New-York tribune., 1907-09-23
SAMUEL SLOAN DEAD.
EXPIRES At G4RRISON.
Has One of the Oldest Railroad Men
IN This Country.

o,,,+rv Although ninety years Old he
Gill active and kept up his interest in his work
until short time before his death His bust
ness interests were very large.
Samuel Sloan for three decades one of the
,o,n+-y's most celebrated railroad men and an
associate Of Jay Gould, Russell Sage and other
industrial giants was born on Christmas Day,
,Sr7. at Lisbur1l. within seven miles OF Belfast.
ireland His parents. like many of the people
IN the North Of Ireland. We're Scotch Presby
-erians Of Industrious and frugal habits. When
he was about two years old his family came to
America and settled in this city. where Samuel
Sloan spent his boyhood. He attended the first
r,1,biic school in the city and afterward went TO
the grammar school Of Columbia College and
continued HIS studies until his fathers death in
1S3o
After his fathers death young Sloan was COM
PEELED TO give up his studies and help sup
port his mother and four brothers and sisters.
The reputation that his father had made in the
business world made II easy for him TO obtain
place. and he was taken into the employ Of
Mcbride & Co. Irish importers. He worked his
way up in this firm through his close applica-
ton TO the business. and remained with them for
nearly twenty-five years During this time. in
l8s5 he married Miss Margaret Elmendorf, Of
Sornerville. n J., and then moved to Brooklyn.
Nr- Sloan always took more or less interest in
politics and the betterment Of conditions, so. in
1882, he was chosen Supervisor of Kings County.
In the same year he was a candidate for the
Democratic nomination of his district for Con-
gress. and the assembling OF the delegates
had clear majority. When the vote taken.
however, Il was found that he had been defeated
by votes. This was attributed 10 his lack Of
political experience.
In 1858 he appointed OF the commits
sioners to frame charter for the consolidation
his last political Office until 1857, when he
was induced to accept the Senate nomination
from the "a District as the only man with
whom the Democrats had any chance. This
the year Of the great financial crisis. and the
elections Were attended with much feeling and
excitement. The district was strongly Repub-
lican. and Mr.. Sloans antagonist. Abijah Mann.
jr. was extremely popular Despite this, Mr.
Sloan was elected by about fourteen hundred
majority, and was the first Democratic Senator
10 represent the district.
Mr Sloan served in the Senate with success
remaining there for two years. When his term
ended he became interested in the Hudson River
Railroad and turned mis- attention earnestly in
that direction The railroad had only single
track II was unfinished and IN a precarious
financial condition 1t struggling at dis
advantage with the Harlem Railroad and the
Hudson River The New York Central
owned and controlled by a separate organiza-
tion. Erastus Corning was president Of the
entire system. Entering the directorate OF the
Hudson River Railroad in 1855. Mr. Sloan was
soon elected president OF the company After
his retirement from the Senate ne assumed the
active management Of the road. and there soon
came a change in the financial condition Of the
property When Mr. Sloan became president OF
the Hudson River Railroad the stock was SELL
the market value of the stock was $40
When Commodore Vanderbilt bought con-
trolling interest in the Hudson River Railroad
he changed the policy Of the company and
elected an entire new board OF directors. So
Impressed was he with the energy and business
ability Of Mr.. Sloan. he offered him the presi-
dency Of the Harlem Railroad. which was de-
cl.ned by Mr.. Sloan. who preferred to have a
free hand for his business ventures For a
time Mr. Sloan acted mediator and commits
sioner Of trunk lines In the fall OF 1864 he was
elected director OF the Delaware Lackawanna
& Western Railroad, which road then in
complete 1t served only. in connection with
other roads TO form part outlet for the rapidly
developing Pennsylvania coal fields. Subse-
ouently the LackaDanna extended from
Great Ben on the Erie Railroad to Scranton.
Mr.. Sloan became president of the Lacka
wanna road In 1867 and held that Office without
2 break until March /. 1899. He followed the
methods with this railroad that he did with
the Hudson River Railroad, and met with the
same success. He extended the connections Of
the Lackawanna in all directions. and about
100000 was spent on developing the road.
i mainly due TO his efforts that the rail-
road tunnel through Bergen Hill, back Of Hobo
ken. built. When he assumed the presi-
dency Of the Iackawanna he found that its only
outlet 10 the through the tunnel under
Bergen Hill. owned by the Erie Railroad. He
determined end this trouble by building an
other tunnel for the exclusive use Of the I.acka-
wanna After three years labor the work was
completed Subsequently by his directions an
from bridge was built across the Hackensack
River. This structure is 40 feet long and cost
$4,000
Mr. Sloan was president of the Michigan Cen
tra for two years from June 1876. in addition
10 his other duties. he also president Of the
Marquette Houghton & Ontonago Railroad, |
which he organized. For some time before its
acquisition by Charles Parsons Mr.. Sloan was
president Of the Rome. Watertown & Ogdens-
burg Railroad. and later president Of the |
Fort Wayne & Jackson Railroad. Among the
corporations Of which he a director or an
official are the Western Railroad. Bank Of the
Metropolis. Cayuga & Susquehanna Railroad
Chester Railroad, Consolidated Gas Company,
East River Gas Company. Farmers Loan &
Trust Company, Greene Railroad, Hanover d |
Newport Railroad Hopatcong Railroad. Lacka- |
wanna & Montrose Railroad. Manhattan Com
pany. Manhattan Railway Company. Mechan- |
ics' Bank. Missouri Pacific Railway Company. |
Morris and Essex Extension Company Ma
tionaI City Bank OF New York. Newark & |
Bloomfield Railway Company. New York. Lack
G. Western Railroad. New York Mutual |
Gas Light Company, Oswego & Syracuse Rail- |