The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-08-09
Mary CARROTS Business Ability.


Miss Mary Garrett. the daughter Of
the founder Of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad system, IS an extraordinary wo-
man" said gentleman well acquainted
with the facts, "and. b1t that she Is a
woman, would to-day be presiden; Of the
road Miss Garrett has never obtruded
her individuality in the management Of
the great property which her father left
at his death, but her influence and Ca
pacity have nevertheless been felt and
recognized by everyone who has come IN
contact with the financial management
Of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad CON-
pany. For many years before her fa,h-
er's death she was his chief assistant.
Her love for her father was the ruling
passion Of her life, and her devotion to
him wss the admiration OF her friends
and the despair Of those who sought 20
win her hand in marriage.
Miss Garrett to-day, although few per-
sons know it, controls and manages the
Generals interest in the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad. and has for some time
been the most potential factor in the ma
nipulations OF the interests Of that great
corporation. She is thoroughly acquaint-
Ell with all the details Of the business Of
the road and its financial status. and has
always been looked upon a. one Of its
most suspicious advisers.
Although personally directing the man
agement of property worth not less
than S90o,000,O00, Miss Garrett is almost
unknown to business men, because her
fine sense Of modesty aud true womanly
reserve will not permit her to assume an
individual and personal control which
both her capacity for financial affairs and
her direct control Ct millions Of money
would enable her to DO.
There is no woman in the United
States who can command more ready cash
than Miss Garrett. Her knowledge Of
the road and its management gives her
a position in the counsels Of that corpora
ton not possessed by any other individ-
ual When her father was living Miss
Garrett was his private secretary, his best
adviser and his most trusted friend. even
above any Of the old gentleman's sons.
II was in this capacity that she obtained
her knowledge Of the road and her in
sight into financial affairs. After the
death Of her father Miss CARROTS infu-
ence over her brother, Robert Garrett.
was 40 marked that il became matter Of
current talk in Baltimore. But there
were certain theories held by her broth
er which even the influence which she
held over him coald not successfully COM
bat. When the schemes which led 10 the
invocation Of the aid Of the Drexel syn-
dicate eliminated Robert Garrett SAW the
wisdom OF his sisters counsels. which he
had failed to follow, and practically sur
rendered to her the management Of his
interest in the road. When he started on
his tour around the world his sister fol-
lowed and overlook him AT san Francis
co, where he was induced to give her the
control of all his interests in the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad Company.
Recently, when the syndicate which
had helped the Baltimore and Ohio out
Of the difficulties into which Il had un-
Willingly been plunged. began to haggle
about the commissions and threatened to
place the road ii an embarrassing posi-
ton, Miss Garrett quietly brushed them
all aside. put up the needed cash and
saved the credit Of the company Since
the recent death Of her brother. 7 Har-
rison Garrett, Miss Mary CARROTS con-
troll Of the Garrett estate has become
practically unlimited during Robert tar
-ett's absence from the United States
Miss Garrett Is most unassHming la
by, and would never be taken for great
iinancier, as she is. at first sigdt She il
not fond Of notoriety. and in manners
and habits is a most domestic and home
loving woman She wOrshipped her
father, and her most ardent hope is to
see the great road which be built and
brought TO such great importance kept
up 10 the position where he left it and
as one of the great institu-
lions of the country PhiIa,ifphia Record.