The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1897-02-19
MR.. FRANK THOMSON.
Railroad President and Type of the
American Sportsman in the
Best Sense of the Word

Pennsylvania Railroad Company,
which appeared recently in the BaIti-
more Sun:
In every field of American devel-
opement Scotch ancestry is cOnspicu-
Gus. Many great men of the learned
professions, the factors of the business
world and the high officials of COM
mercial and railroad interests look
back with pride to IA lineage of the
land of the thistle and heather. A
family of this description is that of
Thomson. In l77l Alexander Thorn
sou sailed from Scotland and settled
as pioneer in the Cumberland Valley.
Among his children was a son, Alex
ander, who after winning distinct on
at the bar of his State, represented his
district in Congress from 1924 to 1926.
Returning to the practice of his pro-
fession, he became "a judge of the six
! teeuth judicial district and subsequent
| ly professor of law in Marshall Col
| lege
His sou, Frank Thomson, was born
in Chambersburg, Pa, July 5, lS41.
! His rudimentary aud classical educa-
! ton was received at the Chambers
burg Academy, but he did not inherit
| the paternal taste for law. With the
foresight which has been one of the
| distinguished characteristics of his life,
! he saw in the practical work of the
| railroad an attractive and promising
| field of action, and at seventeen years
of age he entered the Altoona shops
! of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com
pany for instructions. A fouT-years'
course of training in this great school
of applied science graduated him a
mechanical engineer, who could build
a locomotive through every stage of
the progress from the crude iron to the
finished engine on the rails, while it
also fitted him to operate as engine
man the product of his own skill.
1t required but little time for Col
Thomas a. Scott, general superinten-
dent of the road, to detect in the
young engineer evidences of unusual
ability, aud the outbreak of the civil
war furnished the opportunity of test
ing his judgment.
Colonel Scott had been appointed by
President Lincoln Assistant Secretary
of War aud placed in charge of all
matters pertaining to the transporta-
ton of troops and supplies aud he call
ed Frank Thomson 10 his aid as chief
assistant.
Mr.. Thomson took the field mmedi-
ately, the scene of his operations be-
ing the South and the upper South
west. where he constructed railroads
and bridges, repaired those which had
teen injured 10y the exigencies of war,
directed the transportation of troops,
and the forwarding of supplies to the
front. The signal success of his efforts
III this dangerous undertaking not only
received fitting recommendations from
the War Department, but mark ed
him as railroad marpof rare promise
AT the conclusion of active hostilities
in his territory he was relieved from
military duty, aud in June, 1864, he
was appointed superintendent of the
Eastern Division of the Philadelphia
aud Erie Railroad, which occupied his
time until March, 1873. After this ex-
perience promoti II came rapidly. In
March, 1873, he was made superinten-
dent of motive power of the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad at Altoona.
In this position the vast informa ton
aud wide experience gained from his
course in the shops was applied to the
work of Practical locomotive constru
ton, and SO was laid the foundation
of the system which has since produc-
ed those celebrated locomotives known
as the Pennsylvania Railroad Stand
ard Engine" On July, l, 1874, he re-
linquished this post to become general
manager of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road system east of Plttsburg and Erie.
As general manager be introduced
a number of reforms in the manage
ment, administration and mainten-
ance of the road. The standard track
and solid roadoed owes its existence to
| his efforts, and the system of track in
spection and the award of prizes for
the best sections of track was in
stituted by him. The adoption of
superior standard of equipment, the
building of picturesque stations and the
ornamentatiOn of their grounds, the
use of The block signal system and
other safety appliances, were all dis
/ tinctve features of his management.
! He was also Instrumental in develop
ing that high grade of discipline for
which the Pennsylvania Railroad is
! noted.
On October /, 1882, Mr.. Thomson
! became second vice-president, and on
October q, 1883, was advanced to the
| position of first vi,e-president. Dur
! ing his incumbency of the vice-presi-
dental offices Mr.. Thomson was
charged with the traffic arrangements
of the system, both in the freight and
passenger branches, and as admins
trative officer of the road and direct
representative of the president was in
position 10 carry out TO their fullest
frultion the progressive reforms which
he Instituted as general manager. His
direct supervision of the traffic ar
rangements between the Pennsylvania
Railroad and its connections kept him
in close touch with all the railway in-
terests of the country, aud so makes
him to-day one of the best informed,
most experienced and ablest of Amer
lean railroad managers. These quail
tications are universally acknowledged
by all his contemporaries of the rail-
road world.
Mr.. ThOmsOn's duties as the mana
ger of great railway requires so much
of his time that he has never been
identified with many other public in
stitntions. A notable exception, how
ever, is the Equitable Lille Insurance
Company, of which he is director.
The social side of Mr. Thomson's
life is quite as comprehensive as its
business counterpart. He is a patron
of art, literature and music, and his
handsome residence at "Corkerhill,n
near Merton Station, is enriched with
many examples of artists in painting
and sculpture, whose works are as val
liable as they are rare. At this man.