The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1897-02-05
GEORGE BROOKE ROBERTS.

George Brooke Roberts, VINO mas Deen
president of the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company since June 1, 1890, is that his
direction of the largest corporation of the
continent has been so honest, conserva-
tive and safe that his death will not UNI
settle its values in any perceptible de-
gree. He was not a man of that positive
progress that would have created the
present incompatible railway system now
under the control of the Pennsylvania
Railroad. but of all the great railway men
of the United States Mr.. Roberts was
best fitted to maintain this great corpora
ton in an efficient and prosperous condi-
ton during the severe business depress-
ions which have at times confronted it.
He never allowed any element of specula-
ton to enter into the direction of the great
corporation and there was snch abiding
faith in his fidelity to his safe methods,
and in the integrity that he possessed
himself and enforced throughout every
department of the corporation, that the
stock of the company has varied but little
in all the panics and revulsions of the
last few years. and the credit of the COM
pany has been such that it has been able
to command the cheapest loans abroad of
any railway corporation in this country.
Mr.. Roberts was the fifth. president of
the Pennsylvania Railroad since its or
ganization more than fifty years ago. The
LIANT Son,nn1 I,nuhn Nor
rick, of this city, who was one of the
most active an influential of Philadelph-
ians in arousing sufficient public interest
in the enterprise to start the road on a
years and was followed by William G..
Patterson, who, after Il brief period, was
defeated in contest for the presidency
by ]. Edgar Thomson in 1852. 1t was
under Mr.. Thompson's presidency, largely
inspired and very greatly aided by the
wonderfully keen perceptions and heroic
progress of Thomas A. Scott, that the
present great system was conceived and
carried into execution. Mr. Thomson
served from 1852 until he died in 1874,
when Colonel Scott was unanimously
chosen as his successor. At the time
Scott entered the presidency, his health
was seriously impaired, and on the list
of June, 1880, he resigned and Mr.. Roberts
was unanimously chosen to fill his place
From that time until his death on Satur-
day last Mr.. Roberts has been the head of
the greatest railway corporation of the
world
Since President Roberts administration
began, the Pennsylvania Railroad east of
Pittsburg, known as the main line, has
more than doubled its mileage, increasing
from .12O to 1878. Its stock has grown
from SIT 100000 to 1929, 00O,OOO its fund
ed debt from $55,OOO,OOO to $s7, 900, 900
and its yearly earnings on all its lines
from $75,0OO,0O0 to 1923, 100000. The
mileage of the Pennsylvania Railroad is
now one twentieth of all the railroad
mileage of the country, and it has to-day
over 100000 employees; making fully
900 people VINO are receiving their
livelihood from the corporation. All this
immense advance has been made by the
most legitimate methods and without
ever producing CONFUSION or distrust in
the financial affairs of the company or in
the value of its securities.
President Roberts was true represent
ative of the beneficicnt system, scrupu-
lousy maintained in the Pennsylvania
Railroad corporation, of creating and
developing its own men. Mr.. Thomson
had ripe experience as an engineer, and
called to the presidency In view of the
enormous annual revenues and eNpendi
lures aggregating over S120,O0O,OO0, it
may seem STANCE to many now to recall
the fact that in 1852 in the contest be-
tween Thomson and Patterson for the
presidency, one of the strongest arguments
made among the county Stockholders in
favor of ThOmSOn's election was the
fact that as president he could practically
fill the office of chief engineer, and thus
save 5000 annually to the company
He came to the presidency of the road
well equipped by his experience in the
construction and management of other
railroads, and especially in Georgia.
Colonel Scott was developed by the
Pennsylvania Railroad, having first been
assigned to a Western division as a super
intendent of construction, from which, by
his wonderful administrative abilities and
tireless energies, he was advanced to di-
vision superintendent, next to general su-
perintendent and finally called to the vice
presidency when that place was vacated
by the death of W lillian B. Foster. 1t
was under his vice presidency that the
great strides were made in the creation of
the Pennsylvania system, and he was the
logical successor to Thomson when his
chair was vacated by death.
Mr.. Roberts began on the Pennsylvania
Railroad as rodman, as aid Mr.. Cassatt,
and he rose from one position to another
solely on his merits, and was for years
before he succeeded to the presidency the
chief financial director of the corporation.
He was at times Overrulcd because of his
strong inclination to conservatism, but no
important step was ever taken without the
fullest consultation with him. His posi-
ton was such at the retirement of Colonel
Scott, by reason of hopelessly broken
health, that there was not a question as
to the right to succeed to the presidency
and his management of the corporation
for nearly seventeen years has more than
vindicated the confidence so generally re-
posed IN him.
Every vice president of the company
as well as Mr.. Cassatt, who voluntarily re-
tired some years ago, but continued as an
active director, has been the creation of
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company.
Each one has in turn won his position by
conspicuous services rendered and by
proving ability to discharge the most re-
sponsible duties. Mr.. Thomas began his
career as an apprentice in the Pcnnsyl-