Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1907-01-25

prestige OF his tremendous business
and his riches behind him and a smile
of confidence on his face. Mr.. Carnegie
walked into Mr.. Cassatts office to ask
why his company's secret freight rates
had been discontinued.
He was sure it was : mistake Mr.
Cassatt WAS quite as sure that il was
not. Mr.. Carnegie's smile disappeared
and he began to glover. If that was
the case. he would insist tha the rates
be re.pstablished. else he (Carn agicI
would construct line from the west
through Pittsburg to the Atlantic sea
board that would destroy the primacy
of the Pennsylvania system.
His answer from the tall man who
was directing the affairs of the Penn
sylvania Railroad company was Il cold
stare and an invitation to build as
many roads as he liked.
Here is an anecdote about Mr.. Cas-
satt hitherto unpublished: Hcwas walk.
ing out to his home in Rittenhouse
square with one of the directors
That's very fine place you have
there, Mr.. Cassatt." said the director.
surveying the mansion.
Yes" replied Mr.. Cassatt. with
doubtful appreciation. but would
rather live in the country"
Then. why don't ycu?'
Mr.. Cassatt looked at his friend very
soberly and asked:
Aren't you married?"
Memory was great factor in the
success of A. J. Cassatt He kept
track of things" MS he called it. and.
like General Grant. was able TO carry
a remarkable amount of detail in his
mind
While he was still minor official of
the road Thomas Scott. the early gen
lus Of the Pennsylvania Railroad COM
pany, came into his office and said;
Mr.. Cassatt. | wish you would have
one OF the bookkeapers find out for me
how many cars of freight We're shipped
over the New Jersey division last
month"
81 can tell you that myself. Mr.
Scott" replied Mr.. Cassatt. And he
gave the figures offhand
How in the world did you know
that?' asked the president. opening his
eyes in amaZement
"Oh," said Cassatt. az look over the
books every few days and try to keep
track of things"
Mr.. Cassatt dealt in millions as other
men deal in pennies. This was illus
trated some time ago when the west
ern manager of the Pennsylvania sys.
TEN submitted to the president a
scheme for improving the lines in the
west by an expenditure of S24,00O000
The $10Oo0O,0G0 tunnel operation was
already under way. and the western
manager was afraid that his scheme
stood poor chance. The president ex
amined the plans carefully.
Are you sure that S24000,0G0 will
be enough" he asked quietly.
"Quite sure"
confident that you haven't overlook
ed anything?"
absolutely"
"Then go ahead"
No matter what big financial schemes
he might have In hand, Mr.. Cassatt
never lost sight of the details of rail
road management Not long ago $4,000
freight cars got tangled up in Pitts
burg-tangied so tightly that all the
nd .,Ei
scene were hopelessly confused.
The snarl was such as to imperiI the
traffic of the whole system. Mr.. Cas-
satt took Il special train for Pittsburg,
called all the officers around him and
got the maps and reports that had
been prepared. Orders began TO fly
like electric sparks, and within twen,
ty-four hours the presid ent had 10000
cars moving.
group N railroad men were relat-
ing anecdotes in corner of the Wal
dorf-Astoris hotel. in New York. one
evening when this one of President A.
J. Cassatt Of the Pennsylvania was
told. says the New York Mail:
Soon after the requirement Of the
Long Island railroad by the Pen nsyl-
vania President Cassatt had occasion
to direct one Of the oG Long Island
officials to make. some changes in bis
methods.
"rt has always been our custom"
was the tenor Of the Long Island mans
objections.
"But you must follow Pennsylvania
customs now" said Mr.. Cassatt.
Il fear you are an autocrat," was the
reply.
at is no news to the president of the