The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-29

since IoDO-UFtHt as a developer
Philadelphia, Pa, Dec. 2S.-Alexander
Johnston Cassatt, president Of the Penn
sylvania Railroad. died suddenly at I
o'clock this afternoon. of heart failure, at
his town residence, 202 West Rittenhouse
square
Indeed, the end came so abruptly that
Mrs. Cassatt and her daughter. Mrs. W.
Plunkett Stewart who were in the next
room. did not have time to reach him to
see him alive
Mr.. Cassatt had been in poor health
since last summer. Early in June he
was ordered TO Europe for a rest. but the
vacation was cut short last summer by
the revelations before the Interstate Com
merce Commission Of the graft in coal
stocks that had crept into the Pennsyi-
vania system He hurried home to take
the helm, arriving in June.
Just before he had sailed he had gone
through the lively campaign for the pas
sage of the rate bill, taking the side Of
the President The battle at Washing
ton was a trying one, and Mr. Cassatt
showed the strain. Hardly had he sailed
when the storm Of the coal-graft investi-
cation broke. Mr.. Cassatt started back
home a few days after he reached the
other side.
Upon his return. Mr.. Cdssatt issued a
statement Of his own holdings. and caused
an inquiry TO be made for the purpose
Of instituting reforms This situation and
the avalanche of criticism that was di-
rected against the railroad added to Mr.
Cassatt's worries. For time it was even
rumored that he might resign as presi-
dent. Having finally gotten the situation
in hand, Mr.. Cassatt went TO his SON. s
summer home in Bar Harbor 20 spend the
rest of the summer
Remained nt Country Home.
on December q it was stated that Mr..
Cassatt was seriously i'll at Haverford.
and that he had not been in the best Of
health since an attack of Whooping cough
contracted from one Of his grandchildren
at Bar Harbor last summer The fol-
lowing day officers of the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company said there was no
for the reports OF the serious
laa
Mr. Cassatt, Il was announced. was at
tending TO his duties regularly. and that
the day before he took a drive Of twenty
miles out to his country place at Haver- /
ford and back
The attack OF whOoping cough left Mr. (
Cassatt in a weakened condition. and he 4
did not go 10 his Office at Broad Street /
Station IN this city for several weeks, /
but. on the advice Of his physicians. re- /
mained AZ his country home at Hayer- /
ford, near the city
Last Work in Office.
Early in October Mr.. Cassatt felt mucn |
better, and came regularly to his Office /
for several weeks, when he was again 4
by illness, this time with a
heavy cold. His exact condition was not 4
publicly known, and this gave rise to /
many rumors Of his serious illness and of (
mis- sudden death
He recovered sufficiently, however. to /
resume his duties and was at Broad 4
Street Station regularly until December S. /
his birthday. That was the last day he /
was at his Office. Since then he had I
spent much of his time driving and at |
his home transacting only the more i'm 4
portant business brought to his attention /
He was out driving as late as last Mon |
day.
While not feeling as well as he had 1
been, Mr.. Cassatt rose from his bed to- 4
y, but did not leave his room. The /
family was not alarmed, as he seemed to /
be in good spirits, and no one had the 4
slightest thought Of his death.
Starts as ROdman.
Alexander J. Cassatt was born in Pitts /
burg, Pa, on December 6, 1899. His father /
Robert S. Cassatt, was for number Of /
years closely identified with the financial /
and industrial interests Of Western Penn /
sylvania, and was the first mayor of Ale /
gheny City. Mr.. Cassatts primary educa- |
ton was received in the schools Of Pitts /
burg. but while he was yet lad his
father removed to Europe. and he Sc
cured in the continental schools a solid
primary education. He afterward entered |
the University Of Heidelberg. But the in /
fUence of German university life did not
overcome his inborn preference for Il fusi- |
ness career, and on his return home he /
took the course at the Rensselaer, Poly
technic Institute, from which he was I
graduated as a civil engineer. This was
in 1859.
He went first to Georgia to assist in To- |
eating a railroad. In 1861 he was back in |
soliciting a place in the service |
of the Pennsylvania Railroad. The best
he could do at the time was to secure a
position as rodman. By 1861 his ability |
had become so well recognized that he |
was engaged as superintendent of motive |
power and machinery for the entire sys- /
tenn In 1870 he became general superin- |
tendent OF the system.
Leaves Road in 1882.
Thomas A. Scott, then paramount in |
Pennsylvania Railroad affairs, took
fancy to him, and was influential in his
rapid promotion. When Scott became
president of the road he had Cassatt
made third vice president. In 1850 he had
risen TO the first vice presidency Two
years later he resigned his position and
retired from business. He was only forty |
three years Of age, but he declared that
he felt it time to retire.
For seventeen years Mr.. Cassatt held
no office and took no active part IN the
business of the road. During the seven |
teen years of his refinement he Travelled
extensively in Europe and gave much
of his time to the creation of a great
stock farm at Chester Brook, Pa.
In 1893 Mr.. CaSsatt returned to the
Pennsylvania as president. Early in 1906