New-York tribune., 1897-01-31


there more serious symptoms were developed
on his return to his home August 81 his
maladY had increased that II necessary
for him To be confined TO his room Since then
he had been gradually failing. In his illness
Mr. Roberts was attended by DR.. Lodge and
Drs. J. NJ Da Costa and James Tyson as con-
sulting physicians
Mrs Roberts and the immediate family and
DIR. Lodge were at the bedside when the end
came. No arrangements have yet been made
for the funeral
MR. ROBERTss CAREER.
BY the death OF Mr.. Roberts Philadelphia loses
one of it's foremost citizens and the Pennsylva-
MIA Railroad Company an official whose execu-
tive ability and practical knowledge have placed
the road in the very forefront Of the modern rail-
way systems OF the world. Mr.. Robertss life. al
most from boyhood. a history Of the Penn
sylvania Railroad Company. for when he was not
yet out OF his teens he entered the service OF that
corporation and by industry, ability and atten-
ton TO the thousand and one details Of railroad
ing advanced from one place to another until
he reached the presidency of the great corpora
ton
Mr.. Roberts in character was a plain man and
sought little distinction and place In the social
world but devoted all his time and ability to the
forwarding Of the interests OF the company with
which he was identified. He was recognized
among railroad magnates and lnanciers as their
equal in the world of business. His interest and
opinions were sought and respected and by the
shareholders directors and his coworlSers in
the PENNSYLVANIA Railroad Company he was
conceded to be the directing brain of the great
enterprise. Mr. Robertss unostentatousness
iirmness and justice endeared him to the en-
ployes Of the company and not since the great
strike in Pittsburg in 1871 has there been any
serious difficulty with the employees of the road.
Mr. Roberts was descended from an old Welsh
stock. and was born in 1893 on q farm owned by
his father in the outskirts Of Philadelphia This
farm Mr. Roberts retained all his life. and Of
late years had used 1t as country home. He
received a professional training in the Poly
technic Institute at Troy, y. V, and mmedi-
ately on graduating entered the service OF the
PENNSYLVANIA Railroad Company. He began his
career as rodman ir an engineer corps on the
Allegheny Summit Division, and in 1852. Will.
he was only nineteen years old, he had reached
the Office Of assistant engineer Of the Philadel-
phis and Erie Railway. For the next ten years
he was actively engaged in the location and
construction Of tn various divisions OF the
Pennsylvania Railroad In this State and New
Jersey His services brought hin: into the no.
tice OF his superiois. and in 1867 he made
assstan. TO President J. Edgar Thomson.
His engineering abilities and executive capacity
were developed by seven years Of this work. and
dent Almost Immediately afterward he was
made second vice-president On June 3. 1874
when the late Colonel Thomas A. Scott succeed
ed Mr. Thomson in the presidency OF the road
Mr. Roberts was advanced to the place OF first
vice president. Here all engineering questions
relating to the construction. extension and i'm |
provement of the Pennsylvania system un- |
der his control. and he also had general super |
vision Of the accounts of the company through |
the controller.
on June T. 1850. Colonel Scott resigned the |
presidency. and Mr.. Roberts. as his logical sue
cessor was elected head OF the corporate Since
tina, time Mr.. Roberts had been reelected an |
nually and under his management the road grew |
with leaps and bounds until to-day Its system Is |
ssed by any railroad I'm the world.
Although. ia view OF the state OF his health. the
news OF the death OF Mr.. Roberts was not a great |
deepest regret. Despite the fact that Samuel Car
pcnter the Eastern passenger agent OF the COM
pany was confined TO his bed with attack OF |
acute rheumatism. he Tribune reporter last
night and expressed the sorrow the knowledge OF
Mr. Roberts's death caused him. There Is much"
he remarked that would Ike to say OF Mr.. Rob
ertss admirable personal qualities and his high
achievements but the pain suffer prevents me
from talking at any length" Mr.. Carpenter added.
In reply to an inquiry. that he thought In choosing
a successor Mr.. Roberts the natural order would
he followed by the selection of Frank Thomson. the
first vice-president.