New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-13
and that he represented clique which had been

interested in bringing il about.
Mr. Houston was quIer IN manner and speech and
uniformly NJ bane lie bad high executive ability.
and for eighteen months the practical management
OF the West Shore devoivei upon him. ana tnat,
too, at a time when the war with the New-iorx
Central was most active and bitter II Is improb.
able that Mr. Houston speculated IN stocks except
in a modest way. and his losses = If he suit
red net haye resev Ssep srsS sesS
in brokers Office. although he occasionally visited
tire late Charles 7. Woerl-nofcr. who was one ,S OF
the promoters of the West Shore enterprise. lie
never showed much interest IN the fluctuations ~
the stock market but he was kcenly alive 10 every
new phase Of the struggle with the New-Yofk Cen.
trail. He never showed Signs or nervousness, Dut
occasionally he seemed TO restrain his exci'ement
with difficulty. At snch times his manner and tones
had an unusual intensity.
GENERAL wIN>LOw SHOCKED ny THE SAD NEWS
General Edward f. Winslow the first president
of The West Shore road, was shocked last evening
when TRIBUNE reporter carried the news OF Nr.
llouston's sad death to him in his pleasant nome
in the Florence apartment house at Elghteeh'n-s,
and Fourth-Gve. He said:
MY acquaintance with Mr.. Houston began
while he was general manager Of the New-i9rK,
Oswcgo and Midland railroad. When tins line
was merged into the Newly orl, Ontario and Westcr RI
Company, | think in 1881, Mr.: houston was
made vice e-president and Conrad n. Jordan presi,-
dent. lie continued in the position until iee4,
when the roads affairs got in a tangled CONDITION
and was then appointed receiver of the road IN
conjunction with Judge Horace Russell when
the West Shore road was reorganized ana the
financial tanges were all unravelled and the ROAD
was delivered TO the New-YorlS Central on Janu-
ary |, 1886, Mr.. IIoustons duties as receiver
ended.
Mr. Houston was q practical railroad man, and
there few men better posted on the intricate
question of financial and general mana cement OF
railroads. lie had clear perception OF what
was needed in every instance, and an unusually
sound Judgment upon railroad matters. during
the construction Of the West Shore ROAD MT
Houston was assigned by the management to look
after the building of the road from Weehawlen
to Cornwall. Though not civil eneineer' ms
work in this connection wasof the very best ana
the road between these points has been greatly
admired by practical railroad men who nave ridoeh
over it,
EFFICIENT WORK As RECEIVER.
Did Mr. Houston perform his duties as re-
cciyer in a satisfactory manner?'
"Yes, in every way Mr.. Houston was an cX-
cclent accountant and he made special feature Of
kecping the accounts of the West Shore so that
there was not the slightest friction IN any oil the
departments. lie was frequently called IN by other
railroad officials to stralghten out thef accounts
when they got mixed up, and his advice was often
sought upon these matters. Mr.. Houston was
pleasant spoken and agreeable man in every way
Mr. Houston was a wonderfully persistent
worker and would stick at thing until it was
finished and many times without taking tne rcst
necessary for recuperation lie suffered from some
chronic trouble, but of what nature do not KNOW
1t was nothing that affected his mind but re-
member that when working hard, he would some
tines break down and for few days would nave We
TO remain inactive This not suited TO his
temperament. lie wanted TO be on the go all the
time Mr. Houston was the soul of honor, pos,
sesscd of sterling Integrity, ana could oe relied
upon every time. lie was a genial companion ana
| am sorry that he has been taken away.
Do you know of any reasons that would pfomlt
Mr. Houston to take his life?' .
never heard of his having any trouble, I
never heard that he speculated and lost his money
and in fact, / do not think he did. lie got
s4O 600 for his services as receiver OF the West
Shore road. he owned the house at No. West
Nineteenth-st.. and ! believe other property. III
it prove true that Mr.. Houston shot himself in,
ha
all his friends. for would have imagined
that he would do such thing. lie was generally
speaking healthy and strong; lie. was not OF
striking appearance, but made Favorable In
preston everywhere"
TRIBUTE FROM EX-JUDGE RUSSELL
Ex-Judge Horace Russell, who co-receiyer
with Mr. Houston of the West Shore Road, was
seen last night after the meeting OF the Union
League Club. He spoke foelngly and strongly with
regard to his former associate. IL is a shocking
affair."" he said and the family deserve the best
sympathy and llindliest treatment Mr. Houston
was man of remarkable talent. but he never was
rich and suppose if the act was suicide, that he
may have been suffering from meloncholla induced
by his financial matters. lie was moderately
poor man and too sensitive and proud to make his
troubles known to his friends lie has lelt Keenly
the need of permanent employment since he
left the West Shore. He has not had any regular
occupation since then although al tunes he mas
done work
MIR Houston was employed by the syndicate to
examine into the condition of the Baltimore and
Ohio before the recent loan was taken and he also
was employed to look into the affairs OF the ON
cnnat Hamilton and Dayton Railroad after
the Ives collapse NJ But he wanted 3 some hnS
in Colonel Scotts office and his first railroad con-
nection after that was with the Midland Railroad;
He was one of the original promoters Of that and
became its vice-presdent: He alterward went
upon the Ontario and Western, becoming vice.
president and through that connection came to
the West Shore.
THE VIC TIM OF CIRCUMSTANCES.
81 have no hesitation in saying that Mr..
Houston possessed the ability and capacity to be
the president of one of the great trunk lines He
had a mind of the highest intellectual order and
one which would have made him great jurist.
lie was not only able to grasp large problems,
but he mastered and retained the smallest details
of q railroads business, legal contracts or any
thing that required analysis and discrimination.
| believe that his work in the West Shore receiver
ship broke him down; 1t turned his hair white.
The labOrs of holding that road together and trying
to carry it through its struggles were colossal.
Mr. Houston oyer-worked himself in that con-
test, | am sure.
He was victim Of circumstances; it was
his misfortune to be always connected with roads
that were broken down while he had the ability
to have managed the largest system extant. |
never saw man with such a., capacity & for hard rd
intellectual work and he could hone down TO
sixteen hours Of the most trying kind OF TINS
work and get up from it with his mind fresh and
clear His family is intellectual throughout: Ono
of his brothers is Major OF Engineers IN the
regular army. He has a son at Lehfgh University
in Mauch Chunk. Penn. and daughter studying
at Vassar College. His wife is woman Of intel
lectua strength. lie was without bad habits
and was unassuming and modest as well as
capable
SUCCESSFUL TEST OF A DAFT RAILWAY
EAsroN, Jan. ~ (Speciap - A successful trial
made to-day the electric road built In this city
by Professor leo Daft The road is one mile long and
extends up College HILL The grade up the hill Is the
greatest upon which any electric road has been built
being about eight and a half feet to tho hundred.
This grade nearly 1000 feet long Tho current as