The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-10-09
GEORGE n. BLANCHARD DEAD.
lie was Considered the Foremost Authority on
American Railroads.


George II. Blanchard the wpl-kuown author
iy on affairs relating to railroads, died AZ his
home. / Washington Square, early Yesterday
morning. II" had been i'll for some tim" from
u complication of diseases which included
nervous prostratiou, thought to aave been
brought on by
George Roberts Blanchard. who was for some
years rice-Pre-ident Of the Erie Railroad and
later Commissioners of the Joint TruNic Associs-
ton, was regarded among railroad mon gem
orally a. perhaps the best authority In the Coun-
try on railroad rates. Most Of his HE was de-
voted 10 studying the problem, Of railroad
transportation, aud the adjustment OF rates
which should be satisfactory 10 the railroads
aud the public was for years his constant aim.
He did more. perhaps. than any other man TO
promote the present traffic agreements OF the
country, A. an expert he was engaged at diff
fcrent times 10 look after the interests Of the
railroads I'm Congress. and II was while Engaged
Ia preparing an Argument against The reduction
OF he compensation TO railways for carrying
the mul-thit he wlss seized with his fatal Illness.
Mr. Blanchard was a railroad man all his life
He was born 20 years ago in Rochester,
y 7, and began In the service as a clerk In the
employ Of the old Cincinnati and Chicago road
at Richmond, Ind Two years later be went to
llt 'llA'' anu Nll~0lNNIllIs ull'l Il l'Al , II lt
was made general freight agent of that road
some years later no went To the Ohio Central,
end he left that road TO- enter tie service Of Tie
Baltimore and Ohio His connection with the
Erie road, which calne later, covered a long
period. He became ce-PrcSident of the road
In 1884 When the Central Traffic Association,
composed Of tho railroads in the Middle West,
was formed in 1855 Nr. Blanchard became one
OF it, commissioners, and lator chairman.
As such md later ~ a Commissioner IN the
joint 1rafic Association formed I'm 1899, Mr..
blanchard lent most Of hi7 energies toward the
establishment Of Il stable basis Of passenger
and freight rates which should satisfy the
railroads and the public. tie wHs bitterly
uipu."d TO the Determinations IL freight rates
In favor Of larr" shippers which some Of the
roads were in the habit of making In q meas
uTe Mr.. BlulChard's night against this vas
successful, and he lived 70 see the railroads
was In charge Of the Joint Traffic Association
from 1850 "a lsas. when is existence was de-
Claredt 10 tp' aNiulttIuH Of the sherman AMI Trust
law " Commissioner he appeared before
the Senate Committee To- oppose the dissolu-
ton of The association and gave exhaustive
tes,lpons reGard.ns i IT. Performed a
when he prepared an argument against tie
bill before Congress looking 70 an Increase ia
the powers of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission, which resulted IN a de'eat oi the meas
Mr. Rlanchard's KNOWLEDGE a. an expert
and his ability In argument wer" again called
into play when n bill wa introduced az tie
la4t session Of Congress- 70 reduce the COM
pcn5atiun TO the. railroads for carrying the
Indll II Is intended a. an dlNelllncn' 10 inc
laws passed IN 1879 and lS7S Mr. blanchard
had been engaged at the first Of the wear 70
represent the BntirnQre and Ohio, the New
York Central and tlc Penn ylvanIa In all mat
ters affecting their interests before Congress
and this was one Of tlem, Mr. Blanchard was
sS month. in preparing hi argument against
the bill and II wN- only recently submitted 10
the commission appointed 10 take testimony
Mr. Blanchard expected 70 testify also II was
his contention that he BIZ wqz designed 10
reduce The postal deficit and was thu Intended
10 benefit the Government az the EXPENSE Of
the railroads In the preparation Of lis argu-
mont he worked night and day and willie thus
engaged he remarked 10 q trienl that II was
probably the last service he could do for the
railroads of tire country He had been In
failing health for several wears
Mr. blanchard had many other business inter
este, principal among which was the American
MutoSCope and Biograph Company, OF which
he was President He wIs a director OF the
United States Express Company, OF tho Stand
ard Coupler COMPANY and ~ he Safety Car
Heating COMPANY tn" clubs 10 belonged 10
were the | Mon League. Lambs auO Transport
tat,on II" also helongcG 10 the New England
Society ana the American Museum Of Natural
History His wife, who survives hIm, wns Miss
Delta \ Thompson Tie intermrnt will bee at
prnptpT-Nil. q