New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-21
THE PASSING THRONG.

1T wasn't any too cheerful in London when
left there short time ago." said II. r. Sweeney.
OF San Francisco, at the Fifth Ave-
BOERS TO BE nue. Hotel yesterday; and what IL
TESTED IN is now when they know of Butler $
AGGRESSION. defeat. must be awful. There is
ono straw however, that they have
to cling to- and that is that far the Boer has
fought the defensive and has yet to show what
he can do when he takes the offensive. The British
have repeatedly attacked the Beers in positions OF
the latters seeking, and have almost as regularly
been ANONYMOUSLY beaten: but nevertheless 1t Is
sti for the Boer to prove that he can attack as
well as he can defend. or course the boers IL
at Ladysmith Mafeking and Kimberley, and 1t may
be claimed that in so doing they are taxing tne
these towns O the British We're compelled to do so by
superior force of numbers, ana IL is sun TOT the
British in positions of their own choosing, and do
as we'll as when the conditions were reversed But
De sns Sa they BELONG in Se
rank OF the fighting people OF the world Tor Ger
R msae lot Such showing as 'ne' "A'' 'A
George r. Hepworth Of Chillicothe. Ohio is a
firm and immovable admirer Of the late Thomas A.
Scott a railroad genius, and In
T. A. SCOTS speaking OF him yesterday at the
MILE OF Hotel Imperial Mr.. Hepworth said:
MODEL Much has been written and many
TRACK. tales have been told of Tom Scott s
abilities a railroad man. but none
that have read ever gave the fraction OF the Idea
of how pre-eminent he really was. For example, in
1866 when Scott determined to make the lines then
composing the nucleus of the present great Penn
sylvania system a complete and harmonious whole.
he (ScotD found them running under every sort OF
equipment, power and every sort Of track and
with every sort Of management. In order 10 enect
the quickest and most radical change possible
President Scott sent for the late Frank Thomson.
who was then the division superintendent OF the
Midland Division of the old Philadelphia and Erie
Railroad. and said to him: I want you to put IN
acquisitions for everything you can possibly re-
qure, and then construct the most perfectly up 10
cate and complete mile of railroad track possible.
Thomson fulfilled his orders TO the letter. and when
his work done notified Scott, who called a
meeting Of all the superintendent and managers
OF the entire system. Taking them TO thomson
specially laid track. he said: Gentlemen. there Is
the most perfect and up TO date track that II Is
possible TO lay. | expect all the trackage OF the
Pennsylvania Railroad TO come up TO the Same
high standard This the beginning OF tne
uniform trackage of the Pennsylvania system out
think OF the changes that have occurred since that
mile of perfect track was laid by Frank thomson
In 1865 1t is doubtful II lumber road would &C
cept It to-day. Bessemerizng or steel was tnen ur-
known and consequently IT was laid with IRON:
There were no angle bars. tie plates or curve
braces and even the fish plates were OF the crud,
est description In otner words, the Leading roao
OF America OF forty years ago was not as good as
the hindmost OF to-day"