New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-14

fetal Of the road. When the estate Of the late
Charles Pratt was divided among the members
" his family his third son. George. became the
possesslr Of a large block OF Long Island Rail
road Company stock. While his brothers have
identified themselves with the Standard OH
Company. George decided to give his attention
TO railroad affairs.
He believes that in order to become valuable
and Efficient officials in a large corporation,
young men should. II possible study the work
ings OF every branch Of the enterprise and be
come thoroughly acquainted with the routine
duties Of al its employees He therefore deter
mined 10 give his undivided attention for
period Of time TO the manual labor u railroad
ing although he could have had FOR the asking
one Of the best Office positions in the company's
power 70 give He first entered the Morris Park
car shops. where for six months he worked side
by side with the humhlest mach.nists AZ the
forge and bench. He thus acquired a valuable
knowledge OF the construction q cars and en-
gines and Of the use Of tools.
Mr. Pratt then secured an appointment as a
fireman on one Of the engines In the locomo-
tive cab he had for his instructor a tried and
trusted engineer who laugh, all the ins and
outs Of locomotive driving. from shoyelllng coal
and polishing up the brass trimmings t. the
manipulation Of the brakes ana safety valves
Persons who delight 10 tell Of the tendency 81
a college education 20 unit young men FOR III"
hard work OF life and 20 rob them ~ all ainol-
lion and Willingness TO work would be led %
doubt FOR once their owl theories could they see
this refined young bachelor u arts clad In over
als and jumper and doing the work q day
laborer. when. II he were 50 disposed. be couN
lead life Of quiet and idleness
After solving the mysteries OF the locomotive
cab MI Pratt substituted for his shovel ana
olcan the rod and chain OF the civil engineer
T., m. corr,s Of engineers he travelled over the
lands fravcrsed by the Long Island ROAD li'7-
ent tracks. and the proposed ex'ens.o" - VI.
Pond Bay. at the EASTERN eNtreinl'y u -
Island where Austin Corbln hopes 20 see th'
fraa mort established in the near iutuTe. ne u
now carrying on his study oi pra 'ucal "'i,
reading IN the Long Island Cly oNl,es' W", ~,
n. viii become thoroughly acquainted with lhr
conduct Of affairs in the Offices or me c'tv'
engineer the traffic manager ana o'he' "'''
Gals. an, - h.s mo-
,icnd carefully the disposition II the wo'kE.'h'
and says that h. has found them cons 49,
and gentlemaniy In the dischhrBr 81 ~
duties His solo object In working in these va
rious capacties IL t. learn thoroughly an the
details Of the work IN order that ne may NOR
intelllgently direct the affairs ~ the roau ~
whatever office he may De- called upon 10 M,
II seems certain that within a few years ne VII
become a vlce-presidrnt Of the ROAD, ana IL
has been limited that he asrircs IN me 'hu 20
succeed Austin COrhin as its pres dch', ii'S
inherent business abilities and the influence
Possessed by his relatives In the roads AFFAIRS
will make 1t easy for him 10 realize ms iona
hopes. 81
Mr.. Pratt Is about twenty-five years old ana
IL n graduate OF Amherst College In the class OF
1892 His older brothers are also Amherst grad
yates. Charles NJ Pratt. 49, gave 70 Amherst
its gymnasium. and Fred =. Pratt. 81. was the
giver Of Pratt Athletic Field. one OF the BEST
college Al hIetic grounds IN New-England.
George D. Pratt was one Of the most popular
men I'm his class. He was a member Of the attn
lctic team and Of the football team FOR four
wears and in his senior year he was the captain
81 the best eleven Amherst ever had. He was
also the president Of the cOtllon club. a proini-
nent social organizatlDn. TWO younger brothers
have followed him at Amherst-Herbert L.
pratt 'Q5 and John T. Pratt. go, both OF them
football captains In their seniO: years. George
and Herbert have also played on the Crescent
Athletic Club teams In the last two years. The
1--WE brothers are all members OF the Alpha
Delta Phi fraternity.
George Pratt; has not allowed his work In the
railroad shops and Offices 10 shut him off com
nletelv from social life and he has attended this
winter many Of R~ooklyns dances and social
functions He lives at the home Of his mother,
at No. 232 CNnton-aNe.