New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-10
FRANK THOMSON.
,.n OF THE VAST INTERESTS
OF THE PENNSYLVANIA
RAILROAD.
RAILROAD.

'"~ panroad ever give thought 10 '"e nv"
Ian and superb management Vi '""'
e@ ~. svstem. or the care and precision 'n"'
nenooD .o,,ert requires II they would STOP
the " -, IN consider the vast and oeHca'e
TOT ~" ., this great railroad that throps
nacn sov and night, day In and day OUT
re, wear without jar ana "i'"ou'
''" ,bev could not fail to be deeply impressed
ca''"' nderf,,l organization or THIS great
" orto,ion company. When one STOPS u
, o,ou. IT, and notes the perfect hari'o"S
'ni'" ,yorking OF what would appear 10 be
A rio1dv mass the natural inquiry is as 10
e the brains OF the vast machine where
u,aster-hand that keeps everything keyed
.ha right pitch? The answer would propapiy
" ..o. tho one guiding genius is the president.
Frank Thomsoh ~ -;
,,hor Frank Thomson was called 10 'he pics'-
-. ~ this company ne had ALREADY peeh .
49,, e., that capacity for several months. lie
- INTO the Office without jar or hitch as
y. .,o riobt Of succession AT the time OF ms
I.,o,ion there was no talk OF change In
sirietrative methods. Everything went
IL and there was no confusion wrought py
49, obarqe all OF which goes to prove what
-, ro,ulated system this road maintains. In
A. oboice Of Mr. Thomson the stockholders and
.Aors interested In the road were especially |
.,-.,rate IN securing a man who, better per- /
$40 than any other man in the country was
.n,,i,ned and disciplined for the office.
r,a life Of Frank Thomson is simply chapter
j.. ,bo history Of the Pennsylvania Railroad.
ut, ,fe has been devoted to the railrod which
,ae rewarded him by calling him TO be pres-
.ert He has seen every grade and every she
=, the workings OF the road. and to-day, u IL
.ae necessary he could step from the presi-
Aerts chair and go into the roundhouse and
Ming ont an engine and run IL over any brahch
NJ attached TO any train; he could step mo the
auditors Office and take charge OF the intricate
details OF that office, he could go INTO the ONCE
n, the general counsel q the road. and ne couid
.ssrne charge there and handle the legal bust
ness Of the company He is many SIDED ana
each side is well equipped Perhaps better IMAM
any one ciSe he deserves the title OF an all
around railroad man
Frank Thomson was just twenty years "i age
nbe, he left The railroad shops # the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad at Altoona. For four years ne
HAD worked hard through course Of rigid DIS
cipline ana thorough mechanical Ualhihs anu
he WAS equipped not only to build an engine but
also t. operate ii. Although eGucateu hoie
esn,ciauy for the law. the zeal for railroadng
OOk Thomson
machine shop. and here he gained the first IN
siruction that stands him so well IL hanu TO-
dav t. the late Thomas A. Scott MI. Thon-
son owes much although man OF Inc DISPOSE
,io, ~ ,Ir Thomson would have succeeded any
where II was Mr.. Scott who reailZed 'he
morris NJ the Young engineer. and, by kindly
advice and powerful influence tha' opened ~
him in succession the various avenues to
lrn
vailed upon him to turn his attention toward
the administration as we'll az the CONSTRUCTION
and continent Of railways. When the war OF
the Rebellion broke out CoioneI Scot' was
called 70 take charge Of the military railroad
denarfrnent If the Federal Government ana III
Mr. Thomson ne found his most valuable aid
and coworker.
Ever since he was a young man MI Thomson
80 bear noted for his tact in winning the re-
eard of men and holding it. He has always had
81. loval euupor, Of men. and he has always re-
maid il in the same way. In the period that the
lat George T. Roberts president OF the
roaa Mr. Thomson was looked upon as the
ai,lcroat 81 The system and many Of the trying
and yexatious matters that pertain to the opera
,i,., - euch a road were deity and sats!ac-
,ort,. adjusted bv him He has always pos
seesed i'm large measure genial social quail
ties and love for good cOmpanlonshII lie mas
q wide acquaintance among the puhlc men oi
tins country. and perhaps no other living Amcrl-
can is 50 widely and 50 well known among
foreign men u affairs
NJ Thomson is Of Scotch descent, and IL ms
business and socia. life he has developed all
'hc sterling qualities Of that race. He was born
in Chambersbure Penn. in 1871, being there
fore. .n his hfty-seyenth year In th' cary
years II his service with the Pennsylvania road