San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-12-14
TOM SCOTT.
...., Revicsc Of tie Lits Of Nsk Ensiwept
~" railroad Man.

=
.,.sant work, and probably no man
ever lived who bore up longer under
v,ch physical and meptal strain. Though
ouly about fifty-seven years of age,
then he might have been in tn prime
ofbealth if he had lived que life, he
Is now broken, perhaps beyond recov-
sv The lesson Of such a career has
been preached too often to, need any
r.petition now. In antagonizing Col.
scotts efforts to secure q government
subsidy for his Texas PaciAc railroad,
70 have never underestimate his great
.b;lity. The F''ibuns's fight against
the scheme has been more intense, per-
k.ps, because we have alwaysrecognized
in its promoter great personal power
aud influence. Col, Scott has been one
of the remarkable men Of our, times.
SeIf-reliance and conscious power have
carried him over many gulf where
weaker man would have been wrecked.
His great ability was demonstrated I'M
che war department., where, as assistant
secretary during the early part of the
war he was first to introduce tile system
Of discipline and efficiency. Of course
il has been as railroad manager that
he has earned his greatest fame. He
was probably the most practical and
thorough of railroad magnates of the
country. He was master of all the de-
tails and could reconstruct the tariff
more quickly than his best freight
agent He could out-talk his iveliest
passenger agent on the latter's own
ground, and he could straighten out
confusion of trains by telegraph, with
greater promptness and skill than his
most experienced dispatchers. He
could dictate the terms Of a pool with
the rapidity of his calculations and com
prehensive information, Which was al
ways at his command. He was mana
ger of the largest railroad in the world,
having 400 miles of road under his
immediate personal supervision. 1t
was under his direction that the Penn
sylvania trunk line grew into a great
tree, with roots and branches that reach
out in every direction. In this case
more was exacted from his management
than from that of Vanderbilt, who viz
tually owns his roads and can quickly
silence a dissatisfied shareholder by
buying his stock. Col. Scott never
had the aid of great wealth, but man
aged the great interests under his direc-
ton with such thoroughness and SO
much magnetism that he was always
able to vanquish cliques and override
enbarrassments that were constantly
threatened. Tt is said that during the
great strike in 1877 Col. Scott went to
the depot in Philadelphia and never
stepped outside of it for two weeks, and
assumed the chief command with tele-
graph instrument at his side. He has
always been the man for an emergency;
composed, intrepid and alert under all
circumstances. Col. Scott's personal
experience with the Texas Pacific pro-
iect has probably had more to do with
his early prostration, if such his illness
really is, than any other causes. The
completion OF the new road to the Pa
ciiic coast, as part of the vast railroad
system he manages, has been his dear
est ambition. The project went op
sximmingly until the panic came. His
troubles were increased by the organi-
zation Of a faction against him, in the
management of the Pennsylvania Cen |
ual, whe were moved to take sides |
asanst him probably by the growing |
jealousy of President Thompson's
n'ends, who saw Col. Scott was taking |
od his laurels. Before this faction sue
sseded in crippling him, Mr.. Thompson
aied, and Col. Scott succeeded to the
presidency. New powers and influences
sqnred by his election enabled him to |
afaghten his individual liability of the .
iexas Pacific paper, to substitute a con-
naetion bond, continue the work, and
onng to bear on Congress an almost /
irresistible pressure for competition. .
nut these Struggles left their impress,
.ad Col. Scott is paying the penalty of
700 much ambition and overwork. We /
nope 1t may prove that rest and COM 7
pete isolation from business for few
acnths will restore him 10 good health, 4