The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-23
Big ACHIEVEMENTS
MARK M'ADOO'S LIFE
Successful as Lawyer, Pro-
moter and Head of Two
Great Government Bureaus.
HUDSON TUBES HIS WORK
Only IS, He Has Led Remark
ably Active Career, After
Doing The Unexpected.

y William Gibbs McAdoo has been doing
the unexpected all through his career.
! He quit college in his junior year to
| hustle for his living when the family
| funds ran low. He tried to give Knox
Vile, Tenn, It's first street railway line
back in 1892 and left that town for good
| when the city administration blocked his
efforts. He surprised New York and It's
New Jersey suburbs by giving reality
| to a rapid transit vision OF nifty years
with his North River tubes He failed
| in Efforts TO compete with the Inter
borough Rapid Transit Company for
| the extensions OF the old subway and
then dropped out OF the local field to
become the director OF Woodrow Will
sons campaign for the Presidency and
eventually Secretary OF the Treasury
and Director-General OF Railroads.
What is McAdoo going to 60 now?'
| was the question that people wanted an
swered last night after they had recov-
cred from the shock of hearing that the
most powerful figure OF the Government
next IA the President had abdicated. or
course, they wanted to know first why he
did II. The answer to that Is In the des-
patches from washington.
What the Secretary will do when he
quits his post remains for time to de-
| velop He said last night that he intends
o look for a Job. He will have scant
| trouble in finding one. There are many
commercial houses that would be glad to
have him apply himself in their interest
His experiences comprehend those OF a
successful lawyer, q successful promoter
Of a big railroad enterprise and a Gov
eminent official who has had supervision
of two great department, banking and
railroads.
became n Lawyer at II.
William Gibbs McAdoo is SIS years old.
He was bern near Marietta, Ga. His
father. also named William Gibbs Nc
Adoo. served in the Mexican and civil
wars. was a judge. and. late In life, be-
came professor of English literature and
history In the University Of Tennessee.
His mother, ''one OF the F1oyds OF Vir-
ginia." wrote several novels.
When the younger McAdoo left the
University OF Tennessee he was made
deputy clerk OF the Federal Court at
Chattanooga He studied law and was
admitted to the bar in hts twenty-hrst
year.
While pncticing law in Chattanooga
Mr.. McAdoo. as counsel for two local
railroad companies, acquired knowledge
that was to lead him to be an impor-
'snt factor in the transit systems OF
New York city and ultimately TO the war
time control OF all she cailroads OF the
country.
Mr.. McAdoo undertook in 1892 to give
Knoxville, Tenn, Its nrst street railway
line. He was opposed by a rival COM
pauy that had the favor OF the city ad-
ministration. The officials sent the fire.
men TO dispense his workmen with hose
lines. There was n riot. 4 workman
MAJ llAA aaA h,,WN
McAdoo closed his business affairs there
and came 10 New York. He did not
again see Knoxville until 1919. when
he spoke there for the candidacy OF
Woodrow Wilson for President When
he did 60 back. the city gave itself for
a day and n night to demonstrations IN
his honor.
II was when he was 90 years old that
Mr.. McAdoo came to New York and
started to practise law In an ONCE in the
back of a, Wall street building. lie had
a wife and several children as RESPONSE
hiiities and no assets of much value ex-
cept a winning manner In presenting
matters in which he felt an interest In
1898 he formed a law partnership with
Chief Magistrate William McAdoo, who
had been Representative in Congress,
Assistant Secretary Of the Navy and
Police Commissioner. There was no
blood relationship between them.
Starts Hudson River Tunnel,
1t was in the spring OF 1908 that New
York began to hear OF a plan that APP
peared to have substance to give the
city and its Jersey suburbs railroad con-
nection by tunnel under the North River.
IN March OF that year the Hudson and
Manhattan Railroad Company was in
coTpor;acd AZ Albany with capital stock
Of $3,oo0,000 and william G, McAdoo as
president.
Mr.. McAdoo's original project was for
tunnel Of two miles and an expenditure
of Si.Go0,OOO. Ultimately he built
eighteen miles OF tunnel under land and
water and spent $40, 100000. lie met
with many obstacles. but he mad men
IKE Frederic II. Jennings. r. II. Gary
T. c. Converse and Walter G. Oakman
with him, and In 1908 success and public
recognition were accorded to him In en-
platte fashion with the opening OF traffic
in the tubes between the Hudson Ter
minal Building and Jersey City.
Mr.. McAdoo's cons chose Princeton, as
their university. While visiting them
the father met Woodrow Wilson, then
president of the university. A friendship
began which was strengthened by meet
ings that took place when Wilson he
came Governor OF New Jersey and Mr..
McAdoo was a business man with i'm
portant interests in that State. He was