The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-05-22

Correspondence of the philadelphia Ledger. ]

Correspondence of the Philadelphia Ledsv.I
AsroR HousE, IN. W May Is, 1851.
AsI announced to you, l started yesterday, at
half-past 10 O'Clock. a. M, for New York, and
came to this city at 10 in the morning to-day. Had
We not met with some accidental delay we should
have made the trip in twenty hours. That we
could easily have done proved by our 0c-
cnsional speed, which at times was At the rate
of sixty miles an hour We made the distance
from Hornersville to Addison. thirty miles, in for
ty-two minutes; from Addison to Corning, eleven
miles, in seventeen and half minutes; eighteen
miles In twenty five minutes. II there were no
stoppages on the way the whole distance from Dun1
kirk to New York might be made easily in twelve
hours.
And yet Philadelphia ID nearer to Dunkirk than
New York; and when the Williamsburg and Ell
mira railroad shall be finished, will be connected
by railroad with the lake New York now is, and
shalt of the advantages that flow from the Erie
railroad to the Atlantic scacoast will at least be
shared with New York by our own great and
fourishing city Mr.. Loder. the President of the
Erie Railroad Company, at the conclusion of his
very able address, expressed very properly the kind
| neghborly feelings which animate New York in
| regard to her sister States. He only wished that
New York should act as pioneer, and was glad to
see other States follow her example. Nous Der
rons, Mr.. Richie used to say in misplaced moods
| The hi,tory of the New York and Erie Rail- road,
rail- ,ody,) which is probably known to most Of
your rcaders, was very ably set forth in Mr.. Lo-
der's speech. He alluded to the fact that in 1926
| the Legislature of New York directed survey Of
| crn tier of counties, which was had. but immedi-
ately abandoned account of the difficulties pre-
sented in the way OF its construction But what
was abandoned az public enterprise, as too cost
ly and too difficult, nevertheless undertaken
by individuals, and in 1882 the New York and Erie
Railroad Company was chartered, with power to
construct railroad from the city to any point on
Lake Erie, and carry passengers and freight on
their terms. Another reconnaissance was had
in 1882, under De Witt Clinton, jr., and in 1888
the first million was subscribed to the capital
| stock. In 1884 the Legislature ordered a new sur
vey OF the route, under the auspices OF Governor
Marcy, which was made by Benjamin Wright,
and deposited in the office of the Secretary ofStae
The publication Of the report Of this survey in
duced the capitalists of New York to subscribe,
additionally, $l,362, 100, and in 1886 part Of the
road was located and commenced.
The universal crash Of 1886 caused suspension
of the work; but in 1888 $4,000 900 of the credit Of
tho railroad. In 1910 another bill was introduced
into the Legislature amendatory of the bill of 1888,
granting further aid. This, with the stock sub
scriptions, enabled the company to build 300 miles
of the road.
In 1912, though forty-six miles of the road from
Picrmont 10 Goshen had actually been put in ope-
ration, the company obliged to make an
Segment, and its affairs placed into the
hands Of assignecs The act Of May l4th, 1645,
by which the State of New York released its
claims neutrality-suspicious. to the stock inspired the
company with new hope, and an additional sub
scription of $3,000,000 was obtained from pri-
vatc means to the capital stock. Mr.. Loder,
the actual President Of the company, was elect
ed about that time, and to his energy, by
common consent, ia due the completion Of the
work, amidst the continued stock jobbng opera
tons in Wall street. and the operations Of the BEARS
who never ceased to deprcss the stock and to de-
cry the credit OF the company. Each new section
which was commenced furnished the croakcrs with
means 10 renew their attacks and furnished them
with fresh opportunities to prophecy the approach
ing bankruptcy Of the company. Newspapers in
New York contributed their share to this unceasing
| 'bearing'' operation, and the company would have
actually broke, or at least been obliged TO suspend
payments, il the private of the President
and Directors had not freely been employed in dis
charging debts and meeting other liabilities of tho
company. While fancies were buoyed up, the Erie
railroad stock run down to its lowest ebb, and
it was but for the SKILL perseverance, and lndom-
table energy of the President and Board Of Direc-
tors that this great work, which costs nearly TWEEN
ty-one millions Of dollars, at last conducted to
Tvs accomplishment. The road from Dunkirk to
Erie will no doubt be opened in the of this
| summer, and that from Erie to Chicago, which ia
already contracted for, will be finished in 1853;
while Judge Douglas, of Illinois, held out the hope
that with some donation of land by Congress, it
might easily be pushed within the next five or ten
years to the Missouri river. This would complete
more than third of the railroad from the Atlantic
to the Pacific, and Lessen the journey round the
world by several months.
| Mr.. Loder, the President of the Erie Railroad
Company, is thick set gentcmar, in his appear
ance not altogether unlike old sea captain. His
shoulders are broad; his arms muscular, and his
head slightly inclining forward. His features
weather beaten and his countenance less express
sve of philosophical thought and reflection than Of
will, action, energy, and courage His very step
betrays determination and resolution; in word
he is just such man you would not like to
counter in an engagement except on your own
side. His lips firmly set, and his forehead is
high and commanding. He is Just the man for the
work he has undertaken, and fair specimen of an
American Of business. 1t is peculiarly of
| Americans in general that they know more and
| learn less than any other highly civilized people,
and that, by not continuing "book reading" till
| they old schoolboys, like the Germans or
French, they employ the best energies OF their
manhood to the accomplishment of their youthful
designs In about twenty years from now Europe
| will be just civilized enough and ed ucatcd enough
| to furnish competent critcs for the great works
with which America will astonish the world.
| NAvAL.-I4cutenantP Pickering. late in command
OF the United States sloop-of war Warren, and also
Purscr Hambleton of the navy returned in the last
steamer from San Francisco. Lieutenant Picker
| ing has been absent three years. The storeshp
Supply was with steamer Massachusetts in that
port on the 18th of April. The sloop of war Fall
mouth was daily expected in port Captain Pear
son was at San Francisco waiting the arrival of the
Falmouth, of which Inc was TO take command.
Neio York Express.
The United Steamer Vixen, Lieutenant Com
handing William Smith, arrived here yesterday
morning, from Washington
The United States iron-propeller steamer Ale
ghany was taken into the dry dock at Gosport,
Thursday, to be altered and fitted with side wheels
The United Satesship-o of the line Ohio, at Boston,
is ordered to bc fitted for service the receiving
ship on that station, in place of the franklin
INoJoik Herald, 20M.
The following list Of the officers of the United
States ship Independence, lately lying in The bay
of Naples:
Commodore, Charles w. Morgan; Captain, J.
w. Jameson; Commander, G. w. Blake; Lieute.
nants, George Minor, James Henderson, L. Sartor
Mckinney, J. z. Adams, j. Winslow, Beaumont:
Acting Masters, ferret and j. nj. Bradford; Fleet
Surgeon, II. w. Wheeler; Passed A sistant Gruer;
Assistant, Sherman; Major of Marines, G. f.
ferret; Lieutenant of Marines, McCeuev; Chan
lain, Mr.. Barlow; Purser. Charles Murray:
Professor oil Mathematics, farnall; Commodore
Secretary, +. De Janvier; Passed Nidshipmen.
franklin Morgan, Rochelle Duva; Nridshipmcp.
Heckior, Skcrret. Spaudng, Carter. Pendcrpast,
Maxwell Mich, Owens; Masters Mate Powers;
Commodorc's Clerk, ID. nj Ingraham; Captains
Clark, James Powers; Purser's Clerk Rohcrt Snci.