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MA Re AGN hins, and by his direct way of dealing with them has en- deared himself to the thousands on the pay rolls of these two great companies and their underlying interests. It is not alone in the industrial field that his genius for leadership has been recognized. He has taken an active part in politics and s prominently mentioned among others, as a possible suc- cesscr to the late Senator Quay, and served the state of Penn- sylvania as a delegate- at-large at the last Republican national convention. CAPT. W. B. RODGERS. The dredging of sand and gravel, from the beds of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers has grown to be one of the important industries of the Pittsburg district, and the Rodgers Sand Co. of which Capt. W. B. Rodgers is the head is the largest shipper in the Pittsburg district. This company oper- ates four steamboats and owns 120 flats. Capt. Rodgers has taken a keen interest in all matters pertaining to the improve- ment of river shipping and as a member of the rivers and har- bor committee of the Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce was prominently identified with the movement for the raising of the bridges spanning the Allegheny river and the removal of dangerous abutments, both of which act as a handicap to navigation onthe lower Allegheny. He is also one of the vice presidents of Pennsylvania of the Ohio Valley Improvement association. JAMES REES & SONS CO. It is now a little more than a half century since James Rees (deccased), laid the foundations of that pioneer ship- building concern; now operated under the corporate name of James Rees & Sons Co., still located in Pittsburg on the site of the original plant. Although nearly sixteen years have elapsed since his death the growth of the industry in that period indicates that it was left in strong hands, the property now being owned and operated by his five sons--James H., Thos. M., W. M., David A. and Chas. S.. James Rees, was born on Christmas day, 1821, and at the age of six accom- panied his parents. from Wales and the family settled in a emall town near Wheeling, where the father died within a week after arrival. As James was one of a family of nine he soon was compeiled to devote his efforts towards the support of the family and he was apprenticed to learn the trade of shoemaking. He later worked on a farm, and when his wid- owed mother moved to, Pittsburg he secured employment in a glasshouse. Being of a mechanical turn of mind he sought employment.in a machine shop and learned the machinist trade, and advanced steadily to the position of foreman. In 1842 he was employed by Stackhouse & Thompson to superintend the construction of the erigines for the revenue cutter Michigan, which was then being built for lake service and which was launched a year later. In 1848 the partnership of Rees, Har- tupe & Co. was formed, which was dissolved in 1851 and he next purchased the establishment of Robert Whiteman. In 1854 he purchased the site of the present plant and engaged in the building of boats, boilers and engines. About the same time he originated a line of freight and passenger packets on the Allegheny river. This venture was marvellously success- ful, especially regarding the oil carrying trade, which con- tinued until 1868 when it was abandoned to the railroads. Until the time of his death, Sept. 12, 1889, he was iden- tified with James Rees & Sons, boiler manufacturers, and the James Rees' Duquesne Engine Works. Many of the most famous steamboats which have navigated western and southern rivers were built by this concern and the honor of building the first steel plate steamboat built in the United States is held by this concern. ' In 1878 the com- pany's trade was extended outside the confines of the United States and the Francesco Montoyo was built for the Magda- iena Steam Navigation Co. of South America. Such excellent satisfaction did this boat give that another of the same dimen- sions was ordered in 1879 and she was christened the Vic- R E V 1 8 toria. The following year the Venezuela was built for the same trade, .and in 1881 the Columbia was built for the Irma San Juan river trade in Nicaragua. The fame of these stern wheelers 'attracted the attention of the Russian government, and from this 'Pittsburg plant went the drafts and specifica- tions and the mechanics which inaugurated upon the Volga and the Dneiper and' other rivers of Russia, the building of these stern wheel steamboats which now navigate those and cther streams#of that empire. Boats have also been built for service in Mongolia, Siberia, and they now traverse the Yukon, as well. as the inland waters of the: United States, Canada and Mexico, and in round numbers 'total over one thousand. On July 1, 1895, the firms of James Rees & Sons, boiler manufacturers, and the James Rees' Duquesne Engine Works, were incorporated under the name of James' Rees & Sons Co., with the following officers and stockholders: Jas. H. Rees, president; Thos. M. Rees, vice president and general manager; W. M. Rees, treasurer; David A. Rees, secretary and. Chas. S. Rees. - : MR. JOHN F. DRAVO. The title of "Dean of Inland Waters' has been befittingly bestowed:on John F. Dravo, who despite his' eighty-five years which rest lightly on his shoulders, is still as active in behalf of improved inland river navigation as he was fifty years ago. He. was born at West Newton, Pa, /Ock:. 2041810, His parents being Michael and Mary (Fienae Dravo. Receiv- ing a good common school and college education, he learned the details of the coal business in his father's office and in 1845 he embarked in the coal. business for. himself, In 1854 he founded the town of Dravosburg, Pa., now. a flourishing mining center and thus while- actively engaged in coal mining early saw the possibilities of improved navigation on the Monongahela and Ohio rivers. In 1868 he organized the Pitts- hurg.and Connellsville Gas, Coal & Coke Co, becoming its general manager and treasurer and in 1876 was elected presi- dent of the Pittsburg Coal Exchange, which position he held continuously for ten years. He was active in securing the organization of the Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce, was one of its charter members and for several years its president. It was largely due to the efforts of Capt. John F. Dravo that the government undertook the improvement of the upper Monon- gahela river and the location and erection of the Davis Island 'dam in the Ohio river, and he was in the brunt of the fight for free navigation on the lower Monongahela which was freed by the purchase of the existing locks and dams by the govern- ment. His political career has also been remarkable, having been one of the organizers of the Republican party and was a delegate to the convention which nominated Lincoln. He has twice held the position of surveyor of the port of Pitts- burg and served two terms in the Pennsylvania legislature. While his home is at Beaver, Pa., twenty-eight miles from Pittsburg, his business interests are in Pittsburg, and every day, winter and summer, he is to be found at his desk. His career has been a remarkable one, and despite his age is active in business and social affairs. CAPT. JAMES A. HENDERSON, Cape James A. Henderson, one of the Pennsylvania vice presidents of the Ohio Valley Improvement association, is president and general manager of the Pittsburg & Cincinnati . Packet Line, and vice president of the Pittsburg Terminal & Warehouse Co. The Pittsburg -& Cincinnati Packet Line operates three modern packet, and passenger boats between Pittsburg and Cincinnati and way points and is the only steam- ship line operating west and south from Pittsburg. The steamer Queen City, the most handsomely appointed packet boat on the upper rivers, is 235 ft. long, 44 ft. beam and has a carrying capacity of 1,400 tons. Capt. Henderson has been one of the workers for the canalization of the Ohio river, and when the improvements now proposed are completed the Pittsburg and Cincinnati service will be greatly improved.