Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-04-27
Late President of the Reading Rail.
way Company

|
| Philadelphia, April 2T-George f..
Baer. president Of the Philadelphia and
Reading Railway, and one of the lead
ing railroad and coal mining authori-
ties in the United States, died in his
city home, 171s Spruce street. at 7.43
o'clock last night. Mr.. Baer was ~
years old and his death was directly
due to uraemic poisoning.
| Mr.. Baer had a stroke while on the
way to his office on Saturday. 1t was
said, that Mr. Baer had gone to his
office against the wishes of the family
| physician.
| Except for a few brief moments OF
semi-consciousness, MIR. Baer was in u
state of coma from the time he fell to
the sidewalk until he breathed his last.
Mrs. Baer her five daughters and sons
in-law were at the bedside of the hus-
and and father when he died.
The story of the life of George F.
Baer is narrative of how boy born
| in modest circumstances gradually
climbed the ladder of success until
he gained the reputation of being one
of the foremost railroad authorities in
the country.
Prominent as an Attorney
Mr.. Baer was prominent as an at
torney. His legal talents especially be-
! came known when the government
was instituting wholesale suits against
corporations suspected of not being
within the purports of the Sherman
Antitrust law.
In every sense of the term he was
self-made man. Born in Landisvillc.
Somerset county. Pa, on September
rs, 1912, Mr.. Baer obtained his early
knowledge in country school.
At the age of 13 he went to work in
of the office of the Somerset Demo-
crat, where he learned the printing
trade after having served as printers
devil. composer and associate editor.
By saving their small incomes, Mr.
Baer and his brother Henry were en-
abled to purchase the newspaper
shortly before the outbreak of the
Civil War.
After his days work as editor of the
newspaper in which he was partner,
the young editor devoted his time TO
the study of law. The call to fight for
the Stars and Stripes became so strong
in 1862, however, that he ceased his
studies for the time being and organ
ized the One Hundred and Thirty
third Pennsylvania Volunteers and was
accordingly elected captain by the pa
triots of Somerset.
Was Against the Reading
During his career as an attorney Mr.
Baer looked after claims against the
Reading. His ability was recognized
by officials of that railroad and he
was offered the post of counsel, which
he accepted.
Subsequently he became a director
of the company, but being unable to
agree with President Mcleod, he re-
lsigned.
In 1898, Mr.. Baer gained promi-
Ixy n;l
in reorganiZing the Philadelphia and
Reading Railway.
He was elected president of the
Reading Railway and the Central Rail-
road of New Jersey in 1901, succeed
ing John Harris.
In many parts of the country Mr.
Baer was known as Divine Right"
Baer. This name was given him after
a letter bearing his signature and stat
ing that rights and interests of labor
ing men would not be guarded by agi-
tators but by men to whom God in His
Infinite wisdom has given the control
of the property interests of the coun-
try"
He later denied having written this
lletter.
Held Many Positions
He was president of the Philadei-
lphia and Reading Railway, the Phila-
delphia and Reading Coal and Iron
company, the Central Railroad of New
Jersey, the Atlantic City Railroad, the
Reading Paper Mills Company and the
Keystone Coal Company. He was in
addition a director of the Lehigh and
Hudson River Railway, the Allentown
Terminal Railway, the Pennsylvania
Steel Company, the Cambria Iron
Company, the Allentown Iron Com
jpany, the Cambria Steel Company, the
Reading Trust Company and the Penn
sylvania Company for assurances or
Lives and the Granting of Annuities.
He was also chairman of the Reading
Iron Company.
Funeral arrangements have not yet
been completed. 1t is understood,
however, that services will be held at
the Baer Philadelphia residence at
1000 o'clock Wednesday morning and
that the body will be taken to Reading
for burial. Services, 1t Is expected
will be held in the Baer home at Read
ing Wednesday afternoon. 1t Is
planned to have both services con-
Quoted with the utmost simplicity.
Officers of the Reading Railway to-
day discussed the practicability of hav-
ing all trains on the system stop fol
i a few minutes during the funeral serv.