New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-04
A GREAT RAILROAD.
THE WORK OF THOMAS A. SCOTT.

HE nOhA VI 1hOIudO M DNOlhs
| HIS POLICY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE PENN
sYLvANIA RAnROAD-THE RESULTS OF HIS AD-
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES VIEWS On THE FUTURE OF
RAILROAD INTERESTS
[FRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE ]
PHILADELPHIA. Nav San officer of the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad said to a correspondent OF THE
TRIBUNE to-day that when Colonel Scott succeeded
to full control of the Pennsylvania Railroad and Its
connections he had opportunity to put INTO
operation plan which he had matured in 1S6o"69
The destiny designed for the road by Its late pres
dent was that it should furnish the South ard West
with direct veins to the commercial arteries OF the
East and the heart Of the United States at the
mouth Of tho Hudson.
Theenormous rates obtained for freight at the close
of the and up to the time of the panic Colonel
Scott foresaw could not be maintained There
was only one way of redeemlng the loss consequent
on their reduction. More freight must be carried
when the rates were lowered, the bulk must
be increased. In railroad wars he did not believe.
Fair rates on through business and local rates
equally formed was the motto adopted by the
new president when he obtained control. The
necessity OF handling large amounts of freight
taught him another bit of wisdom. To handle all
the business, Colonel Scott said that the best
facilities that modern railroading and railroad
science could furnish were necessary. and the
policy of requirement for terminal and other
facilities has never for one moment been abandoned.
1t was pursued with ardOr and the magnificent
properties in possession of the Pennsylvania in
Jersey City and New-York in this city, in Balti-
more, PittsburQ Chicago and elsewhere stand to-
day as witness to the rare judgment OF Colonel
SCOTS broad mind.
FUTURE PLANS OF THE COMPANY.
Some details of this fidelity to the interests of
passengers and freight for the company are yet to
be carried out Not all of the Western connections,
which, while burden during the panic, now pay
handsomely. besides caring for their own indebted
ness are as thoroughly equipped as the New-Jersey
or Pennsylvania divisions. These will be SO inside
of two years, steel rails and stone ballast having
been already laid on most of them.
And when this Is DONE" asked THE TRIBUNE
correspondents will more connections be made. and
the leased lines be pushed further to the West"
mo; then we shall lie back and make a great
deal of money. The road and its connections as it
now is as planned by Colonel Scott III his judy
mcnt all that one set of men can conveniently
manage The Texas Pacific not, think, ever
intended to be more than q mere feeder to our
Southern connections. Colonel ScOtt's experience
with the Union Pacific told him clearly that the
road In the South would be built and would pay.
And he cared only that its business should
reach the coast over our lines He
not intending great struggle with the roads to the
North"
An INTERVIEW WITH COLONEL SCOTT.
Colonel Scott received THE TRIBUNE correspOn-
dent at his house this afternoon, aud to an in
quiry concerning his health. replied II am little
better than have been. at the Office as usual
to-day attending to my duties. l resign because
want to get rid of the aTuous duties incident to
such large corporation. believe and my doctors
tell me that with complete rest can recover my
health. and follow their advice in resignng. l
shall not go abroad, but shall take my rest here.
81 read THE TRIBUNE this morning. / see Mr..
Reid speaks Of me. He says that Texas Pacific was
the mistake of my life. Icll him that Texas Pa
ellie is to-day one Of the best roads in the country,
with a great future 1t does not one dol
lar to anybody The floating debt which
was necessary to raise to build II
has all been paid off Tho equipment
debit which is very small one of $4,000 mile,
is the only debt 1t has, and it is secured 1t is also
secured by land grants. The Texas Pacific Is per-
frctlv able to take care Of itself, We are
building 400 miles to Fl Paso. yOu know After
that X remains to be seen what will be done. In
year it will tap New-Orlcans as to have port On
fine ulf rs well rs the Atlantic seaboard. 1t is and
will be great road. When l was before
Congress for q subsidy, Mr.. Reds paper
opposed me. 1lldl vas dii AAS"'' am
very glad we did not get it. We better for hav
ing had to RELY on our resources. We applied
for aid because we Thought that was an economlGal
way to bnild road. | don't think so now. The
Government should not grant ald to any road' III
Dml the idea ever occur to You favorablv of the
Government obtaining control of the railroads VI
II would he The greatest mistake possible both
for the railroads and the Government. The GOV-
eminent cOuld not run them. There are too many
nov, They must turn to ard develop themselves.
They are to-day just beginning to fnhl inc PROM
iSrs made in 1873. especially IN the West
do you think tho railroad future Of the country
will be unfavOraby affected by the present tend
ency 10 Capitalization OF power, the one man con-
-" otin the least The West must develop and
the increased production, which means increased
business, must come last. Win a cain, con-
srrvatve administration OF affairs Tor the next
twenty wears we must reach III rarOating. as III
all else, an uncxampled era of prosperity"
yUlUEE OF THE PENNSYLVANIA ROAD.
lis the future of the Pennsylvania Road to be now
through new lines and new connections or the
development of its present territory
as not that enoughi Developing its present
territory Is its future The increasing productive
ness Of the West can find no other distributing
points than those it now has-LOusville, Chem
natl ST. Louis and Chicago especially
Chicago. Here is tho, great contest;
W. nave all these outlets and shall develop the road
nt them With a conservative administration the
PENNSYLVANIA has great future. To-day 1t Is the
first road in this any other country IN point oil
efficiency equipment and system of doing business:
Iii Al throughout, and can easily take and attend
TO three or four times the volume of business IL now
has with It's present and immediate 1ncnit1rs. us
policy of spending money on its track ana equip
mrn has proved wise one. 1t Is Tor any road the
81 am sorry TO leave it, Naturally thirty years
form ties not easily broken. But the work Is TOO
mach for me- the strain is tGo great I!alrnad men IN
il thinking OF rest leave the road in perfect condi-
ton II is at the head of all railroads, and model
car now take care of itself placed 1t IN the sad
die and It will riGo now like finished horSeman.