New-York tribune., 1909-09-25
a Brief Sketch of the Guiding
Spirit.


os the metropolis is now taking in the develop
memi of the natural resources of this country at
large. specially IN regions hitherto largely IN
accessible Men with great purposes and large
Fortunes are accepting the opportunities their
positions their qualifications ana means allow
Such men rs these arc making st possible that
The col,spsted centres of tho United States may
be properly relieved. that the great tide OF hu-
mani;y may be properly turned into hourishing
aelds r employment.
In thIs connection much may Be said q the
sccoan ilshgnents Of John Roberts Allen in the
great ,rari. 10 was undoubtedly created for-the
sey,iar,,,.nt of orcgor's natural resources and
tie r.neraI exploitation 4 her possibilities.
yo,D roberts Allen. son of John W.cllhaIn and
Caroline Roberts) Allen. was born on April D.
YIes. Ills ancestors were OF ancient scotch ana
IoDr1iyn stock Although Mr.. Aliens birthplace
u.s 81 Kentucky the American branch Of the
seuf. VAS originally of Virginia, his grandfather
haxirs been born IN Hanover County. not Tar
Instant nom Richmond
NJ. Ansn's boyhood WAS spent upon iis iatlef
exr4a his earlier education being received ii ln'
-,DDfry schools OF the neighborhood Al the
49,. .. sirseeo he entered upon active business
80. c,,,os,nx 2 vocation 20 which he has ever
-. ,.., devoted. HIS initial experience was
Wiz, the Louisville z Nashville Railroad "heh
be received a salary SZS rnohlh- -"
&C. De Was ggttins a Larry Of $4,000 year.
-, ere LOUISVILLE & Nashville MY
-, ., xcxico. where he contracted e1-
- ,,t.,asfs IN mines and railroads anu
49,, ,hasa he has anassed fortune iie -
r,,,ss in the southern republic for lhree yam
- .r.,, thereafter his services were oD''l-l.91
nv ts,e Richmond & Danvile KalToa"
g.. .osa which is TOW the property OF INC
49,, Southern Railway system ne "iS -
-.cteS for two years the following Two eA4'
being devoted 90 important "ork IN "'s
With TIE Panama Railroad Cofnlahy'
a, ,b5s s4ase OF his already remarkable cafe'ef
,-ee-,,,,gs and success. the vast possibilities
:. g. .,.ss Northwest attracted his attention.
- - ,,renfv years he has been prominently
1so,,,eos with railroad building and the mih'ns
,,y,,,,,rieg ~ washington oregon ArA~'ha '''-0
CaIlfornia- ,,os,,e
Mr Anen's thorough engineering -
ana his marked ability in construction eSt4"-0
s,~ have materially helped him IN ms WIN -
.sa5,ton 10 being one 81 the best pos'eu NJ" "
a.. limo :, this country. his knowledge oI 'i'1
N a measure through his extensive uA'eiS' l'r
-. -, a, authority on Industrial unoerIaA-
- rse "a also the master OF seVerAi IAN
-. which accomplishment has enaDieo mn,
g. command his entire interests peis'''A''''
tbev are International in scope
AZ. AueD is 2 man OF unusually keen percep-
g.. ,,a who sees Immediately the pos7lDiiities
. e,...,,o, This connected with ms rniifheo
so,I.r,,,,,ation and business qnahhcatiois-qu
,a.to,.s based upon actual eKperleice-ha'e
- him IN important factor in the progress
80 ,,.yeIoDyneut OF the Industrial Worlo lOf q
number Of years
xvter in conversation with this Industrial
,easer nothing iTnTresscs one more than ms eyes.
re seerns 20 look right into ones chamber OF
f1,oueiIi and HIS questions and answers are
,1ravs well selected and terse. He Is indeed
.sysle3Dg in manner, with most pleasing per
.on,lit, My Allen might be considered a bit
tacjturn and yec no point ia the matter under
sisc,,ssion IS not fully covered when he has fin
fEhed II Is a pleasure 20 converse with him, his
knowledge OF humanity ana things In general
being of such a wide scope that interest in what
he has 10 say never flags.
One u the most pleasing characteristics OF
this man II not the chief one, IS his love OF
home IIis devotion 20 his family Is Intense. and
bis immense interests with the time required In
Fostering them have never been allowed TO
eroach upon the duties Of his home life. Mr.
Alien married in December. 1889. Miss Kath-
aTine ClaFloe- They have three children. one
SON and two daughters.
Although Dresident Of the East Canada smeit-
ing Company, the American Railway Tie Com
paHy and the Federal Development Company.
with offoes at no. 10 wan street New York
city Ina dufiee as chief executive Of the Pacific