The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1881-06-10

but his wife discovered that he did give
that great brain of his some little rest at
times, for when he came home he shut
out all business cares as he slammed the
front door,
On September 10, lS5O,the Pennsylva-
MIA railroad was opened to the Mountain
House mile east of Holidaysburg, where
connection was made with the Portage
road over the Allegheny mountains. J.
Edgar Thompson was at that time the
Company's chief engineer Talking one
day with DIR. Given, former Collector of
Tolls at Columbia, and then holding II
contract with the Pennsylvania railroad,
he asked if the latter could recommend
to him man to act as station agent at
Duncansyille, on the Allegheny Noun
tains, then the western terminus of the
road
There was young man used TO
clerk for me at Columbia that would suit
you first-ralc,' replied DIR Given
whats his name?" asked Engineer
Thomson.
"Thomas A. Scott"
81 will send word to him"
And he did, and 10y telegraph, too
Mr.. Thompson was sitting next day in
his office in Harrisburg when in walked
II visitor, who was picture of manly
beauty aud who bore about him such a
breezy air of independence as plainly in
dicatcd that corporation chicftains had
no tcrrors for him. His yellow hair
struggled over his shoulders, wide
brmmed slouch hat was pcrched on the
back of his head, his pants were tucked
in his boots and his hands were cxplor.
ing the very depths of lis pockets.
young man what do you want?' in.
quircd Engineer Thomson, looking
around and gazing Oh this picture.
Il believe you tclegraphod for me, )"
was the rcsponse,in very clear but res
pcctful tone. but with no appearance of
embarrassment.
"What is your nnme!"
"Thomas A. Scott"
"Arc You the young man DR.. Given
recommended
"NcS, sir.
The chief engineer after long and
earnest scrutiny of the long hair, the big
hat, the boot cncascd pants and pocket
hidden hands,said suddenly and brusquely
Il don't think you will suit me"
That doesn't make darned bit of
difference, replied the fair young man
with the golden locks, not one whit
abashed, Il made up my mind to come
down here anyway and try you for n
month and if | liked you to stay and if
| didn't | would mighty soon tell you so.
Coco, ,day,sir."
"llold on there called out Chief
Thompson as the young man was walk
ing from the door, probably demonstra-
ting more quickness of determination
than he ever afterward displayed. Come
back here; | guess | will try you for a
month, aad he tried him for many years
aftcrward.
When the road was completed to
Pittsburg he was raised to the respons-
blc position of Superintendent of the
Western Division with his office in Pitts
burg. Prior to this time, on April 6,
1925, he suffered the loss of his wife,
whose remains now lie uttered in the
Columbia Cemetery. lie continued as
Western Superintendent until the i'll
health of General Lambaprt, General
Superintendent of the Pennsylvania rail
road, induced the latter to resign in
1857, when John Edgar Thomson, then
Prosiden, of the Company, promptly APP
pointed Mr., Scott to fill the vacancy, his
Office being in Altoona.
\ through route from Philadelphia to
Piusburg had now been secured in the
purchase of the Columbia road Scott
was found equal to the increased respon.
sibilitics, Such was his firm grasp Of alI
matters appertaining to arapidly expand
ing railroad system and his quickneSs in
arriving at solution of intricate prob
lens of railroad policy,that President
Thomson's keen though somewhat slug
gish perceptions told him that he needed
the bright-minded Superintendent by hi,
TO burniSh his great but pondcrous intel
lcct Accordingly, with his accustomed
foresight, he made the preparations thai
would enable him TO carry his idea into
execution when an opportunity presen
ted itself, which it did in 1860. wher
e-PreSident William b. Foster died
Almost Immediately after this even
superintendent Scott was informed tha
the President desired to see him in Phil
adelphia. On confronting Mr. Thomson
he was surprised to learn that it was in
tended to make him First Vice Prcsiden
of the Company.
81 am deeply gratified for this mari
of your esteem, replied the Superinten
dent, ''but am not eligible to the office
1t is necessary that the one who is to b
made Vice President should have hell
$4,000 worth of stock six months prio
to his selection do not own n shar
of stock"
"You must be mistaken, Mr.. Scott,
replied Mr.. Thompson, quietly, "Th
books show that two hundred shares O
stock have been registered to your nam
for longer period than six months.
The twinkle in Mr. Thomson's eyes wa
not necessary to inform Superintendent
Scott who had been his thoughtful benc
factor. The two men shook hands, an
Thomas A. Scott was made Vice Pres
dent,a the two greatest railroad mind
of the country became centred on the al
tainment of one end that. was reache
when the Pennsylvania railroad syster
became the greatest in the country,
After he had reached the Vice Pres
dency of the Company Mr., Scott met hi
second wife while on railroad trip, i
the person of Miss Riddle from Pitt
burg, daughter of the then editor of tn
C0H,mercia Gdzette. She was highl
accomplished lady, and by her sterlin
mental qualities eminently fitted to b,
come the wife of man of Thomas
SCOTS capabilities.
The new Vice President of the Penn
| sylvania Railroad Company wasnot lon
in demonstrating the fact that no mi
guided judgment had directed his a
p pointment. The readiness with which |
. made himself familiar with the ne
phases of railroad management that col
, fronted him in his new position was trl