Evening journal., 1897-02-13

fftilit ilfi DIS itNI WtA't
MosrEXpERIENCED AND ABLEsT
or AMERICAN RAILROAD MANA
GERS.
At meeting Of the Board of Direct
ors OF the Pennsylvania Railroad held
at the General Office, in Philadelphia,
On Febward 3. Frank Thomson, first
vice-p president, was unanimously elected
president.
IN every field OF American develop
ment Scotch ancestry is conspicuous.
Many great men Of the learned profess
sious Die factors of the business world,
and The high officials of our commercial
and railroad interests look back with
pride lo lineage ol the land of the
thistle and heather A family Of this
description is HAT of Thomson. In
I11I Alexander Thomson sailed from
Scotland and ottied as a pioneer in
the Cumberland Valley Among his
children was % son, Alexander, who,
af,of winning distinction at the bar OF
his state, represented his district IN
Congress from 1924 to 1926. Returning
to the practice Of his profession, he be-
came judge OF the Sixteenth Judicial
District and subsequently professor OF
law Ia Mgrshal College.
his son. Frank Ihomeon, was born
in Chamhersbure Pa sudy s. 1891 His
sudmcDtay and classical education
wac received at Che Chambersburg
Academy but he did not inherit the Pc
tolnal taste for the law. With the fore
sight which has been one OF me dis
tinglishing characteristics of his life
he saw I'm the practical work OF the
railroad an attractive and promising
field of action. and at N years of age he
entered the Altoona shops Of the Penn
sylvania railroad for instruction. A
four years course of training I'm TINS
great school of applied science gradu-
ated him q mechanical engineer, who
could build locomotive through every
stage OF the progress. from the crude
iron 10 the finished engine on the rails,
while it also fitted him to operate as
cngineman the product of his own skill.
II required little time for Colonel
Thomas A. Scott general superintend-
cnt OF the road. to detect in the young
engineer evidences Of unusual ability,
and the outbreak of civil war furnished
the opportunity of testing his judg-
ment.
Colonel Scott had been appointed b5
President Lincoln assistant secretary Of
WAL anu IA0'iA III AiAtl t1N vi OIL AANfN
ters relating to the transportation OF
troops and supplies, and he called
Frank Thomson TO his aid as chief as
sistant
MT Thomson took the field immedi-
aioiy. the scene of his operations being
the south and the upper Southwest
Wlola he constructed railroads AND
Nid.ts. repaired those which had
idtn injured by the eXigencies ol war
directed tine transportation oi troops
and iaC forwarding of supplies 90 tnt
lOnt Ihc eiguai success ot hls ei'
fofts iu this dangerous undertaking
NOT aulv received hitting recognition
IRON hc War Department. but marked
him as q railroad man oi rare promise
ibc conclusion Ol active hOstilitie'
in this territory he was relieved from
military duty. and I'm June, 1864, was
appointed superintendent of the East
crn Division Of the Philadelphia anc
Erie railroad, which occupied his time
until March, 1873 After this expert
ence promotion came rapidly. n
March 1878. he was made superintend
ont of motive power of the Pennsyl
vania railroad at Altoona.
In this position the vast information
and wide experience gained from his
course in the shops was applied to th'
work of practical locomotive construc
zion, and so was laid the foundation O
the system which has since produce,
those celebrated locomotives known a.
the Pennsylvania Railroad STANDARD
Engine" On July 4, 1874 he relin
quished this post 10 become genera
manager OF the Pennsylvania railroad
system east of Pittsburg and Erie
AS general manager he introduced
number of reforms in the management
administration, and maintenance of tn
road. The standard track and soli'
roadhed owes its existence to his effort
and The system of track inspection ant
the award of prizes for the best section
of track were instituted by him. Tn
adoption of "a superior standard o
equipment. The hWiing of picturesqu
stations and the 0guamentatiOn Of thei
erornGs lhc use of the block-signa
system and other safety appliances
were an distinctive features of his man
agement He was also instrumental il
developing that high grade of disciplin
for which the Pennsylvania railroad /
noted
On October ], 1882, Mr. Thomson be
came second e-president. and on Oc
tober 27. 1883, was advanced to the pos
OF first vice president, which he ha
hold no to the present date. During hi
ncumncncv of the presidential OF
fees Mr Thomson was charged wit
the traffic arrangements of the system
hOth in' toe freight and passenge
branch and as administrative office
of the road and direct representative c
the president was in a position to carr
out their fullest fruition the progres
sivc reforms which he instituted q
general manager His direct supervis
ion of ihe traffic arrangements existin
between the Pennsylvania railroad an
its connections kept him in close touc
with all the railway interests of th
country, and so makes him to-day on
Of the hest informed, NOSE experience
and ahlest Of American railroad mar
ayers. These qualifications are univel