We have thus tabulated, in the briefest manner, a few of the advances made in various departments of life during the period covered by this biography: and we have done so because Mr. Plant loves to recount the progress of the human family. He has kept in touch with it all, enjoyed it all, and has himself contributed no small share to its furtherance. It enhances one’s estimate of the marvellous progress of the age in which we are living when we think how much has been accomplished in the comparatively brief period of one life. It gives ground for believing, too, that the next decade will surpass any that has preceded it, and that the twentieth century will outstrip the nineteenth as far as the nineteenth has outstripped any of its predecessors. It inspires the wish, also, that the subject of this biography may live to enjoy much of the world’s era of peace and progress in science, art, industry, philanthropy, and Christian alleviation and uplifting power. May this very imperfect history of a very instructive life prove helpful to those taking their place in the onward march of the race towards its great and final destiny.
The wish expressed above for the continued health and life of the subject of this biography was written one year ago, and what follows affords strong hope of its realization.
The winter after the Atlanta Exposition found Mr. Plant with signs of failing health, somewhat alleviated by his sojourn in the South; but on his arrival in New York in the spring of 1896, he was taken violently ill and was constantly under the doctor’s care for four or five months. The next winter he passed in the South, resulting in marked evidences of improved health. The next spring, however, another malady developed, greatly impairing health and threatening life for several weeks. Early in the spring he had so far recovered that he went by rail to San Francisco, in his own private car, thence by ocean to Japan and China, and, returning to Japan, spent a large part of the summer there, from whence he sailed for San Francisco and returned to New York early in November, nearly all evidences of past diseases having disappeared, and he has passed his seventy-eight birthday in apparently good health.
It is needless to say that honors, courtesies, and kindnesses were liberally tendered him throughout his whole trip in the East, which he enjoyed to the full.
The following incident is one among many that occurred to Mr. Plant during his very interesting tour in the land of the Rising Sun, and shows how promptly he improved every opportunity that came in his way, not only for learning all about the customs, manners, and ways of the Japanese, but of recalling old acquaintances, and renewing old friendships of his early boyhood in his native State, and town of Branford. On his return voyage via the Hawaiian Islands, the steamer stopped for a few hours at Honolulu. Mr. Plant at once set out to find a Branford lady who had long been a resident in these islands. Soon his search was rewarded by finding Mrs. Mary Parker, widow of a missionary of that name, and now in the ninety-fourth year of her age. Mr. Plant was present at the marriage of this good lady in Branford, Connecticut, when only a boy of seven, and doubtless some of the happy boyhood emotions of that occasion came back to him when he clasped the hand of this aged woman so far away from their native Branford.
HENRY B. PLANT IN WAR AND IN PEACE.
Few men are more blessed with a peaceful disposition and an inborn dislike of the antagonisms that arise so frequently between men and nations than is the subject of this sketch. Nor has it fallen to the lot of many to take such an important part in the two greatest wars of our country. In the former chapters of this biography we have spoken of the valuable services rendered to both sides of the contestants in our Civil War by the Plant System, then only in its embryo state of development. At the banquet given to Mr. Plant at the Atlanta Exposition we heard, from some of the representative men of the South, patriotic speeches full of native eloquence, that thrilled us in every fibre of our being. “Mr. Plant,” said one of the distinguished speakers, “you have done more to bring the North and South together than any other man living.” Mr. Plant has been privileged to have a large part in the present conflict that has completely cemented the whole nation as never before. This is by no means the smallest benefit that has come to our country out of this great conflict, for it is as true now as when it was uttered by one of the greatest American statesmen, “United we stand, divided we fall.” The following description of the facilities afforded for shipment at Port Tampa is from the pen of one who is well acquainted with every foot of land and water about which he writes.
“The war with Spain directed attention more to Port Tampa than any one place in the United States. This was for the reason that the largest military expedition that ever left the shores of the United States was loaded and sailed from the docks there. The work was done in a very short time, considering the lack of experience of the government officials in charge.
“So much has been said and written about the loading of General Shafter’s expedition, with its fleet of thirty-six steamships, that the public will appreciate some detailed information about the immense facilities which are found ready for use at Port Tampa. This was through the foresight and business sagacity of the head of the Plant System, for he built largely for the great business that must pass through that port at no distant day.
“The railroad yards of over thirty-six miles of track, at Port Tampa, Port Tampa City, and Tampa, belong to the Plant System, and have a capacity of over two thousand cars, leaving working room for all the business that this number of cars would bring to the place. The tracks are perfectly arranged, and experienced railroad men say that no railroad yard in the South will compare with this for conveniences in handling a big business. The business is in the hands of railroad men of experience, and no delays were traceable to them. Between Tampa and Port Tampa is a stretch of nine miles. To illustrate the perfect system employed in handling the business, it is only necessary to say that from six o’clock in the morning until 11:40 at night, twenty-six passenger trains passed over this nine miles every day. Besides this, the freight trains numbered more than this, comprising the various sections of regular trains and the large number of troop and supply-trains for the movement. There was no delay and not an accident.