The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-29
ROBERTS WILL RETIRE
PRESIDENT OF THE PENNSYLVANIA
NOT IN GOOD HEALTH.
James McCrea, 1t Is said. VIII BE His
Successor, and Joseph Wood May
Take McCrea's Place.


time, owing to i'll health, George B. Rob
erts will retire from the presidency of the
Pennsylvania railroad system, with the ex-
ception, possibly, of the New York Central.
the wealthiest and NOSE powerful railroad
corporation in the United States. His
cessor viii be James McCrea, first vice
president of the lines west of Pittsburg,
and with headquarters in that city. Nc
Crea's place will be taken by Joseph
Wood, fourth vice president. This will
necessitate some changes in the organZa
ton of the Pennsylvania Company, but
they have not been determined yet
This information may be denied but only
because the publication is premature.
Those interested in the Pennsylvania and
in railroad news can paste this programme
in their tiles to be carried out in the inn
mediate future. McCrea is the personal
choice of Mr.. Roberts to succeed himself.
He has recommended him. as the talk goes,
20 the board of directors and this is suff-
cient to secure Mr.. McCrea the promotion,
for the directors and stockholders have
great faith in the judgment of the presi-
dent.
What is most surprising here and causes
the most comment among financial and
railroad men, is that McCrea should be
selected over the heads Of First Vice Pres
inent officials in the East connected with
The management of the system The policy
IF the Pennsylvania, however, is that me rit
and ability shall determine advancement
Both Thomson and McCrea are in their
prime. The latter is a man of burly build
veil equipped mentally and physically to
stand the strain of the presidency. Rob
arts, too is not one to be influenced by
personal feelings in picking official for
SO important position
The intimate friends of President Rob-
crts know his health has been poor for
some time. They have been expecting him
to quit active business and the rumors of
his retirement to private life do not sur
prise them. 1t is said that Roberts is very
i'll, but his physical condition is not
serious. Under his management the Penn
syIvana has grown Weather and more
powerful. The system has been extended
and other railroads have been acquired. In
Pennsylvania the notable new branches are
the divisions in the Schuylkill valley and
the southwest, running from the mann line
at Greensburg into the coke regions. The
southwest branch is due almost entirely to
the foresight of Superintendent and Gen.
eraI Agent Robert Pitcairn, OF the Pitts
most influential men associated with the
.ailroad. Pitcairn. because of his large
private interests and his repugnance to
leaving Pittsburg. has refused higher po-
sitions that other railroaders would have
jumped at The Southwest branch is one
of the best-paying pieces OF track owned
by the company. 1t has also aided in de-
veloping the material resources of West
towns and a new thriving population are
Under Roberts also great improvements
have been made in the motive power. If
his able predecessor, Tom Scott. who was
Lincoln's assistant Secretary of War,
scarcely recognize the prosperous rail-
road property he left, so many changes
shortening the route. which is necessary
to keep pace with railroad competition,
President Roberts has inaugurated an ex
tensive plan of Strengthening che tracks
and laying others.
It is the intention to have four tracks
between Pittsburg and Philadelphia, and
two between Pittsburg and Chicago. Not
much remains to complete the double
81 great 9l ', deal over the PENNSYLVANIA have
noticed the new work that is now going
on near Greensburg and in the Allegheny
mountains to get rid of roundabout
curves and to shorten and straighten the
roadbed Heavy cuts are being made and
through hat at a heavy cost. | am told the
improvements at this point will foot up ST.
100000.
President Roberts is one of the few men
who has achieved the dream and ambition
of his life. They say that when "a poor
young man. carrying a rod for an engi-
mo" he. replied Il would rather, be
This was the goal he kept before him
and finally achieved, He enjoyed the con-
fidence of the English stockholders who
are a large factor in the Pennsylvania
railroad. Whenever Roberts was threat
ened With opposition for Fse1eetion which
holders invariably rallied around him.
His successor.to,be James McCrea, like
Roberts himself, has graduated from the
ranks. He has worked hts way to the
top from the bottom of the ladder, and in
consequence is trained and experienced in
oil hrnn of he M He
has apparently been successful in the
financial department as in the physical di-
vision of railroadng. 1t is not often that
constructive and financial genius are COM
bned in the same person. McCrea's rise
has been steady and rapid. The death OF
William Thaw, than whom there We're few
better financiers in the country, as his
cease of ]. n. Mccullough created vacan-
cies in the second and first vice presiden-
cies of the PENNSYLVANIA Company, which
McCrea successfully and successfully filled
McCrea is a man of few words and
usually writes what he has to say for the
newspapers. Dispatch man who was
sent to the Union depot in Pittsburg at the
time of the Johnstown food tells anus
ing story of McCrea from a newspaper
standpoint While the decker for an engine
and car was being made McCrea came in
and in the absence of Superintendent Pit
cairn. who had started for the scene of the
disaster, was to assume charge of the
road.
He listened to the agreement of $50 for
the special to go as far as Bolivar,
further if possible. when McCrea remarked
abruptly: what is the use of spending
your money and wasting your time going
ont there? can tell you about It, and
he pulled small piece OF paper from his
pocket Our operator at Sang Hollow
be continued reports that he has counted
eight-seven people floating by on pieces of
timber and wrecixage. He doesn't know
what has happened, but the water is high
in the Conemaugh. What more could you
get than that. if YOU were there?'i
But what McCrea said made the Dispatch
men more eager to start and after that
the price was of small consideration. The
first vice president little dreamed of the eX-
tent of the catastrophe.