The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-13
GEO. WESTINGHOUSE, FAMOUS INVENTOR, IS DEAD IN NEW YORK Succumbs to Heart Disease Developed Over One
 Year Ago HAD LONG BEEN A
 FAMOUS INVENTOR Invented Famous Airbrake Which Bears His Name-Not Thought
 Seriously III Until Shortly
 Before His Death

New York, March 12.-George Nesting house, foremost figure in the engineer ing world, famous inventor of the brake that bears his name, died late this even ing in this city. Heart disease manifest ed itself about b months ago and the end came a few hours after it became publicly known that MT. Westinghouse was seriously i'll. He was in his 6Sth year, Funeral services will be held Sat lrday
 Westir ghouse became an inventor at the age of 15 when he produced rotary engine Four years later he constructed device for replacing derailed steam cars, Then, when 21 years old he sought the financial backing of the late Com modore Cornelius Vanderbilt for his now famous air-brake, perfected after three years of labor.
 Do you mean to tell me you can stop a railroad train by wind?" demanded the commodore.
 Well, yes, inasmuch as air is wind, I suppose you are right" spoke the youth.
 'I have no time to waste on fools" said the commodore, thus abruptly termi- mating the interview.
 Made High Speed Possible
 Westinghouse sought and found capital elsewhere, manufactured his invention, and made high speed possible on rail roads, revolutonizing traffic systems and inauguratng notable era of railway development. Mir Westinghouse did not confine his genius to railroadng. For half a century he continued to make other contributions to electrical as well as engineering advancement. His inven- tions and improvements had to do with railway signaling and power devices for safety and for economically conveying natural gas over long distances and us- ing it for industrial and domestic fuel, air spring for motor vehicles of all kinds ana q sshrsdsfnrhne system for tfas pros pulsion of ships. developed in collabora- ton with the late Admiral George w. Melville, United States navy, and John H. MacAlpine.
 In return for his many achievements, the highest honors in the gift of tech nical societies and institutions of Eu- rope and America were bestowed upon Mi. Westinghouse. European sovereigns conferring distinguished orders. As re- gently as last December he received from the principal engineering society of Ger many the celebrated Grashof gold medal.
 Pounded Manufact0ries
 MT. Westinghouse founded many man ufacturing companies in this country and abroad, including the great plants at East Pittsburg, Wilmerding, Swissvale and Trafford City. Pa, and others in Hamil- ton, Canada Manchester and London, England Havre, France: Hanover, Ger many; St. Petersburg. Russia; Vienna, Austria, and Vado, Italy In these in- dustries some 50,000 persons are employed and the many companies have a capital ization aggregating $200,0o0,000.
 MT. Westinghouse mental alertness and activity remained unimpaired to the last. The final years of life were among the most productive. For several months however, he had limited his activities Ii was stated tonight on behalf of his many interests there will be no change of policy in connection with his indus- tries, but they will be carried on under a plan iong ago though out by the in- ventor himself.
 MT. Westinghouse and his various ven- lures suffered severely in the panic of 1907. In October of that year the Vest inghouse Electric and Manufacturing company went into bankruptcy from which it was released year later, after creditors had accepted a plan of reor- ganizatiop. Following that episode the control of the Westinghouse company and some f its subsidiaries rested with a group of New York, Boston and Pitts burg banking interests. Westinghouse common which had paid 10 per cent yearly from 1904 to 1907, suspended dividends al- together from the latter part of 1907 until 1912. when they resumed on per cent basis. and last year 4 per cent was paid According to some of his business asso- ciates. MT. Westinghouse never recov- cred from the shock he received when the control of his numerous enterprises was taken out of his hands.
 The reorganization plan was conceived by MT. Westinghouse, who urged its adop- tion in preference to plans submitted by eminent financiers. The inventor insisted his idea was the best and. according to his associates, it proved to be an achieve ment in constructive finance.
 Hard Working Man
 MT. Westinghouse was unostentatiious, kindly helpful and a hard working man. In connection with his kindly spirit 1t was recalled of him today that 30 or 40 years ago he introduced to this country the Sat urday half holiday.
 Of the inventor and his works, Lord Kelvin said not long before his own death: s
 George Westinghouse is in character and achievement one of the great men of our time" Of himseff, MT. Nesting house once remarked: T have always known what 1 wanted to do, and for do- ing it owe great deal to persistence, to a natural fondness for mathematics, and to the fact that throughout my youth l learned to work with my hands as well as my head and always have kept in practice.
 George Westinghouse was born in the village of Central Bridge, near Schonec- tady. N. Y., October 6. 1S46, and as lad attended the public school in Schenectady. He entered Union college, but left in 1853 to serve in the war between the States His love for engineering led to his trans- fer from the army to the navy. where he became attached to the Potomac fiotilla. acting as third assistant engineer In. August 1867, MT. Westinghouse married Miss Marguerite Erskine Walker. who survives him, together with their one child, George, Jr., who lives near Lenox. The son ,,a rried Miss Violet Rroclxie-