The Washington herald., 1906-11-30

So far as can be ascertained from rec
ords extending back over a long period.
Samuel Spencer was the only railroad
president in the United States to be
killed in wreck on his own railway.
1t is not only inanciers and men promi-
nent in the management Of the great
transportation systems Of the country
who mourn Samuel Spencer as a personal
friend In practically every department
OF railway operation the dead man was
known and admired, for ne started at the
bottom of the ladder and worked steadily
10 the top. gaining and retaining the con
ddence and affection o. all with whom
he came in contact His first railway
position was with the Savannah and
Memphis road. which he served success
sively as rodman, leveler. transitman,
resident engineer. and principal assistant
engineer.
Then. in 1872. he became clerk to the
superintendent Of the New Jersey South
ern at Long Branch. and after serving
a short time in that capacity went with
the Baltimore and Ohio In its transpor-
tation department For some years he
remained with that company in charge Of
one Of its divisions. He was superintend-
ent Of the Virginia Midland and of the
Long Island Railway, and so capable did
he come to be recognized that. in 1873 he
was offered. and accepted, the position OF
assistant 10 the president of the Balti-
more and Ohio.
Advance Was Steady.
After that only positions Of great prom
inence and responsibility claimed Mr.
Spencer. From being assistant to the
president. he was advanced steadily
until the presidency OF the Baltimore and
Ohio was offered him in 1SG. He re-
mained at the head of that property for
one year, and successfully conducted its
affairs throughout a financial crisis which
constituted one of the most trying and
difficult periods Of the company's history.
In March, 1859, he became connected
with the banking firm OF Drexel, Morgan
d Co as railroad expert. and representa-
tive Of its large transportation interests.
From that time until he met death
yesterday he had been recognized as one
of the closest of J. PierpOnt Morgan's s
advisers and one of the pre-eminent rail-
road authorities Of the entire country.
II 1888 Mr. Spencer was appointed re-
ceiver Of the Richmond and DanviUe
Railroad Company and then he COM
menced to realize the dream Of his life
lIe was always Interested in the develop
ment Of his native South, and the new
p5-:-i9n gave him almost unlimited op-
portunities in that direction. Largely as
q result of his untiring energy. and his
Inherent ability for initiation and admin
d
was chartered In 1894 to succeed the
Richmond and DanviHe He became its
president. ard then began the campaign
OF aggressive progress which brought the
Southern property Up to the position it
occupies to-day.
Bankrupt Roads Acquired.
The new concern. under his direction.
acquired several bankrupt roads placed
them on their financial feet, and set
them on the road to prosperity. Among
them were the Alabama Great Southern.
Mobile and Ohio, Augusta Southern
Georgia Southern, East Tennessee, V!r-
giaia and Georgia, and all the trackage
owned or controlled by the Richmond
Terminal Company. Some Of these lines
were little better than the proverbial
two streaks OF rust and a right Of way,
but all became real railroads as a result
Of Mr.. Spencer's Untiring efforts.
Mr.. Spencer was very unlike the average
railroad president as the world knows
HIM Instead of making conditions as
onerous as the traffic would bear" TO use
frayed and worn phrase from current
discussions OF transportation problems. he
bent every energy to the upbuilding of the
territory in which lay the system he con
trclled, and 70 the Improvement OF the
material welfare OF the people Of that
section
He it was who. shortly after the organ
tzation Of the Southern. took the initiative
In inducing immigration 10 the South, and
10 the settlement of its waste places and
transposing Of its barren lands into fruit
ful fields. No railway president in the
country ever gave closer attention to con-
ditiOns along the lines controlled by him
Only J ]. Hi, and perhaps Stuyvesant
Fish. approached Mr.. Spencer in that re-
spect He got in touch with the people at
the various important points on the lines
OF the Southern and made them feel that
he was their friend, and that he believed
their interests and those Of his railway
were Identical
Roads Capacity Overtaxed.
In recent years the enormous increase
Of traffic over the road. and the impossi-
bility OF adding to its carrying capacity
with sufficient rapidity to handle the bust.
ness most expediuously. resulted in con