New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-04-03
WILLIAM F. POTTER DEAD.
VICTI1F OF MENINGITIS.
Lices Only Three Months after Sue
ceeding W. III. BaIdscin. .Jr.

Three months after the death of william n.
Baldwin. jr.. comes the death OF william Fred
ertck Potter, who succeeded Mr.. Baldwin as
president Of the Long Island Railroad Company.
MI. Potter died at 2:30 D m. yesterday at the
Marie Antoinette Hotel. after almost a months
illness from cerebro-spinsl meningitis
Mr.. Potter was attacked by the disease on the
afternoon OF March 3 when be was on a Penn
sylvsnia Railway train returning to this city
from Philadelphia, where he had attended a
meeting OF the directors Of the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company On his arrival he was
taken in cab to the Office of a physician, who
advised his immediate removal to the hotel.
He was placed in bed in room on the ninth
floor. where we was attended by Drs. John s.
Thacher. Edward c. Janeway and Charles II.
Smith
From the second day of illness until his death
Mr. Potter was either delirious or insensfble
never having rational moment in which he
could talk. His wife. two sons, and daughter
came TO Manhattan from their home. at No. 112
Sanford-st-, Flu1ting. and remained at the hotel
with him until he died. His aged father Henry
c. Potter president OF a savings bank at Sagi-
raw Mich and his brother. Henry C. Potter.
jr' who is president Of savings hank in De.
troit' also came 10 the city and were at his bed
lSae yesterday when he breathed his last Dr.
smith was present at the time. Mr.. Potter's
Oody was removed last evening to the house In
fiushing 1t will be cremated at Fresh Pond.
Long Island. probably tomorrow.
a week ago, when Mr.. Potter had passed
through what the physicians thought was the
crisis OF the disease. his recovery was expected.
but last Friday he had a sudden relapse. There
seemed to be no hope then that he would live
more than few hours longer. but every effort
was made by the physicians to prolong his life.
E'r0vpl he
president until he was attacked with cerebro-
spinal meningitis. Mr.. Potter had been working
extremely hard. and it is supposed that the
drafts on his vitality had made him easier prey
OF the disease.
Mr.. Potter was born in Utica, N Y, on Oc-
tober p. 1855 his family removing to Michigan
when he was four years old. AS a youth he
was sent TO the Highland Military School at
Worcester, Mass. and after graduating from
the school at the age Of nineteen he was sent
to Europe for another years study Then he
went TO Michigan and began to climb the ladder
as railroad man, beginning at the bottom as
brakeman on the Pere Marquette Railroad, of
which HIS father was then the general manager.
At different times he was conductor. station
master. clerk in the auditors office. division
superintendent and general superintendent of
the road, being raised to the latter position by
Mr.. Baldwin. who then was the president of the
company.
He remained with the Pere Marquette until
January ], 1897. when he resigned to follow Mr..
Baldwin into the service of the Long Island
Railroad its general superintendent In
March, 1904 he was made vice-president of the
company and general manager Of the railroad,
with Offices in Long Island City. and when Mr..
Baldwin's long illness began Mr.. Potter became
the acting president of the road. He in
Michigan when Mr.. Baldwin died, on January
8 last, and on January 13 he was elected Mr..
Baldwin's successor.
After becoming president Of the Long Island
Railroad. Mr.. Potter devoted his energies TO
improving the condition of the road. and he
worked hard over plans for changing the motive
power from steam to electricity and abolishing
grade crossings He also raised the passenger
rates for short distances, which caused protests
from the commuters These led him to publish
circulars addressed to the commuters, explain
ing that the Long Island Railroad needed
larger revenue from its passenger traffic to
carry out the costly improvements planned.
Mr.. Potter retained his old of1ces In Long Island
city and kept in constant touch with the work
ing forces of the railroad. He worked early and
late himself and had the faculty Of inspiring
activity and strict attention TO duty among his
subordinates He would not permit man ad-
5icted 10 drunkenness to remain in the employ
Of the railroad. and he was keen in detecting
laziness and carelsssness but all the men liked
him and were ready to swear by his fairness
Stories of Mr.. Potter's kindness TO employees
disabled in the performance Of their duties and
OF financial aid to widows of employees killed in
train service from his purse, were numer-
Gus while he was official of the road.
As president of the Long Island Railroad Mr..
Potter was also a director of the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company. which controls the road,
and he was a member of the Atlantic Avenue
Ironrovement Commission and the Brooklyn
Grade Crossing Commission. At the time of his
election TO the presidency of the Long Island
Railroad Company it was understood that the
position had beer offered TO Samuel Rea, fourth
vice-president Of the Pennsylvania, who de-
clined IT, Mr.. Rea has been acting president OF
the Long Island since the beginning of Mr.. Pot
ter's Illness He was in Philadelphia, and was
informed there of Mr.. Potter's death yesterday.
Mr. Rea il is believed. will succeed Mr.. Potter
as president of the Long Island
About twenty-siX years ago Mr. Potter mar
rjed Miss Jeanie \. Stetson. daughter OF
hartford merchant. Their children are Horace
twerty-four years old: Sarah eighteen. and Will
ian, F Potter jr.. fourteen years old.