Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-06-10

PHILADELPHIA, June 10.-At a special
meeting of the board of directors Of the
PENNSYLVANIA railroad a. J. Cassatt OF
this city was elected president to sue
ceed the late Frank Thomson.
James McCrea of Pittsburg, first vice
president, was chosen member of the
board of directors to fill the vacancy
created by Mr. Cassatt's election to the
presidency.
Mr.. Cass;atts 5 elevation to the presi-
dency Of the great corporation with
which he had been connected for so
many yeals, caused surprise ill railroad
and financial circles, as it had been by
many anticipated that First Vice Presi-
dent Green or one of the othey vice
presidents would secure the honor. The
board of directors. however, were unan-
imously of the opinion that the emer-
gency caused by the sudden death of
Mr.. Thomson could best be met by Mr..
Cassatt, and that gentleman, after some
hesitation, concluded to accept the re-
sp0usibiity.
Mir. Cassatt is conceded on all sides
to be the man best fitted for the posi-
ton Like Mr. Thomson he has been
connected with the road since his boy
hood and has Il thorough knowledge of
the road, its resources and business.
In 1882 he resigned as first vice presi
dent OF the company. but was subse
uuently induced to become director
and since then he has taken most
active interest i'll the affairs of the COM
pany, occupying Ill fact the position of
HIraptpr ssnnVlr hln1n6
the throne.
1t is no disparagement of Mr.. Thom-
son S ability or power to say that Mr..
Cassatt's authority in the management
of the road was equal to that Of the
late president. So that, in view Of this
fact, Mr.. Cassatt is no stranger to the
duties that he will be called upon to
perform in his new position. Mr.. Cas-
satt is perhaps the best known railroad
man in the country and he will un-
doubtedly be leader i'll trunk line
councils.
The election to a dictatorship of
James McCrea, who has charge of the
lines west of Pittsburg, brings to the
board strong railroad man to take the
place of Mr.. Cassatt III that body.
Alexander Johnston CaSsatt was born
in Pittsburg Dec. s, 1899. His father,
Robert 5. Cassatt, was for a number of
years closely identified with the finan-
cial and industrial Interests of Western
PENNSYLVANIA and was the first mayor
of Allegheny City.
A. J. CaSsatt received his primary
education in the schools of Pittsburg,
took liberal course i'll the famous Uni
versity of Heidelberg, i'll Germany, and
-, l,,,, ,I civil
from the Rensselaer, Polytechnic college
at Troy, n. Y. In 1861 he settled i'll
Philadelphia, was appointed d road man
Pennsylvania railroad. Two years later
he was made an assistant engineer, and
in 1884, when the Pennsylvania rail
road assumed control of the Philadel-
phia and Erie road, MIR. Cassatt was
transferred to Renova, Pa, and ap-
pointed resident engineer Of the middle
division.
Later he was appointed manager i'll
charge of the Warren and Franklin
railroad, Il branch road i'll the oil regions,
and afterward was made assistant gem
eral superintendent of the Philadelphia
and Erie railroad. In 1866 Mr.. CassatT
was transferred to Williamsport, with
Jlle UiJlc Vi superintendent VI htoOiNO
power and machinery of the Philadel-
phia and Erie, and in 1867 he was ap-
pointed to the like position on the
Pennsylvania railroad, with headquar-
tiers at Altoona. In 1870 he was made
general superintendent and i'll 1871,
when the Pennsylvania road leased the
United Railroads of New Jersey, he
was appointed general manager of all
the Pennsylvania lines.
After the death of the president, j.
Edgar Thomson, Il reorganization of the
higher officials became necessary, and
in 1874 Mr. Cassatt was advanced to the
position of third vice president, which
office he held until 1856, when, upon
the retirement of President Scott and
lhe accession to the presidency of Mr..
Roberts, he became first vice president.
In September, 1882. he resigned his high
office and retired to private life, but a
few years later he was induced to accept
IA seat in the directory of the company.
and remained member of the board
until his elevation to the presidency.