The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1906-07-11

~S NO0NA6ASAVA ~ 0AA " Sk0ASy
unfoldings. Yet an additional improve
ment being carried forward by this
radical i%nnovatOr is the Strengthening
Of the tracks through the mouutains.
The same attempt ut betterment Is he
Ing carried on through a thousand and
one minor details. Now. II he would
but go q step farther and eliminate ia
voritlsm and corruption from his rail-
way management he would indeed
prove himself a practical ref0rmer that
would deserve we'll Of mankind.
Alexander Johnston tassatt is in his
sixty-seventh year. He Is n Of those
young old men who do not lose their
Initiative. ardor and progressiveness
with years; in other words. who do not
oosify into conservatism. He was born
In Allegheny. Of which aristocratic city
his father was n mayor. Young
Cassatt had the best educational ad-
vantages. part Of his course being TAX
q in Heidelberg. Germany.
Did Not Balk At Z Meaial Place.
He returned to America. however,
determined to go into engineering.
That was just at the outbreak Of the
civil war. when civil engineers were in
demand. In 1861 he helped to locate a
railroad in Georgia. Returning north.
he applied for a place on the Pennsyl-
vania. and nothing was open but the
position OF rOdilan. Now. a rodnlau
bears about the same relation to engi-
ueering that a hod carrier does to the
building trade. But this highly edu-
Gated son Of a rich father did not balk
at the mental place. He took it and
proved such an efficient rodman that
he was Don advanced.
Cassatt showed that he was not
afraid to work and that he had indi-
vidual initiative. These qualities win
among real men anywhere. and they
won on the Pennsylvania.
Colonel Tom Scott. the genius of the
road. who had a keen appreciation Of
men. saw the stuff that was In the
young engineer and rapidly pushed
him to the front. In 1867 Cassatt was
made superintendent Of motive power
and machinery for the entire system.
It was at about this time that he ad-
vocated and had adopted one Of his
daring Innovations. There was nc
means of handling rapidly and ade-
quately the southern fruit supply. Cas-
satt brought forward a plan of ex-
tending the Pennsylvania to the coast
and Introducing u system of fast fer
ries, the longest ferry haul. by the
way. In the world. 1t was expensive.
but 1t paid.
Another Cassatt coup was in buying
line Of road which the Pennsylvania
needed in its business. The Baltimore
and Ohio also needed that same line,
and one Of It's officials day gieeful.
" announced to President Roberts of
the Pennsylvania that the Baltimore
and Ohio had the matter cinched. He
had counted without Cassatt, however.
That young man had seen what was
coming and had quietly located Il block
Of stock Of which the Baltimore and
Ohio official was ignorant. 1t was this
block of stock which secured the muc!
sought line for the Pennsylvania and
which also secured Cassatt the first
vice presidency.
In 1880 the prOyressives thought tina,
WI. NASSAlt SliOuAu NC CACNtCu W ~
presidency Of the road. The conserva
t!ves won. however. and as a result
two years later he practically left rail
roaling and went on to q fine stoci
farm near Philadelphia. He still re
manned a director Of the company anC
initiated many Of its policies. but to al
intents and purposes he remained lr
retirement for seventeen years. HI
was a breeder Of fast horses and be
he had before been with fast !ror
horses.
Upon the death of the former presi
dent the Pennsylvania concluded tina
it needed Cassatt. The story Of thu
manner Of that choice Is interesting
The directors agreed that the MAI
should be chosen who had been re
sponsible for most improvements. A
each one Of these was checked off l
was found that Cassatt had proposed
practically all Of them. Cassatt there
fore was the man.
The committee to notify him Of hi
election found him on the golf links
At first lie refused to accept. The,
Mrs. Cassatt, who. by the way. Is
niece Of President James Buchanan
was induced to use her influence. A
4 result A. j. Cassatt laid aside hi
golf sticks. sold his fast horses AM
took upon himself the management o
the greatest railroad system on earth.
, One Of the most sensational episode
: Of the Pennsylvania presidents caree
. !. was his fight against the Western Uu
; ion Telegraph company. involving tn
powerful Gould and Rockefeller inter
ests. He carried this fight to the poln
. Of tearing down the poles and wires
. A less courageous man would hav
hesitated before making an enemy Q
that pulssant combination. That
q Cassatt's strong point. He dares t
march straight ahead when others fea
= to take a single step.
ATr C'o.cott Ia toll ath1otic OSoc hi