The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-02-14
WORKED WITH CARNEGIE.
Washing ton Man Recalls Early Days
with the Future Ironmaster.


with the Future Ironmaster.
Joseph Orion Kerby of this city has
been close personal friend of Andrew
Carnegie since boyhood. His reminis.
cences of the great steel king are inter
esting and throw many side lights on
the character of a man who is an at
tractive figure in the financial and philan-
thropic world. In speaking of his old
friend recently Mr.. Kerby said:
Il know Andy very well. We were
telegraph boys together in Col. SCOTS
office in Phtsburg, and, I'm glad to say,
we have been good friends ever since.
He has bit more spending money this
christmas than I, but I really don't be-
neve. he is any happier than l, who buy
gives ten millions to the government.
1T would be nice if ne would erect a
grand statue in Pittsburg to his first and
best friend. COL Thomas A. Scott, to
whom he is indebted for his good start
n II life. When we were together in Mr..
SCOTS office Andy became the clerk or
private and confidential secretary Of Col.
Scott. 1t was his duty to look after
MS principals personal or outside inter
ests, because, as an official of the Penn
sylvania railroad, Mr.. Scott was, in a
manner, prohibited from outside dealings
Where his position as an official would
be concerned.
.''In those earlier days the Pennsylva-
the immense bituminous coal deposits Of
western Pennsylvania, the traffic of
which is now so per cent of the roads
four-track tonnage. Col. Scott was wise
IN seeing and taking advantage of this,
and also in selling coal to the railroad
ana an 1+ securing special freight rates to the
same time the oil or petroleum excite
ment occurred, and in this COL Scott also
became very active.
'Col. Scott gave Andy shares of his
coal and Oil stocks as gifts, and also re-
Warded him handsomely in cash for his
tial agent.
subsequently, when Col. Scott became
president of the road and was threaten
with disaster during the Jay Cooke or
Northern Pacific railroad panic, the
friendly relations between the president
ana his former secretary wee terminated.
:, when [ was with Mr.. Carnegie in
munficent salary of $50 per month, and
l, as his successor and chief assistant,
at II years, was being paid $40.
AS good boarding was only about
9l:oV TO " per week l was able to spend
nearly the entire amount in treating all
the girls l knew to icecream: When the
war came on I came with Col. Scott to
Washington. and got off the track.
ANDY stuck to business and got rich.
L .accumulated'- lot of experience.
Andy lived with his mother i'm a lit
tie old frame house in Allegheny City.
He didn't spend any money on icecream,
but was SO saving that he. would walk
two miles home rather than pay cents
car fare. He told me once that he was
not going, to spend cent until after he
mad saved $1,000. He was always very
genial and agreeable to his business COM
rades
His evenings were usually devoted to
debating society composed Of young
men Of his own age and taste. They
met met weekly over an engine house and
about Shakespeare, Sir Walter: Scott or
Others. Our young set, not being. able
to compete with the. debaters, organized
boat club. at which. we showed the
Washington Post, -;