Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1897-02-17

Frank Thomson, President
l Pennsylvam1o Railroad.
At meeting Of the Board of Di-
rectors of the Pennsylvania Railroad,
held at the General Office in Phila.
delphia on February 3rd, Frank
Thomson, First Vice President, was
unanimously elected President.
In every field of American develop
ment. Scotch ancestry is conspicuous.
Many great msn of the learned pro-
fessions, the factors of the business
world and the high officials OF our
commercial and railroad interests
look back with pride to lineage of
the land of the thistle and heather. |
A family of this descr.p5io4 is that Of
Thomson. In It'll Alexander Thorn
son sailed from Scotland and settled
as a pioneer in the Cumberland Val
ley Among his children was son,
Alexander, who, after winning dis
tinction at the bar Of his State, rep
resented his district in Congress from
1924 to 1926 Returning to the
practice of his profession: he became
Judge of the Sixteenth Judicial Dis
trict, and subsequently professor of
law IN Marshall College.
His son, Frank Thomson, was born
in Chambersburg, Pa, July 5th,
1S4l. His rudimertary aad classi-
cal education was received at the
Chambersburg Academy, but he did
not inherit the patcrnsl taste for the
Iaw. With the foresight which has
been ona Of the distinguishing char
acteristies of his life, he saw in the
practical work OF the railroad an at
tractive and promising field OF action,
and at seventeen years Of age he en-
tered the Altoona Shops of the Penn
syivania Railroad for instruction. A
four years course of training in this
great school OF applied science grad
uated him O mechanical engineer,
who could built a locomotive through
every stage of the progress, from the
crude iron to the finished engine on
tie rails while it also fitted him to
Operate as engineman the product of
bis own skill.
1t required little time for Col.
Thos. A. Scott, General Superintend-
ent Of the road to detecr in the young
engineer evidences of unusual ability,
and the outbreak of civil war furnish
ed the opportunity OF testing his
Judgment.
| Co,onel Scott had been appointed
by President Lincoln Assistant Sec
retary of War, aud plsced in charge
of ali matters relating to the trans
po.;ation OF troops and supplies, and
ne called Frank Thomson to his aid
as Chief Assistant.
Mr. Thomson took the flag immed
lately, the scene cf his operations be-
ing the South and ths upper South
! west, where ne constructed railroads
and bridges, repaired these which
had been injured by tie exigences of
war, directed the transportation of
troops and the forwarding of supplies
90 the front. The signal success of
his efforts in this dangerous under
taking not only received fitting rec
ognition from the War Department,
but marked him as railroad man OF
rara promise. At the conclusion of
active hostilities in this territory, he
was relieved from military duty, and
in June, 1864, was appointed Super
intendent of the Eastern Division OF
the Phi!adelphia and Erie Railroad,
which occupied his time until March,
1873 After this experience promo
ton camc rapidly. Il March, 1873,
lie was made Superintendent of Mo.
tive Power of the Pennsylvania R,il
road at Altoona.
? In this position the vast information
and vide experience gained from his
: course in the shops was applied to
the work Of practical locomotive con
, structicn and 50 was laid the f0un.
. dation of the system which has since
{ produced those celebrated locomo
tives known as the 'Penpsylvania
Railroad Standard Engine" Ga July
lst, 1874, be relinquished this posi-
e to become General Manager of the
S Pennsylvania Railroad system east Of
. Pittsburg & Erie.
( AS General Manager he introduc
7 ed a number OF reforms iI the man
5 agement, administration and main
tenance OF the road. The standard
, track and solid road bed owes its cx'
f istence to his efforts, and the system
3 of track inspection aud the award oi
8 prizes for the best sections of track
e were instituted by him. The adop
t ton of 2 superior standard of equip
r ment, the building of pieturesqa ae
: stations and the orramentaLion oi
' their grounds, the use of the block
) signal system and other safety ap.
l p|iances were all distinctive features
of his management. He was also in
stlumental in developing that high
grade Of discipline for which the
Pennsylvania railroad is noted.
On October lst, 1882, Mr.. Thorn.
son became Second Vice President
and on October 9th, 1888, was ad
vanced to the post ofFirst Vice Pres
ident, which he has held up to the
present date. During his incun.
bepcy of the Vice Presidential offices
Ar. Thomson was charged with the
traffic arrangements of the System,
, both in the freight and passenger
branch, and As administrative officer
, Of the road and direct Representa-.
tive of the President was in a posi-
ton to carry out 10 their fullest frui.
zion the progressive reforms which he
instituted IS General Manager. BIS
direct supervision Of the traffic ar
rangements existing between the
, Pennsylvania Railroad and its con-
i1.1,s- la.,E <.l,c.,