New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-10-06
OBITUARY..
DIP. THOMAS 6. puRANT,

SARATOGA, Oct. Especial. DIR. Thomas C..
Durant principal owner and general manager of the
Adirondack Railway, died at his home in North Creek.
Warren County, n " at $3.50 octJck this morning. He
taken Ill Tuesday last and his malady developed
into peritOntis which caused his death The funeral VIII
take place at North Creek Thursday and the remains
will be conveyed to Greenwood Cemetery Brooklyn. Tor
inermcnt.
Thomas c. Durant born in Lee. Berkshire County,
Mass I'm 1920. His father Thomas Durant, was mer-
chant and manufacturer, and his grandfather William
Durant officer in the Revolutionary war anu
member tho Boston Committee of Safety. AT an early
age he selected medicine and surgery ms his profession,
and he accordingly entered the Albany Medical College,
and was graduated Will full bonOrs ut the age
tweEty After practising but three years lie became
partner in tie shipping firm or Durant, Lathrop 20
OF Albany The business Of this house was extensive,
having branches In Boston, Chicago and Newfor Win
aud employing large number Of vessels for the trans
poration Of merchandise, DR.. Durdnt had special
charge Of the New-IOrk branch, and shipped
very largely to all the principal Enro;
pean ports The business IS, , was carried ei
the French Revolution 1913. Previous 10 that time
the foreign demand for cereal productions had Deen
and the shipments OF DuraAt Lathrop Co. were
enormous.
The knowledge of the resources of the great West at
Duraut earnest advocate Of Internal improvements
aud induced him to turn hs attention 70 railway mat
ters lie asSlsad materially IN Pr2mouhS tnS lnteFostS
Of the Michigan southern Railroad, ana was the
cago and Rock Island, and the Mississippi and
Missouri Railroads. Several years previous 20 the or
ganlZdtiOn OF tic UNION racine
the charter passed by Congress in 1862 Dr. Duran III
connection with persons with whom he was engaged IN
constructing railroads In Illinois and Iowa. caused
preliminary surveys to be made up the Platte Valley
and in 1858, prior to the organization OF the COM
pany) he at his expense. sent several corps OF
gneers examine the country and make surveys OF
the route, beginning at Omaha and other points on
the Missouri River and embracing the line
through Cheyenne Pass ami Bridges Pass
into the basin OF the Great Salt Lake Dr. Dnrant also
at the same time sent geologist for the purpose
of asceraning the mineral resources OF the country In
1863 he active In procuring the subscription OF two
million dollars OF stock which was required by the act
OF Congress before the company could be fuIy orgazeu
Having from the surveys and examinations previously
made obtained knowledge Of the obstacles 10 be sur
mounted in constructing the railroad he devoted inc
winter OF lS63'6i TO obtaining important amendments
the charter which doubled the land grant ana made
the cOmpuny's mortgage bonds first lien upon the
road and during the year 1854 he perfected the tna-
cal organization under which the work carried on
completion AID Immediately after laying the last rail-
on the Union Pacific Railroad DR.. Durant retired from
active relations with the company and soon aftcrward
had began the construction the Adirondack Railway
OF which was. until his death, president and general
manager lie was frequently in New-1ork CITY, where
this company had an ONCE and was widely known mere
About two years DR.. DuranJ was Frustrated with
peurisy. and for an extended period M, ms
spent mis- winters south He leaves wife and daughter
nj North Creek, son, W. W. Durant, whose home Is
IN Saratoga.