The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-21

Personality of Robert Garrett, President OF
the BaltiInore s. Ohio System.

the BaltiI,nore s. Ohio System.
Philadelphia Pr
A prominent It at the banquet given to De
Lesseps was r ,~rt Garrett, the president Of the
Baltimore & Ohio railroad. Various newspapers
nave attempted to picture him as fop, as q
man given to dress, and fashion, and show. The
portrait is entirely erroneous. He is brainy,
active, pushing man. directing the destinies of
great corporation which extends over thousands
OF miles OF territory, which employs
which has gross revenue of twenty
OF twenty five millions year He is the man
who originated telegraph system and who has
extended it until its wires reach all over the
United States. He Is the man who has projected
and built the road from Baltimore to Philadel-
phia and New York, and who has successfully
negotiated in Europe loans for its construction.
Where Is there young man under forty years
OF age who has accomplished more or who
Yields greater authority And yet with it all
there is not more approachable man in
the rare quality of being friendly
without being familiar He greets his
employees as if they were his companions. Very
often he calls them by first names, but not one
of them fails to pay him the respect which is due
his ability and position. In ghis friendiness
he is very different from his father. John w.
Garrett. whom he succeeded, and who was
stern, able man, wonderfully given to detail.
Robert is broader, and holder, and further reach
ing John W.. who made the Baltimore & Ohio
road great and valuable property and who was
one of the leading men of his time, had two sons,
Robert and L. Harrison. Both were Princeton
graduates. Harrison was considered the buSi-
ness man of the two, but time changed prophe-
cies, and Robert stepped into his fathers shoes,
while Harrison took charge Of the family's
banking business. Harrison has the finest
private library in the State, and one of the best
collections of engravings in the world The
part that Robert Garrett bears toward social
life in Baltimore is larQo He ia rich. sOCaDl0
and generous. He is a constant contributor
to private and public charities, and no worthy
relief fund escapes without a largo dona-
ton from him. Many Philadelphians know
what his hospitality is. On unusual occasions
his dinners very splendid affairs, but it is
when he entertains half dozen friends or more
at his country house that he plays the host in
his most genial and captivating way. No man
is better known In Baltimore. 1t is a curiosity
to see him walk up Charles street He wears q
beaming smile, and he seems to speak to every
other person he meets. The other day, when he
arrived from Europe, he started from the Stock
Exchange to his Office two squares distant. 1t
took him over two hours to reach his Office, and
when he did get there he had shaken 200 or 300
hands, and had talked to several hundred per-
without giving them the slightest reason
why Baltimore 81 Ohio stock had jumped up q
dozen points the first day he arrived in Baltt-
more AS to Mr.. CARROTS much-discusssd
clothes, it is sufficient to say that he is an emf
nently wel-dressed man. He is given to the ac-
qoirement of the finest things that money can
buy. He has new $500, 900 house. He has
splendid horses and he has handsome and stylish
clothes and plenty of them, but to call him a
fop is to do him a great injustice. It may be
added that he occasionally attempts speech max
ing, but the friends who know him best and
who have heard his speeches, give him no en-
couragement in this direction, for he is modest
man and modest men are not always good ora
tors.