New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-05-23
Mai. Aliens Speech.

We invite attention to the following speech OF
Ma. Allen the Engineer OF the Erie Railroad
which h. has revised at our request, and which
contains very valuable information, not alone IN
relation to the Erie road, but to the general his
tory of Railroads IN the United States 1t will
well repay perusal
GENTLEMEN: Early in the evening declined TO
address YOU. with the remark that 1t would be bad
Engineering to occupy your time when this large as
Sembage WAS IN eager expectation of listening to
the q o0uence of the great men of the nation who
have hOnored this occasion with their presence
now avail myself OF the opportunity OF urging "a
few words IN reference to the Engineer Department
of TINS great work. This am especially de>rous OF
doing. because find myself IN position which make
II incumbent me- TO take care that honor Is given
where honor Is due, and that | do not allow =
JUSTIFY During this proud progress from the Ocean
to the Inland Seas, have been addressed and con
graduated as tie Che Engineer OF this work There
are few IN the land who would not be proud Of the
position which should entte HIM TO such Congratu-
laton. but such IL not the position which have oc
cuPtd Tins VIII appear when the facts are before
YOU, ana tnat lhey may De presented IN THIS public
manner, IS the principal reason why have yenturCd
TO claim your attention for few moments
When the Board, Of which Benjamin Loder was
President, assumed the vast responsibility OF the
charge OF the work, the completion Of which this
day celebrate they found Railroad built and in
from the Hudson 10 MlddletOWn, 4 distance of SO
miles As the entire line Is AIS miles there remain
ed 392 miles 10 De constructed to extend this short
CONNIE ncement 10 Lake Enc. Major Thompson
Brown. whom the Board found in the position Of
Chief Engineer was continued IN that responsible
Office and when after the long delay which attended
their Efforts 20 attain modification of their ChdI ter,
which should allow the Company 10 select the most
favorable route which the great natural features Of
the country permitted, the Board were length ready
10 direct active operations to be commenced, had
the honor to be- requested, with the entire ccncur-
renee OF MAJOR Brown 10 take the position Of Con
suting Engineer. In the ardOus duties which de-
Brown he had he of Soy
mOur, w II Sidell, J. w Adams and L. j. Sanclif
as experimenting Engineers OF Division OF 80 to 50
miles OF the main line, and OF McRec Swift on the
NcWburgh branch Under this organization the road
was carried through 10 Corning, distance OF 277
miles from the Hudson and located and put under
contract to HomellsyIIe, distance Of ~ miles
further
II viii thls be perceived that Major Brown and his
experimenting Engineers are 10 be spoken of a. the
Chef Engineers OF the road up 10 the period named
short time previous 10 that period my resignation
Of the office OF Consulting Engineer a resignation
which had been proposed by me many times pre-
vously, on the ground that my services were no
longer required. Was accepted
But few months had elapsed after the acceptance
OF the resignation whe MAJOR Brown received from
the Government Of Russia. most Unexpectedly 10
him. and without the solicitation Of his friends the
offer Of the appointment 10 the Office made vacant by
the death Of Major Whistler This appointment
placed HIM at the head Of the great work then in
progress ofconStructon between 81 Petersburgh and
Moscow
The inducement. held out by this offer were such
that MAJOR Brown cOnclud ed to accept A.. although
the Board Of tins Company proposed IN terms, Of the
most gratifying character largely to increase his
salary.
1t thus occurred then that when the board We're ready
TO take the last great step 10 carry the road 70 Lake
Ere the question of the organization Of the Engineer
Department again came up. There wge Engineers on
the line either Of Whom, might with great propnety
have been selected 10 fill that responsible office, bur
II was finally proposed with the concurrence Of the
three Engineers named that the To- miles remaining
10 be built should be placed IN three Divisions under
the charge Of l.. l. stanly, Mckee swift and sIas
Seymour with the understanding that the duties Oh
extent those Of Chief Engineer, while again re-
celved the appointment OF Consulting Engineer.
with the responsibility OF the Department and au
thOnty 10 act as Chief Engineer A. circumstances
might require Under this organization the work has
been carried through, and Will be perceived that
ne great lat or and Immediate responsibility has rest
cd on the three Engineers named, and that they are
70 te spoken OF as Chief, rather than as subordinate
Engineers.
OF The NAM er, in which they have met the respOn-
siOlhy deyoYed On them, you have the best evidence
before you, IN the completion Of l67 miles Of road,
l25 miles OF which embracing the most difficult por
ton ~as put under contract IN March. 1850, and com
peitd ready for the cars IN April 1851. II may b.
proper 10 add. each Of these Engineers have on the
completion Of this work received appointments VII.
Stanchf On the Buffalo and State Line Road, Mr..
SWIft n the Genesee Valley Road. and Mr.. Seymour
on the Buffalo and NcwNOrk City Road
Having occupied your time with these statements
OF perhaps general interest, but the omission OF
NlitA Noulu nave DetN Al dCL u injustice udFt
thought that this grea; Railroad occasion refer
ence to some Of the incidents IN the early Railroad
history Of this country might be appropriate
To BRING before you, a. srlklngy as Is IN my power,
i has occurred 10 me 10 lead your Imagination 20 the
conceI ton Of the scene which would present itself
# on some fine morning you placed al eleva-
ton, ana gifted FOR the moment With aipo~er of
vision which would command the Railroad move
ments Of The whole United States There would be
presened an exciting picture OF activity IN the thou
sand Iron Horses starting forth from the various Rail
road niCTs or trayersng the surface Of the CONT
nent n all directions When the imagination has at
tanned 10 conception OF tins scene, lei 1t seek 20
20 back 20 the time when only one OF these IRON
mon ters was n existence on This continent and Was
moving I, nth. the first Of This mighty race When
Vas II Where Wa 1t And Who aW akened IT, en-