Another railroad man who has risen from a place of obscurity to a
position of prominence is Alexander Johnston Cassatt, who has been
president of the Pennsylvania railroad company since June, 1899. Like
George H. Daniels, of the New York Central railroad, he started life
as a rodman, in 1861, in the employ of the corporation of which he
is now the head. Mr. Cassatt preferred to begin at the foot of the
ladder for the sake of the knowledge of the primary details of the
business which his so doing gave him, instead of making use of the
influence as he probably could have obtained in order to assure him
a less humble position. He was born in Pittsburg, December 8, 1839,
and was educated at the University of Heidelberg and the Rensselaer
Polytechnique institute. After his experiences as rodman, by force of
sheer industry and integrity, he rose from place to place until, in
1871, he was made general superintendent of the Pennsylvania system and
general manager of the lines east of Pittsburg. Between 1874 and 1882
he held the offices of third vice-president and second vice-president,
was elected director in 1883 and was made president of the road in
1899. “Thoroughly ground yourself in the elementaries of your chosen
business, and then stick to it,” is Mr. Cassatt’s advice to young
men. He is a thorough believer in the old axiom that “a rolling stone
gathers no moss.”