Palestine daily herald. [volume] (Palestine, Tex.) 1902-1949, 1907-01-05
HENRY CLAY FR|CK
A REMARKABLE MAN
FRIcK is AGAIN IN THE PUBLIC
EYE-HAS A NOTABLE CAREER
AS A FINANclER.
Special to the Herald.

dent CaSSatt OF the pennsylvania ran
road company was taken seriously il
last summer and it seemed that he
to struggle with the vast problems
presented to the head of that great
system, the directors, it is said, cast
about for a possible successor in the
event of Mr. Cassatt's death. They
fixed upon Mr.. Prick. Whether the
I. former steel magnate accepts the title
of president or not, it is quite certain
that he is to be the dominating force
in the affairs of the Pennsylvania. He
is already director and the largest
individual owner of stock.
Mr.. Prick is a remarkable man and
has had remarkable career.
Not only national but international
attention was rivited upon him for
the first time in July, 1892, when the
anarchist Bergman attempted to as
sassinate Mr.. Frick in his Office in
Pittsburg. 1t was during the famous
homestead steel SIr1ke.
In 1904 it was heralded broadcast
that Mr.. Prick had procured the APP
pointment of Attorney General Phi
lander c. Knox as United States SEN
ator from Pennsylvania, and although
this was not the fact yet for a second
time was Mr.. Prick thrown conspicu-
ously into the limelight of publicity.
A year ago attention was again d.
rected toward Mr.. Frick by his APP
pointment as chairman of the investi-
eating committee of the Equitable
Life Assurance society and by the
announcement that he was to desert
Pittsburg to spend the remainder OF
his life in this city.
AS to Mr.. Tricks career:
He was born in Fayette county, Pa,
in 1S49, and while a boy became one
of the trusted clerks in Overholt's dis
tillery. When barely q years old he
engaged in the coke business as an
operator ON his own account He
building coke road from Bradford
to Mount Pleasant The Baltimore G.
Ohio saw the value of the road and
bought it in at a handsome profit
Mr.. Prick at once invested his entire
capital in coal lands ami additional
coke plants. In 1882 the coke interests
held by him and E. NJ and Walter
Ferguson reached such an enormous
size that Carnegie Bros. & Co. paid
$1,500,000 for half interest therein
He then bought a number of other
works, bringing into one interest from
10000 to $4,000 acres of Connellsville
coal. Later the holdings were in
creased SO per cent. In busy times
the company produced from $4,000 to
10000 tons of coke daily. On the
death of David A. Stewart, Mr.. Car
negie, recognizing the great business
ability of Mr.. Frick, succeeded in
getting him to take an interest in the
firms of Carnegie Bros. and Carnegie,
Phipps & Co., and he accepted the
position of chairman. When the com
panies consolidated with a capital
stock of $4,000, 900 Mr.. Frick became
chairman of the new organization and
active head of its vast interests.
Well advised men in the world of
business say the building up of the
great Carnegie concern to its present
gigantic proportions was due to tn.
genius of Mr.. Frick and to his bold.
ness in innovation. Quick to see and
appreciate the value of any new meth
cd, he was swift to acquire and install
it in the Carnegie plant, frequently
in direct opposition to the Judgment
of Mr.. Carnegie, who is the epitome
OF conservatism. AS a matter of fact,
Mr.. Frick and Mr.. Carnegie were
never in thorough sympathy or accord
in the conduct of their business. Va.
rious points of difference continually
arose, and the friction arising from
these finally resulted in conditions
that made it impossible for the two
men to longer work together.
The predominant traits of Mr.
Tricks character are his fearlessness
and tenacity. Once having made up
his mind that certain course Of ac.
ton is eXpedient or necessary, he will
adhere to his determination with un.
fiinching persistency, and bulldog
courage rarely found. Although un.
dersized he shows the possession of
robust constitution. His eyes, clear
and penetrating, never wander from
the face Of the person with whom he
is in consultation, and they, with the
determined set of lips, show the firm.
ness and tenacity which have done so
much TO make his career successful
Mr.. Prick is reputed to own about
10000 shares of the stock of the
Pennsylvania railroad. His influence
in the policy of the road has been
recognized for some time, and during
the past few years rarely was any i'm.