THE PASSING OF MR. RIPLEY 



On the fourth day of February, 1920, Edward Payson Ripley, for twenty-four 

 years president of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway system, passed away 

 quietly at his home in Santa Barbara. Although he had been for weeks hope- 

 fully convalescent, his death from heart failure undoubtedly ensued from a series 

 of surgical operations which he had undergone last summer. 



Born October 30, 1845, at Dorchester, Massachusetts, Edward was the son of 

 Charles and Ann Payson Ripley. Immediately after graduating from the village high 

 school, young Ripley entered railroad service, where he early manifested his genius, 

 first in connection with the "Pennsylvania," and later with the "Burlington" and 

 "Milwaukee" systems. On January 1st, .1896, he became president of the Santa Fe 

 systems, then little better than a bundle of bankrupt adventures. But before his road 

 passed into governmental control, this master builder had organized and brought to 

 a splendid unity a railroad system almost unrivalled for beauty, efficiency and intelli- 

 gent public service, and worth as a consequence well on toward a billion dollars. 

 The achievement of such a result bespeaks a rare endowment of executive qualities, 

 but if one were to name one trait above another which made President Ripley great, 

 and which will endear him to everlasting remembrance, it would be the rugged 

 honesty which made him content to earn a salary, where others, less scrupulous, 

 might have wrested tens of millions. Simple, sincere, devoted, the name of Edward 

 Payson Ripley is moulded into the bronze tablet of American history. 



The Museum of Comparative Oology owes a large measure of its success to 

 the courage and patience of Mr. Ripley, who was a charter member of the institution, 

 and at the time of his death its honored president. Mr. ^Ripley had from the first 

 exerted a guiding hand in the affairs of this institution; and having only recently 

 put aside his more serious responsibilities as a railroad president, he had launched a 

 little campaign on behalf of the museum among his friends. While our president 

 made no pretentions to special knowledge in this field of science, he was convinced 

 of its value both as education and entertainment, and he was glad to lend us his 

 name and influence as well as to give material support "pro bono publico." Mr. 

 Ripley shared these convictions and interests with his friend, the late Mr. Rowland 

 G. Hazard, and the loss of both these patrons and counsellors is keenly felt by the 

 young institution. 



The following is a copy of the resolutions adopted by the Trustees of the 

 Museum of Comparative Oology at a special meeting called Friday afternoon, 

 February 6th, at the Commercial Savings and Trust Bank of Santa Barbara: 



"Whereas it has pleased our Heavenly Father in his infinite wisdom to call from us 

 our trusted counsellor and revered President, Mr. Edward Payson Ripley, we record 

 with sorrow our deep and personal sense of loss, and with gratitude our sense of 

 privilege in having been associated with him even so briefly in the upbuilding of an 

 institution of science. Mr. Ripley was a man of impregnable honor and sterling 

 worth. His abilities ranged far beyond the average best of human attainment, and 

 yet he was always approachable and considerate. His sound judgment and sense 

 of proportion were as conspicuous in our councils as were his fearlessness and his 

 unflinching devotion. Mr. Ripley had given to our small affairs a large and generous 

 consideration, and we record in gratitude and humility our appreciation of his dis- 

 tinguished services. And it is no small catise for rejoicing as well as for sobering 

 responsibility that his latest public effort had been in our behalf. 



"We extend to his beloved wife, Mrs. Frances E. H. Ripley, and to his sons 

 and daughters, honored all, our sincerest sympathy. May the Divine Grace hallow 

 the hour of parting and quicken the expectation of a glorious reunion. The memory 

 of the just is a benediction. 



"Respectfully submitted for the Trustees of the Museum of Comparative Oology. 



By the Committee, 



Geo. S. Edwards 

 Clinton B. Hale 

 Fred H. Schauer 

 William Leon Dawson." 



Page thirty-three 



