The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-06-06
And Took to His Red, but Hts Friends
and Relatives Did Not Regard His
Condition as Serious.
SKETCH OF AN ACTIVE CAREER
ENTERED THE PENNSYLvANIA'S
SERVICE WHEN IL YEARS OLD,
And Rose by His Own Efforts to the
Presidency of the Company-His
Traits and Personality.


PHILADELPHIA, June 5.-Frank Thorn
son, president of the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company, died at 7:30 o'clock this evening at
his home at Marion, a few miles out Of the
city Mr.. Thomson had been i'll about two
weeks He returned to his home on May
20 from tour of inspection which he. with
other officials of the company, had made
over the main and leased lines Of the Penn
sylvania railroad system. The trip had oc-
cupied about week. Upon his return home
he was suffering from acute indigestion and
at once took to his bed and placed himself in
the hands of his physician. Mr.. Thomson
had enjoyed extraordinary good health and
his relatives and friends believed he would
soon rally and recover from his indisposi-
ton. His death tonight was rather sudden
and was wholly unexpected.
In every field of American development
Scotch ancestry is conspicuous Many great
men of the learned professions, the factors
of the business world, and the high officials
of commercial and railroad interests look
back with pride to a lineage of the land OF
the thistle and heather. A family of this
description is that of Thomson. In III
Alexander Thomson sailed from Scotland
and settled as a pioneer in the Cumberland
valley Among his children was son.
Alexander, who. after winning distinction
at the bar of his State, represented his
district in Congress from 1894 to 1926 Re-
turning to the practice CT his profession re
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, on July 5, 1S41. His ru-
dimentary and classical education was re-
ceived at the Chambersburg Academy, but
he did not inherit the paterral taste for the
law. With the foresight which has been
one of the distinguishing characteristics Of
his life, he saw in the practical work Of the
railroad an attractive and promising field Of
action, and when seventeen years old he
entered the Altoona shops OF the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad for instruction A four years
course of training in this great school Of
applied science made him a mechanical en-
gineer, who could build a locomotive
through every stage Of the progress, from
the crude iron to the finished engine on the
rails. while it also fitted him to operate as
engineman the product of his own skill.
HIS ABILITY TESTED.
1t required little time for Col. Thomas a.
Scott, general superintendent of the road,
to detect in the young engineer evidences
Of unusual ability, and the outbreak of the
civil war furnished the opportunity for
testing his Judgment. Col. Scott had been
appointed by President Lincoln assistant
secretary of war. and placed in charge of
all matters relating to the transportation OF
troops and supplies. and he called Frank
Thomson to his aid as chief assistant. Mr..
Thomson took the field Immediately, the
scene of his operations being the South and
the upper Southwest. where he constructed
railroads and bridges, repaired those which
had been damaged by the exigencies of war.
directed the transportation of troops and
the forwarding of supplies to the front.
The signal success of his efforts In this dan
gerous undertaking not only received fit
ting recognition from the War Department,
but marked him as a railroad man of rare
promise. AT the conclusion of active hos
tilities in this territory he was relieved from
military duty. and in June, 1864, was ap-
pointed superintendent Of the eastern di-
vision of the Philadelphia G. Erie Railroad.
which occupied his time until March, 1873
After this experience promotion came rap
idly. In March. 1873. he was made superin-
tendent of motive power of the Pennsylva-
mia Railroad at Altoona.
In this place the vast information and
vide experience gained from his course in
the shops were applied to the work of prac-
teal locomotive construction and so was
laid the foundation of the system which
has since produced those celebrated locomo-
tives known as the Pennsylvania Railroad
standard engine" On July l. 1874 he re-
linquished this post TO become general man.
ager of the Pennsylvania Railroad system
east Of Pittsburg and Erie. AS general man.
ager he introduced number of reforms in
the management, administration and MAIN
tenance of the road. The standard track
ard solid roadbed owe their existence to his
efforts, and the system Of track inspection
and the award of prizes for the best Sec
tions OF tracks were instituted by him. The
adoption Of a superior standard OF equip
ment. the building of picturesque stations
and the ornamentation Of grounds. the use
of the block-signal system and other safety
appliances We're all distinctive features OF
lis management He was also Instrumental
in developing that high grade of discipline
for which the Pennsylvania Railroad is
roted..
AS VICE PRESIDENT.
On Oct. /, 1882. Mr. Thomson became Sec
ond vice president. and on Oct. q, 1858. was
advanced to the post of first vice president.
During his ncumbency of the vice presi-
Dental Offices Mr.. Thomson had charge OF
the traffic arrangements of the system. both
in the freight and passenger branch, and
as administrative off1cer of the road and
direct represe atative of the president was
in position TO carry out to their fullest
fruition the progressive reforms which he
III rstituted as general manager. His direct
supervision of the traffic arrangements ex-
listing between the Pennsylvania Railroad
and its connections kept him In close touch
with I'll the railway interests Of the coun-