Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-29
HIS DEATH DEPLORED
Sudden Demise of A. J. Cassatt
Shock to Baltimore.
INTERESTED In THE CITY
Desired to Give 1t All Improvements
Within His Power.
EUL0GIZED BY A FRIEND
EULOGIZED BY A FRIEND
General Counsel of the Pennsylvania
talks of the Late Presidents
q. Career in the Railroad World

BALTIMORE. Md, December ae.-Tbe
news of Mr. Cassatt's death causad pen-
eral regret in local financial circles The
friends he had believed in him and trusted
him fully
his Baltimore acquaintance were large
~ formed when he attended the annual
meetings. OF the Northern Central stock
'uers. Ihls he never failed to do when
IN health and when his engagements and
railroad work did not take him elsewhere
at these recurring periods
His most intimate friend here uas Nv
BERNARD Carter, the general counsoI 90 A.,
ithnSyIvania railroad system in this civ
NJ MI, Car ar was greatly shocked when the
Io "a "a MI, Mr, Cassatts death came to him
ne nad been his friend and associate since
me time when Thomas A. Scott famiIiarlv
Known as Tom" Scott in railroad circles
y R"S Ph[es!Gent OF the system. Mr.. George
\ -. hoperts was then first vice president
ana Mr.. CasSatt second vice president
Even at this time" said Mr. Carter
Mr, onssatts interest in Baltimore. and
especially in the Northern Central rail
way, was unbounded. He was always on
the lookout for opportunities to improve
IN. ,1 road and his zeal in this connection
did much, so ii is said. to make il nerbans
me most prosperous feeder and connection
"hich the pennsylvania has today
Interest in Baltimore.
Know personally Mr.. Cassatt's inter
est In Baltimore, and / am aware of his
oeslre TO give this city all the facilities
ana improvements it needed He was con-
stahlly studying the situation here as the
northern Central was an especial hobby
with him Even when he Temporarily re-
.ired from railroad work after the eleva-
!ioh or Mr. Roberts to the presidency of
me pennsylvania system his interest in
me local situation did not lag He re-
t talnea place on the Northern Central
influence to building it up in this CITY
He was most anxious to see the new
improvements contemplated here an as
self that his untimeIy death does not ner-
NIT him TO see the full fruition OF his
hopes and desires in this direction He
was deeply In earnest for the cutofs tho
new union station, Increased terminal
facilities at tidewater and interests equally
as desirable, but perhaps less important
than these In Baltimore.
"a Great Man Has Departed"
Il first became acquainted with Mr. Cas-
satt in 1874, when he became vice presi-
dent OF the Northern Central Railway Com
pany of which was then counsel in Mary
land having been connected with it's legal
department since 1855. At the time Mr..
Cassatt became vice president of the
Northern Central Railway Company, Mr..
Thomas A Scott became its president and
Mr.. Frank Thomson it's general manager.
all or these gentlemen holding similar of
noes In the Pennsylvan Railroad Com
pany, in which Mr.. George B. Roberts was
hrst vice president Mr.. CaSsatt being then
its third vice president
II is not too much to say that never
In the history of railroads has there been
a more brilliant combination of all the
abilities requisite for the upbulding and
management of great railroad system
These men built on the foundation which
y 1r4r A 4
all that the Pennsylvania railroad system
(and included in ii the Northern Central
Railway Company had become at the time
Mr. Cassatt became its president is large
ly, owing, so far as leadership is con-
cerned to the abilities and devotion of
these four great men.
Upon the death of Mr. Scott Mr.
George b. Roberts became the president |
In 1850. and upon his death. in 1897 Mr. |
Frank Thomson became it's president and |
upon his death few years after Mr.. Cas-
satt twho had voluntarily retired from |
railroad service In 1882 became it's pres
ident.
denCy all the world knows and admres |
But as far back 1874. when Mr.. Cassatt
was a young man and in all the vigor and |
freshness of early manhood, his wonderful |
brightness and breadth of intellect, his |
marvellous quickness of perception and |
power to grasp and measure difficult prob |
lens. his lton-like courage and his capacity |
for endurance made such an impression |
upon those with whom he had been brought.l
In contact that a great future in railroad |
management was confidently predicted for /
him.
1t was. therefore. with great regret that |
In 1852, when In the fullest vigor of MS |
physical and mental powers, he voluntarily |
resigned his position in the railroad service |
AND retired to private life, saying in hs let |
ter of resignation: My only object in TAX
ing this step is TO have more time at nv |
disposal than any one occupying so respon-
sibie a position In railroad management can |
command
Upon the death of Mr. Frank Thorn
son he was persuaded, with difficulty, TO
consent To become president OF the Penn
sylVana railroad. the Northern Central |
Railway Company, the Philadelphia Bal |
timore and Washington Railroad Company
and the other companies allied with the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company.
Those who knew Mr.. CaSsatt we'll knew
that he was true steel. frank. open and
above board and with strong and deep af- |
fections for all those connected with him |
by ties of Friendship kinship. 1t is no
exaggeration to say of his death that "a |
great man has departed
Last Official Visit Here.
At Mr.. Cassatt's last official visit to Bal
timOre. In February. there came with him |
Vice Presidents joan p. Green who has |
charge of the finances of the road Samuel |
Rea, head of the engineering department; |
John Il. Thayer of the traffic division and |
also w. w. Atter6ury. the general manager |
of the system. II was understood at the |
time that these officials were to make a |
general aud exhaustive personal study of /
the local conditions and to report later
their Impressions. They were expected To !
make further suggestions or 10 amend and |
improve on those already under consdera-
ton by the company.
This is known TO have been done at the |
personal suggestion of the president
General Manager Atterbury had been
here prior 10 that time and also ca me after
ward to consult with local grain mer-
chants as to the need of greater facilities
at tidewater. This had reference more es-
pecially to additional elevator capacity at |
Canton. As a result of these visits the
company finally concluded to build a series
of freproof grain-storage tanks to be op-
Grated in connection with the present ele- |
vators. There are to be ten If these tanks |
built OF concrete. with capacity of about |
100000 bushels each. These would af-
ford storage room for 100000 more bushels