Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-06-03
DOLAN,
THE GAS
MAGNATE
Remarkable Figure In the
Philadelphia Municipal
Lighting Fight.
Quick of Action, Pigmy In
Stature, but a Giant In
Business Talents.
First and Only President of the United Gas
Improvement Company a Masterful
Man, but Sphinx to the World.
Very AristOcratiC, He Is at
the Same Time Most
Democratic.

er, of Philadelphia, in his apparently
successful fight to prevent the leasing
OF the gas plant of the city to the
United Gas Improvement company for
75years for $25, OOO, 900 is Thomas Dolan,
president or tie United Gas Improve
ment company. Mr.. Dolan is a re-
markable character. His name is syn
Onymous with the United Gas I'm
provement company. Mr.. Dolan is the
company, and the company is Do
Ian. The rise and progress and unques-
toned supremacy of the company In its
chosen field is due to the tireless indus
try and the executive genius OF the
man. Its modern monster office build
ing. facing two of Philadelphia's no
blest avenues, is not merely the home
of bloodless, soulless, intangible cor
poration. 1t is a monument to the IN
dividual who conceived and work ed
out the possibilities OF a concern which
In Its profits and possibilities justly
ranks with the Standard OIL company.
That great building. towering toward
the clouds. is filled with vice presi-
dents, general managers. clerks and at
taches Of all kinds and degrees. each
one OF whom thinks he is the important
cog In the great machine. All are mis-
taken. Dolan is the gigantic wheel that
rolls around with unerring precision
and force; the others are the flies
whose touch is unfeIt and unnOticed-
except on salary days.
There Is often n similarity In the
methods OF men and of corporations
Some work quietly, but with certainty
and effectiveness. Others are brilliant,
but lack system and staying qualities.
The United Gas Improvement company
has used every known method to hide
it's business light beneath a bushel
There has been no noise, no demonstra
ton, no Dragging. yet it has gone on.
tunneling its way from city TO city, I'M
til the corporation now has monopoly
OF the lighting of thirty or forty of the
important municipalities OF the United
States. With the long term lease OF the
Philadelphia gas works as It's most de-
sirable asset. II has progressed, leasing
and purchasing. until ii begins to look
like an endless chain of gas plants.
with ever Increasing dividends for the
stockholders The methods OF the cor
poration are the methods OF its first
and only president.
A Man OF Mystery.
Thomas Dolan is a masterful man
and a mystery. He has many friends
and few intimates. His business asso-
ciates have a just estimate OF that
phase of his character, but they know
nothing of the man as d hnancier
Those who think they understand him
socially are in the dark regarding his
ability as n politician. A sphinx TO
the world. he is also a puzzle TO those
who believe themselves close enough
to study his talents and his idiosyncra-
sizes.
The most aristocratic of men. he is
at the same time the most democratic.
Silent, curt and expressive, he is yet,
when In the humor. most companion
able. pleasing in manner and speech.
although talking as one who speaks
authoritatively A Shylock in exact
ing HIS pound of flesh in every bust
ness transaction. he is, on the other
hand lavish In the bestowal of money
and gifts upon those for whom he has
conceived a liking. Wrathful when
crossed by his peers. with a wrath
that shakes his frail body from head
to foot. when dealing with subordin-
ates he is both kind and considerate.
The real Thomas Dolan viii always
be the unknown Thomas Dolan. His
character seems to bafle the analysts
with which one can generally classify
most men OF mark.
Wise Head, willing Hands.
with Thomas Dolan. the problem we
call life spells Business" with very
large and distinct capitals. When be
came. a barefooted and baTeheaded
boy. from Montgomery county in the
early hfttes, he brought with him a
wise head and willing hands, and they
have worked together 90 successfully
that their possessor Is now a weighry
factor IN the most important munich
palitiss Of the land.
He Is a typical Philadelphian-a