Evening journal., 1912-05-11
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The American Engineer
Who Built RuSSia'S First
Great Railroad
By Holland.


Yesterday told the story of how
Major George Washington Whistler.
father of the artist. James Abbott Nc
Neill Whistler, surveyed and built, in
the late twenties of the last century,
the first part of the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad, planned by the leading
men of Baltimore to overcome the
competition OF the Erie canal
After severing his connection with
the Baltimore and Ohio enterprise and
engaging. i'm various other railroad
undertakings, Major Whistler went
TO Boston in the late thirties to aid in
the construction OF railroads planned
by Boston capital. One of the schemes
OF the Boston capitalists involved the
surveying and construction of rail-
road running from Boston to Albany,
n Y. there to connect with the Erie
canal. Boston had felt the loss of pres
tige as a commercial city occasioned
by the opening Of the Erie canal and
the diverting OF traffic to New York
very much as Baltimore had seen her
commercial prestige threatened by the
same canal In order to meet this
competition. Boston capital was pro-
Vided for the construction Of a rail-
road across Massachusetts to Albany.
This road was first called the Western
railroad.
One day. when Major Whistler had
carried this road as far toward its
western terminus as Pittsfeld, Mass,
there called upon him two distingu-
ished looking men who spoke French,
a language in which Major Whistler
was proficient
1--WE are from Russia" these men
said. I'VE are engineers who have
been sent to the United States by the
Car. and we have been especially
commissioned to see you"
Have heard correctly that the
Car is thinking Of building a railroad
from Moscow 20 st. Petersburgy
Major Whistler asked
1T is precisely that which has
brought us 10 you" the Russian engi-
neers replied. I'VE should regard II as
very great courtesy II you would
take us over the line Of the railroad
you arc now building"
Major Whistler was only too will
ing to show this courtesy to the Rus
sian engineers. He was with them
several days, explaining 10 them every
detail of construction work and also
what the cost Of this work was. When
the visitors parted with Major Whist
Ter they. said to him:
I've shall report to the Gar that
YOU Americans are building better and
cheaper railroads than are being built
In England, because you are using
your intelligence in the railroads We
shall also recommend to the Car that
he ask YOU TO come to Russia as chief
engineer In the construction o. the
railroad he Is anxious to build TO con-
meet St Petersburg with Moscow.
In tho course OF few months
Major Whistler received from the
Russian minister 10 the United States
an invitation 10 cali upon him At the
/ interview which took place between
/ them the ministet laid before Ma1ol
! Whistler the offer'of the Car Of Rus
sia 10 become. upon his own terms
and with full authority. the engineer
in charge Of the construction Of the
great Russian railroad.
Major Whistler accepted the offer
and the first thing he did after reach
ing ST. Petersburg, was 10 80 on foo
over the whole distance between st
Petersburg and Moscow. When he haC
done that he perfected his plans an'
began the survey
The Gear was so greatly pleased
with the progress Of the work that Ia
one day summoned Major Whistler Il
the palace
1T would please me. sir, II yo'
were 10 wear the Russian uniform,
the Car said
Major whistler's reply was that
greatly as he appreciated the comnli
ment. nevertheless. in view OF hi
American citizenship. he could no
wear the uniform.
Then the Czar said to him. "A
least, you will accept the order Of 81
Anne, one Of the great honorary ord
ers Of Russia And Major Whistle
bowed his head in assent.
The American engineer practicall
built this great railroad, although b
died OF choleA before il was actuall
all completed All the while that Ma
ior Whistler was in Russia engaged i
this work. from lS42 to iS49. his sol
James Abbott Mcneil Whistler, wa
with him Today Russia remember
the time Of Major George Washingto
Whistler. which Is hold in high homo
there. while the great artist Whistle
IS merely spoken Of in Russia as th
son OF the American who built Rus
sia's first great railroad.
Copyright. 1912. by u. J. Edward
All rights reserved }
roNcrSr TpoI-T VrT