Pennsylvania Railroad Company. Traffic Dept.

The PRR named Henry Howard Huston, formerly with the private transporting firm of Leech & Company, as its first Freight Agent in February 1851, while Thomas Moore became Passenger Agent. Both were part of the "First Department" and reported to the General Superintendent. Houston was promoted to the new post of General Freight Agent, now part of the Transportation Department, in December 1852, and E. J. Sneeder, another Leech employee, became Freight Agent at Philadelphia the following month. Sneeder died early in 1860 and was replaced by Stephen B. Kingston. Kingston succeeded Henry H. Houston as General Freight Agent on June 1, 1867.

The Freight Department was created under the Organization of June 1, 1873, when the General Freight Agent and his staff were removed from the Transportation Department and made to report jointly to General Manager A. J. Cassatt and Second Vice President George B. Roberts. General Freight Agent Stephen B. Kingston supervised three additional General Freight Agents corresponding to the Grand Divisions of the Transportation Department. Under the subsequent Organization of July 1, 1874, the General Freight Agent now reported General Manager Frank Thomson and Third Vice President A. J. Cassatt, but the General Manager lost all rate-making authority.

The Organization of November 1, 1881, replaced the General Freight Agents at the Grand Divisional Level with Division Freight Agents and added a General Agent for New York and New England. The post of Assistant General Freight Agent was created on October 1, 1882, and filled by the appointment of John Whittaker. On July 9, 1885, the title of General Freight Agent John S. Wilson was changed to General Freight Traffic Agent and that of the Assistant General Freight Agent Whittaker to Local Freight Agent. Whittaker died on Apr. 30, 1890, and was succeeded by Charles A. Chipley.

From the description of Freight Dept. Registers, 1853-1905. (Hagley Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 123466706