmmen ced his
professional career in the service of this state
in 1927, on the Philadelphia & Columbia
railroad, nova part of the line owned by
the company of which he is president. under
Major Joh2 Wilson, chief engineer He was
subsequently transferred lin lS30) from this
work by Ms;Or Wilson TO the Camden &
AmbOy railroad, the eastern portion of
which was located under his direction. After
this service and some engagements he
vIsIrRD EUROPE
to inspect the railways and canals
of the Old world. Soon after his re-
turn he accepted an appointment as chief
engineer Of the Georgia railroad, extending
from Augusta to Atlanta with branch to
Athens. This work he commenced in 1886.
and continued in charge of its location and
construction until it was completed. He was
appointed general manager ofthe business of
the line as soon as portion of il was ready
for use, ia which capacity he continued un-
til he was called to the position of chief en- |
gineer of the Pennsylvania railroad in Is47. |
The length of the Georgia railroad and |
branches was 2l3 miles, and at one time
Der OF miles of railroad OF any car |
poration in this country. Atlanta. |
the western terminus of this road. |
was named by Mr.. Thompson from the word
Atlantlc-tae line OF road. from the west, |
first touching the Atlantic waters at this !
point. Whileengaged at the South, he, with
a few friends, purchashed the Montgomery
& West Point railroad, of Alabama which
had fallen into bankruptcy, and after its
completion, ander his direction as consult
ing engineer, at became very profitable en-
terprise. He also during that period laid
out the Nashville and Chattanooga railroad.
which was built Immediately after his retnrn
to the NoCth upon the route traced. After
he had entered upon his duties as chief engi-
neer of the Pennsylvania railroad he was
onered large inducements to return
to the South and take charge of the
and Memphis and other connect
ing lines OF that region. but having become
so deeply interested, as an engineer in the
location and construction of the line over
the difficult country between HARRISBURG
PlttSDnrOh N cd Aotf
offers, and continued at the head of the engi.
neer department of the company until after
the entire line WAS located and the work
nearly completed. He was nominated while
absent in the West, in 1852, for the position
Of president of the company, without hi.
and under circumstances that pre-
vented him from declining the position
while both his interests and inclination
PROMPTED ELM TO. DECLINE.
The result of his administration of the af
airs of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com s
'any, in augmenting its business and estab
ishing its credit. is before the public. He as !
umed the duties OF his Office without a dol &
ar in the treasury Of the company, and now
Is financial resources are almost unli nited. ,,
after the consolidation OF the several lines I
'etween Pittsburg and Chicago ne was ,
lected director OF the consolidated COMPANY 7
Ihe line from Pittsburg to Fort Wayne was I
henjn operation, and some progress made d
'eyond that point. With considerable De. i
unary assistance from the Penn s
SiVania Railroad Company, this line b
vas extended to the town OF Ply-
nouth, from whence it effected a con.
'ection with Chicago via Laporte by the
se OF portion of the Michigan Southern tt
abroad. This arrangement, however. =,
roved so unsatisfactory in its results u pom
be business and csedit of the company that
eDewed efforts were made to complete the p
Thole road. Alter session OF nearly two a,
Ieelzs. to devise means for the object. Mr. :
thompson wastelegraphed to meet the board y
} aid in directing what was to be done ~
nder the circumstances. Upon examining 10 !.
le several plans proposed to complete the v.
ne, and list of assets Of the company y,
Vailsble for its completion, he informed the ~
oard that If they would appoint him their :,
lief engineer he would take these assets @
nd build the remaining eighty-two miles Z, -
the road. They at once accepted osns