New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-04

,hat the board will take action on this matter az
its regular meeting next Wiz N, iii he held on the
second Tuesday in March,. it may be thaI i
will be done until after the ne" bo"iu "a
has been elected.
In every field of American Development So"
ancestry is conspicuous. Many great men oi '''
learned professions, the factors Of the business
world and the high officials of commercial ana ran.
road interests look back with pride TO lineage oil
the land of the thistle and heather fanny Vi
this description is that Of Thomson. In l'l AieN-
andcr Thomson saiIed from Scotland ana s'l'Icu do
a poneer I'm the Cumberland Valley. Among MS
children was a son, Alexander. who, after winning
distinction at the bar of his state representa- HIS
district in Congress from 1924 to 1926 Returning 70
the practice OF his profession he became Judge OF
the Sixteenth Judicial District, and Subsequently
professor of law in Marshall College.
His son Frank Thomson was born in Chambers
burg Penn on July 3, 1881. His rudmentary ana
classical education was received AT the OhaiH"'''
burg Academy but he did not Inherit the paterna'
taste for the law With the foresight when mas
been one OF the distinguishing characteristics OF HIS
life he saw i'm the practical work OF the iaodu an
attractive and promising field OF action ana WV"
seventeen years old he entered the Altoona SHOPS
of the Pennsylvania Railroad for Instruction. y
four wears course of training IN this great School
OF applied science made him "A mechanical engineer
who could build a locomotive through every stage
OF the progress from the crude iron to the nls"e"
engine on the rails. while II also htted MIN ~
operate as englnenan the product Of his own SKILL
II required little time for Colonel THOMAS ~
Scott general superintendent OF the road 20 detect
:, tho Young engineer evidences Of unusual ability,
and the outbreak Of the civil War furnished the
onnortuntiv OF testing his judgment. Colonel scott
had been appointed by President Lincoln Assistant
Secretary Of War, and placed IN cnarse OF '' MAY
tors relating the transportation OF troops anu
supulies and he called Frank Thomson TO MS ana
as chief assistant Mr.. Thomson took the ne!d
Immediately the scene OF his operations being the
South and the upper Southwest, wher" he con
yruc ed railroads and bridges, repaired those "h'h
had been damaged by the eNigences OF war;
directed tho transportation OF troops ana tne lot
wardrg of supplies 10 the front The signal success
of his efforts in this dangerous undertaking nos
only received fitting recognition from the war De-
partment but marked him as ralroaI man man, ot
rare promise At the conclusion of active hosti,il@s
duty and in June 1864 appointed s;perin-
terdcnt the Eastern Division OF me FhlladeiPhi
ana Erie Railroad, when Occupied HE ,i ca,rn
March 1913 Mter h; experience pTomGom came
tendent of motive power of the pennsylvania hill-
In this place the vast information and wide ex-
pcrience gained from his conrtr IN me siiTp on
applied to the work OF practical ocGt . ~ 'T h
system which mas since produced thos. ctleDIat"i
locomotives known a. me % va re,n%s6c
this post to become general manager OF the feilh,
syvdnia Railroad system east OF Fitspurs anu
A. general manager he introduced number Of
reforms In the nanag9mtmt ami id ,rai, and
solid roadbed owe their existence TO his Efforts ana
the system OF track inspection and the award .,
prizes for the best sections of track were instituted
by him. The adoption OF a superior StanudIu ~
he Instrumentation OF grounds the use OF tn bloch
signal system and other safety appliances were an
distinctiye features Of his mana cement. He was
also instrumental in developing mat hsh sradr Oh
discipline for which the Pennsylvania Ralroad l.
On October l. lss2. Mr., Thomson became second c|,
vanced 70 the post of first vlG"-preSid NJ Whi , o
has held up 70 the present date. during MS IN
| cumbency Of the vice-presidental offices Mr..
Thomson had charge Of the traffic arranstinenIS
! branch and az administrative officer Of the road
and direct representative OF the president was III
| a position to carry their fullest lruton the
progressive reforms which he Instituted as general
! manager Ills direct supervision Of the traffic ar
| railroad and it's connections kept him In close
touch with al the railway Interests of me countrE'
| most cyperirnccd and ales OF American raliroad
! managers These qualifications are universally
/ Acknowledged by az ms contemporaries VI '''
Mr. Thomson's duties as the manager Of a great
| uevcr b.eu identified with many other publl' IN
| stttutions i notable exception. however Is 'ut
| Equitable Life As8uranc" company oil "h''h he Is
Thr socal side Of Mr. Thomsons life is quite as
| a M ron o. ar. literature and music, ana MS
| handsome home nj Corkcrhi, near Merton Sta
painting ana sculpture, whose WORKS are aH ~
able as they are rare. AZ ms mansion WIN lIc
| assistance Of his daught"r MISS Ann h0iSo,,
| he dispcnses quiet but notable hospit'llly, 10
| urbi,h his wide acquan'ance. both Tn this country
| and abroad has contributed the presence OF many
! men and women eminent III inc highsr ".llnS OK
! He Ills famous cabin" located IN his grounds
| uniquely decorated with the spells OF me cma mas,
| is often the scene of quiet entertainment, while
| his finely appointed house Is given over 10 the
more elaborate social functions IT,. ,e.,,,, 49,,
dor th, heavy strain OF mis- duties is found In MS