Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1881-05-26
cor. SCOTT DEAD.
n lufef Death at Clifton After a Lin
Eering Iliness-A Brief Sketch of
Col. Sc0tf'A Life.

gerins IIIness-A Brief Sketch of
Col. Seott's Life.
CnfToS, Pa, May 2l.-Col. Thomas A.
Scott died quietly at 8 o'clock this
evening.
Colonel Thomas A. Scott, whose death
is announced in the above dispatch, was
born in London, Franklin county, Pa,
ON December 2sth, 1894. He received
good education. When only II
years of age he received an appointment
as clerk to the collector OF tolls at Column
bia, where freight was transferred from the
state canals to the Philadelphia x Column
ba Railroad. His skill in accounts and
uprightness soon won him the regard of
his employers, who, in recognition Of his
usefulness III ls47 made him chiet clerk
TO the collector OF tolls ON the State main
line in Philadelphia, in which capacity
he was intrusted with the supervision Of
the records relating to the passenger and
freight traffic between Philadelphia and
all local and through points westward.
Additional opportunities were thus
afforded for gaining an insight into the
transportation system Of that period, and
this experience served him well in after
years. He was at this time receiving the
meagrc salary of loss than $50 per month,
but nevertheless he considered that sum
sufficient to warrant him in taking Il
wife.
Upon the completion of the Pennsyl-
wanna faiifoad Colonel scott entered ITS
service as station agent at Duncansville,
The point where Freight and passeilgers
We're transferred from the State line to the
u. Il. =.
fenhhsylNahla road.
lie ralhdly rose IN the favor of the tom
pthy, ana was soon appointed to the re-
sp"iislple pnsltlol oi superintendent oil
the western DIVISION lie kept the place
until lsas, when the entire line pis sed
uhlef MS control as superintendent
Coi. Scott's next step i'll the line OF pro
motion was his election to the vice-presi-
uency OF tlle foad, winch occurred March
i, ls60, succeeding Il. Foster, .r., who
dltd carrier III the year.
When the war broke out, Col. Scott
was called by Governor Curtin to take
charge OF the transportation OF troops
through the state, and on Aprli Y, ls6i,
Wheh railway connections between "'tsh-
lngton ana the north had been cut, Gen.
SIMON cameron, secretary ol war, Sc
,ecle'. nun ior the Important ser1lce oi
heePihS opeh anu III WorhiiiS oruei 'le
N"rllieIh Neitrai roau from iiarfishufS y
10 'aitiliiore iof the PURPOSE vi prihbiiiS
men ana munitions 10 washington
ms ieihafkanie success III tlAat serElce
ied To ms appointment as COLONEL Oh tle
Distrlct ol S"luiilp'@ N"iuh'eeis ol May
od, lonl'
Nli August Isl, lopl, ne was appointed
Assistant Secretary oil war, ana iiiadt an
olhclal tour oi the west ana southwest ioi
the purpose OF ascertalhlhg the condition
OF the different camps, the ta4illtles loi
transporting troops ana otler hlaltels oi
vital Importance to tile army anu the
government.
On June list, ls62, he resigned his POSI-
ton as Assistant secretary ot war ana
resumed his duties as vlce-preslueilt oi
the Pennsylvania Railroad company.
Colonel SCOTS connection Win military
transportation did not cease WIN THIS
resignation, for at various times lie was
enabled to render great assistance to the
Union forces in the transportation oil pro-
visions and munitions.
In September, 1868, he was aGalll
formally pressed into the national ser
vice, being appointed colonel and assist
ant quarterlnastcr, and assigned to duty
on the staff OF General Hooker. The par
ticular task with which he was entrusted
was the forwarding Of troops to that oih-
Ger over railway lines leading from Louis
willie to Nashville, and from that point
toward Chattanooga.
At the conclusion of this service ht
aganed devoted his entire attention II
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company
From that time forward the road btg gan
to develop a very rapid growth, finally
eliminating in the formation of a compre
hensive railway system possessing nllner-
ous ramiiications iii various parts OF tht
country.
In 1871 Colonel Scott was made presi-
dent OF the company, and the year follow
ing he entered very extensively into th'
project ot constructing the Texas " IA
cic railroad. The panic OF %, however
destroyed all prospects of success in thi'
direction, and hut for the lemiency of his
creditors and their faith in his ability
Colonel Scott would have become bank
rupt. lie brought his company safely
through the panic, however, and whel
the railway riots of 1877 broke on. ht
again proved himself equal to the elner
gency. He established his headquarter.
at that important railroad eentre-West
Philadelphia-and while doubts anC
dangers thickened in every quarter, gav'
new proofs of his executive capacity
which amazed men who had long heei