Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-02-18
rEssK rHonsos.
The New omeiai Head OF the great Penn
sxITznka Railroad.

syIEznta Railroad.
Alta meeting of the board Of directors Of |
the Pennsylvania railroad. held at the get.
efal Office in Philadelphia On February ~,
Frank Thomson, irsi vic -president, Was
unanimously elected president.
In every field Of American development
Scotch ancestry Is conspicuous. MANY great
men Of the learnei professions. the factors
OF the business world, and the high officials
OF oGr commercial and railroad interests
look back with pride to lineage Of the land
Of the thistle and heather. A family Of
this description Is that of Thomson. In iTTl
Alexander Thomson sailed from Scotland
and settled as pioneer in the Cumberland
Valley. Among his children was son.
Alexander who, after winning distinction
at the bar OF his state. represented his dis
triet IN Congress from 1924 to 1875. Return
ing to the practice OF his profession, he be-
came judge Of the SiEieenth Judicial dis
trict. and subsequently, professor OF lav III
Marshall College.
His son, Frank Thomson. was born in
ChambeEsburg, Pa. July Nh, 1871. His
rudimentaTy aud classical education was re-
ceiyed at the chambersbufg Academy. but
he dbl nnt inherit the paternai taste for the
law. With the foresight which has been one
Of tbs distinguishing characteristics OF his
NE. be saw ia the practical work OF the ran.
Ecad an attractive aud promising field OK
| action, and al II years Ut aye he entered tie
l Altoona SHOPS Of the Pennsylvania railroad
| for instruction. A four years course Of
training in this great school OF applied
| science graduated him mechanical enEl-
neer, who could build locomotive through
| every stage OF the progress, from the crude
/ iron to the finished engine on the rails,
| while u also iilisd him 10 operate as engine
nan the product OF MS own skill.
| u required little time for Toll Thomas a.
| Scott. general Superintendent III the road, to
| detect in the Young engineer evidences "
\ unusual ability. aud the outbreak Of civil
war furnished the opportunity Of testing his
1 Judgment.
| Col. Scott had been appointed By President
/ Lincoln Assistant Secretary of War, ana
/ placed in charge OF all matters relating 10
| ilie transportation Of troops and supplies.
| ani he called Frauk Thomson to his aid a.
| chief assistant.
| Mr., Thomson took the field Immediately,
l Ire scene Of his operations being the south
/ aud the upper south west, where lie con-
| structed railroads and bridges, Fepairer those
| Which had been injured by the eXigencies
/ u war. directed the transportation Of troops
| aud the forwarding OF supplies to tile front.
| lHe signal success vi his efforts in this dan.
;cTous undertaking not only received Fitting
| recognition from the War Department, hut
| marked him a. a rairuad man of rare
! promise. A. tie conclusion Of active IuE-
Utilities in this territory he was relieves from
military duty, Ant 10 June, 1876. was APP
ptiuted superintendent pf the EASTERN d.
FaAltlA u we uittti4Flllli ~ i4Ilt
witch occupied his time until March. 1873
Alter tins experience promotion came
rgmdiy. in March. 1873, lac vas made
superintendent NJ the motive power OF the
Pennsylvania railroad at Altoona.
IN this position the vast information and
eide experience gained from his COURSE in
tie shops was applied to the work Of praCtt.
CIV, locomotive construction. and So was Lard
| tNe foundation Of the system which has
since produced chose celebrated locomotives
Eupwu rs the PENNSYLVANIA i;aiiruad
Standard Engine' ON July lst 1874, he
rglinqni-hed this post to become general
manager of the Pennsylvania railroad sys.
TEN calt OF piitshG:I and Erie.
AZ general manager he introduced q mum.
Der Of reforms In the management, admin
istratiun. and maintenance VI the fO1d,
The standard track and solid rDadb5d owe;
~ existence 10 his efforts, and the system OF
tTncz Inspection anu the award of prizes ioi
| the best sections of track were instituted by
him. The adoption OF q superior standard
j pi equipment, the building Ut picturesque
q stations and the characterization of theiI
! grounds, The use Of the block signal system
and other safety appliances, were all dis
tinctive features of his management, III
? was also Instrumental in developing thai
: high grade Of discipline for which the Penn
. | sylvauia railroad is noted.
\ On October lst. 1882, Mr.. Thomson became
. second vice.pFesident, and on October 9Th
ltSS, was advanced 10 the post OF first vice
president which lie has held up to the pres
ent date. During his incumbeIcy OF ID,
e yice-presideRtlai offices Mr.. Thomson wa
I. charged with the traffic arrangements ~
e the system, both in tIe freight and passels
ger branch, and as administrative officer d
: the road and direct representative of TN
president was in position to carry out Il
!, their fullest iruition the progressive reform
y which he instituted as general manager
y | His direct supervision of the traffic arrange
d nents casting between the Pennsyiy am
/. railroad ana ITS connections kept MIN II
b close touch with all the railway interests q
the country, and so makes him to-day on
Of the best informed, most experienced, All,
ableSt OF American railroad managers
, These qualifications are universally &c
d knDwleGgci by all ms contemporaries u
7 the railroad world.
u Mr. ThUmson's duties as the manager of
1t great railway require SO much OF his tim
IT shat lie has never been identified with man
other public institutions. A nuIable excel
= lion, however, is the Equitable Life lnsui
\ ante Company, of Whicii he Is a director.
u The social side Of Mr.. 1homsun's life
I quite as comprehensive as its business cDuI
J. terpaTi. lie IL patron Ut art, literature an
t. MUSIC, and his handsome residence
81 'CUrKerhitlN near Merton station is el
r. richel with munv examples of artists i
"a | painting and sculpture, whose works are
valuable rs they are rare. AT this mansion
wiki the assistance of his daughter Mi'
| Ahl4t. IIhnnDU, ne ulSlthst5 a 'iultt VI
notable hospitality, to which his wide ~
10 quaiitaHcc. both in this country All
or abroad, has contributed the presence
n many men and women eminent III IL
~ At-her walks of life Ills famous cabin,
-, located in his grounds, uniquely decorate
10 WITH the spuils OF the Chase, is often II
u scene oil quiet entertainment, while h
I'll timely appointed house is given over to 4!
ct more elaborate social functions.
u Tie secret of Mr.. Thomson's exccllel
tp health under the heavy strain of his dutl
II. IL found in his love of out.ot-duur spoF
- lie is an ardent angler, Il hunter Of muc
- merit, and generally selects for his ho!da
49, the 5tusun when he may indulge his taa
for the fascination of the rod or gun. NJ
Thomson is II member of the philadelph
Club, the Union Club Of New Gurk, al
ok other Prominent clubs IN both cities.
u. MIR Thomson is Il widgwer, his vile, II
IN daughter of the late Benjamin q, Clarke
~ New 70 X, having died N June. 1887. Nj
u. Anne Thomson the only daughter, il prom
ry nent figure in Philadelphia society al
81 Frank q. and Clarke Thomson. bO
W students at Harvard, compose the family.
~ What is This Famous Specific.
H- The title "Iiale's Honey of linFehOul
I 81 - t,N ALI hn