Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-05-24

DCObb was eleCteu his ouOSSsoVA' ~
1861, and during the war, his enter
prise and activity in railroad matters
caused him to be selected by the gov
ernment as general superintendent o
the transportation of troops to differ
emit points, and in May, 1861, he wa
honored by his appointment to the
colonelcy of the District of Columbi;
volunteers, and placed in charge o
all government railway and telegraph
lines, and such as might be taken fol
government use.
The invaluable service he rendered
in this capacity led, during the SAM
year, to his appointment as assistan.
secretary of war. which Office he re
signed the next year to resume his du
ties as vice president of the Pennsyl
Vania railroad company. In 1868 hi
was appointed colonel and assistan
quartermaster on General Hooker
staff, rendering prompt and valuabl,
service to the country. This yea
ended his official participation in gov
ernment affairs, and uponsreturnin!
from the army he again resumed hi
official relations with the Pennsyl
vania company. In 1871, owing to tn,
expansion of the company's interest i
was deemed advisable to form a specia
company for the direction Of all the
lines of the road west of Pittsburg
This organization was styled the
Pennsylvania company, and Colone
Tom Scott was elected president, q
position he has filled without inter
ruption. In 1874, upon the death o.
J.. Edgar Thomson, its former presi.
dent, Colonel Scott was chosen presi
dent of the entire corporation. HC
was the pioneer and originator of the
Texas Pacific railroad, which was hi
pride, audsof the future of which he
was enthusiastic. Already four hun.
dred miles of this great transconti-
mental line have been completed, snC
within two years 1000 miles will be il
operation. :.
Colonel Scott resigned the presi
dency of the Pennsylvania railroad
some time in May, 1880, and the same
took effect June /, 1880. The cause
which led to the severance Of his Off
cial relations with the corporation o
which he had so long been the centra
figure, was declining health, mainly
consequent upon the unremitting la
bors attached to his office. After hi,
resignation took effect he lived at east
at his home in Philadelphia, and du
ring the last few months made be.
quests to educational and other insti
tutions. During his last illness, j
was the intention in case he had re
covered sufficiently to remove him t
the sea shore, but he gradually grew
worse until his death.
Colonel Scott has, more than Nm!
other man, made the P~ennsylvanii
railroad what it is, and deep regre
was felt that be could not remain il
his high place, to reap the honors anC
reward Of a life of toll such as few
men have wei borne. The great roaC
which he has developed will grow il
power, but the system under which
attained its greatness cannot largel.
change. for it is now so broadly organ
lied as to anticipate any possible fu
ture.
To a reporter who visited Colone
Scott in Philadelphia shortly after h
presented his resignation he said tina
the future policy of the Pennsylvani
company would be conservative
policy that would improve an,
strengthen present connections rattle
than extend them. He believed tina
an era Of prosperity was in store 10
the company aud all other companie
in view of the growing productions Q
the west. When that era arrived
railroad men could rest and enjoy tn.
result of their labor. The Pennsyl
vania railroad, with its system an,
equipment, was the best in this or an.
other country, and was capable of do
ing a far greater business than j
transacted at present.
Colonel Scott was Of course vel
known in Pittsburg. Mrs. Stewart
wife of Mr.. David A. Stewart, of tn
Edgar Thomson steel works, is a nice
of the late railroad king, and when h
was in Pittsburg most Of his time wa
spent at Mr.. Stewards lovely residenc
at HomeWood. The last visit of Col
Scott to Pittsburg was after the cleo
ton of the officers of the Texas Pa
ciic road last winter. He told tn
writer then that his European triI
had improved his health greatly. H
said that he had thrown aside all car
and had lounged on the deck of hi
darbeeah on the Nile as listlessly a
any ordinary idler. 81 am no
an old man." said the colone
with a smile, but [ have har
so much worry to carry on my shoul
ders that it has helped to pull m
down. | am good for a dozen year
get unless Providence otherwise de
crees." The colonel looked stron
and hearty then, and it seemed in
deed as though his prophecy woul
hold him good. Socially, few me
were more entertaining or companion
able. When he was with intimat
friends he would tell interesting ste
ries of people he had met aud thing
he had seen, and be would relate th
anecdotes in a droll, inimitable wa
His disaaee was ono that froubiad hi,
for years, but he battled against
with all the energy of his wonderful
indomitable will, and at times it az
tually seemed as though his energy
like that of Lord Beaconsfeld. was
the opinion of the doctors, a bulwar
that was almost i~mpenetrable b
death.
In Philadelphia Colonel Scott wa
well known as a philanthropist. H
had many a pensioDer on his bounty
| of whom the world and even hi