Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-07-25

corporation. However. does not succeed
to the title of president of the worlds
greatest trust, but will perform all the
active duties of the position, Mr..
Schwab still remaining the nominal
head of the combination and acting in
an advisory capacity. y year or so ago
Mr. Schwab announced that it was his
intention TO find some relief from the
responsibilities imposed upon him and
is said to be the author of the plan of
having an assistant who could take
over most of the work Of his office. Mr..
Corey is his close friend-the pair have
worked together for many years-and
he was the man selected as best quail
fed by ability and training to fill the
position. Associates of Mr.. Corey re-
gard him as the equal if not the supe-
rior of Mr.. Schwab as a practical oper-
ating executive. and they predict sue
cess IN every particular for his admin
istration of the affairs of the steel cor
poration.
William Ellis Corey began the Won
derful career which at the age of thir-
ty-Seven has placed him in the front
rank of the worlds captains of indus
Thomson Steel works of the Carnegie
Steel company. He is a native of Brad
dock, the son of Il retired coal operator,
and until he went to work at the age
of sixteen attended the public schools.
After going to work he attended Duff's
college in the evening. He also studied
chemistry at home and mastered the
theory and practice of metallurgy. He
was a hard worker. careful and stu
diouS. and his superiOrs soon advanced
him to a more responsible position in
the plate mills Of the Homestead Steel
works and subsequently to the order
department of the plant.
Applying himself with all the energy
at his command to each new duty as
signed him, Mr.. Corey. while still little
more than youth, held positions Of
great responsibility and trust, with an
army of thousands of workmen under
his control. That he succeeded in every
position is tribute to the wonderful
power of organization and grasp of de-
tail with which he is endowed.
At the age of twenty-five he was
made superintendent of the plate mill
of the Homestead Steel works. His
next advance was to the position of SUI
perintendent of the armor plate plant,
which he filled until 1895, when he sue
ceeded c. NJ. Schwab as general super
intcndent of the Homestead Steel
works, the latter becoming the presi-
dent of the Carnegie Steel company.
| Notwithstanding that his predecessor
was accounted one of the most remark
| able men of his time. Mr.. Corey did
not suffer by comparison. and under
his management the business of the
| Homestead Steel works grew greater
year by year. While at Homestead Mr..
Corey invented an improved process
of manufacturing armOr, which is
known to ordnance engineers as the
COREY reforging process" by which
| the ballistic resistance of armOr was
! greatly increased and the weight Of
plate carried by Il ship considerably re
| duced.
Mr.. Corey was the choice of Mr..
Schwab as president of the Carnegie
| Steel company on April Is. 1901. when
| the latter was made president of the
United States Steel corporation. His
| administration has been remarkably
successful During his term the Nation
| al Steel Hoop companies were added
| to the Carnegie company, and since
these two companies were taken in the
scope of the concern has been much
greater. Mr.. Corey has held the conf
dence of the men with whom he work
ed. and his elevation to the higher of