The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-05-02
ORR lNAl AR TICLE
New York and Erie Railroad-Eistory OF Its
Origin, Progress and Completion.


second only in importance-in its influence aud
bearing upon the interests Of the city and State of
New York-to that OF the opening of the Erie canal
The event of the completion of the canal was eele
brated in this city about twenty-five years since,
namely, on the 18th of November ls5 and its wonder
ful effects the commerce, trade and prosperity Of
New Iork,are uni gersaly admitted. But the railroad
system, and it, Enthusiastically exceeding that
of canals in magnitude-promSes to be still more
important in its favorable influence upon the com
mercial and industrial pursuits the people
1t seems peculiarly appropriate, at this time, TO
inquire into the origin and progress of the great
work just completed; and in the following histor-
cal sketch shall eudeayor to state, as briefly as
possible, from authentic sources, and our own ia
mill ar knowledge and recollection, such facts and
circumstances as viii be most interesting to the
public. 1t win be our purpose to show the causes
which have, from time to time, retarded or accele-
rated the progress Of the work--to give credit
where it is justly due, and in the narrative, to
''nothing exteuuate nor set down ausht in malice "
For the convenience Of reference, We may here
state that the Erie Railroad extends from the
Hudson river, at Pernont, twenty-tour miles from
tbis city, through the southern tier Of counties of
ihs state, (passing twice into Pennsylvania to
"a
being forty-Gye miles southwest Of Buffalo. BY
The branch road from Chester, in Orange county,
TO Newburgh, nineteen and half nics, another
terminus is made the Hudson river, making
Newburgh 425 miles from Dunkirk. BY the Ramapo
and Paterson Railroad (thirty-one miles,> which
connects with the Eric Railroad at Sufern's sta
ton, eighteen miles from Piermon, there is another
terminus at Jersey city, 80 miles from Dunkirk.
la u
which the Erie Railroad must contend for he long
travel TO the Western ates, the chain Of ral-
roads from Albany to Buffalo, . miles in length,
60 be shortened 70 about 800 miles;) AMI the Nor
ris aid Essex, Leggett's Gap, Sunbury and Erie,
and other links inthe chain Of railroads either con
structed Or in the course Of construction, which VIII
extend from Jersey city through Morris;own 70
ihe Delaware Water Gap, and thence through
Pennsylvania to the harbor Of Erie, on the lake,
forty Eve miles beyond Dunki.k. The length Of this
chain q railroads viii Sc aboc, $50 miles t. Erie,
which is considered By engineers as having the best
harbor On the south shore Of Lake Erie. This
route will bc about % miles shorter than that 70
the same place BY way Of tie Erie Railroad, from
ihis city and, consequently, It is believed by the
best judges that il viii become the greatest ira
vexed route to the West The Erie Railroad j.
on an average, about ~ miles north Of the Penn
sylyania route, and about 70 miles south Of the
Albany, l tea, Rochester. and Buffalo chain Of
roads. We may, therefore, repeat what was stated
and published ~ the friends Of the Erie Railroad
in 1872: that / viii 'extenl it, influence on an
average at least p miles each side Of it, line,
ny 40 miles in length" In other words, the
average distance from the Erie canal, and the rail
roads and parallel with that work, to the New
Jersey and Pennsylvania chain Of railroads in pro-
gre4s, is about 10 miles, which section Of country
r. intersected nearly midway by the Erie Railroad;
and in it. turn the latter i Cd by various
lateral railroads running north and south, most
Of which viii benefit it, revenues.
The cost Of the Erie Railroad, as stated in the
last report Of the directors, up to this time, is
SaO.5oo,OO0 Of which, s2,5o0,OJl, at least is
ehargeable TO equipment account. The amount Of
capital stock issued i s57go,OOO, leaving the re-
mainder Of cost, in the form Of bonds and othe.
debts against the company sli,7l0000; exclusive
Of the three millions loaned by the state AMI
relinquished to the company conditions which
have now been complied with and $4,000 relin-
qushed BY the original stockholders on certain
conditions, in 1876. making the total cost of the road
and equipments s24 20, 900; although the liabilities
are only about $50, 800 900. The gross earnings
Of the road for the year ls39 were sso9,77 and
for 1850, sl600. 300. The average distance in use
in lst9, 2l0 mes-earnings per mile, s3,697.
In 1850, miles in use, 800 earnings Pc mile, 5000
showing gain q % per cent.
We now proceed with our historical sketch.
The subject Of continuous communication by
State road, from the Hudson nver to Lake Erie,
through the southern tier Of counties, very early
attracted public attention. ia the progress Of settle
ments in the interior Of the State. The counties
the waters Of the Delaware and ~usquehanna
rivers settled but slowly, at the close Of the
last century but the fertility Of the soil Of Of
The valleys, the salubnty Of the climate, and the
facilities for the lumber trade drew to the /" Sc
gucstered Counties" they were called, by
Dewitt Clinton. a hardy race Of emigrants,
principally from the New England states, who
settled on the cheap lands in that quarter,
notwithstanding the daicutie. under which they
labored for the want of convenient. access to
market. The position y the small section of the
state or the Allegheny river also attracted atten-
iion At early period, and the village Il Olcan,
the head waters # that river va laid out BY
abe late Major Hoops, X Albany, and by him
sailed /" Hamilton 81 Aneghaay' The I'D gem
slemar, who wa great admirer u Alexander
Hamilton. never could Tear e. hear Of the change
81 Il tie place Il IT, modern designation Of
"oiean" by the census Il l-O. The southern tier Of
eountic. including Cheuango. contained popu-
lat,on oi only 7o,25,. u which more than one-half
we're IL The countie. Il Orange ard hockiand AT
the Ircsen. t.ne. the population x t., same coun-
tes j. not f. from 7Ou,GJ0.
The rrorrictors = tie extensive unsettled tract.
II land in the section 4 Il, atc referred 81 a.
.. III
we're not slow, even ~ the commencement q this
scntury, n deyising plans ~ commun cation r.
tween the East and West. through hat region q
,ountry. We have befcre a. ramphle: printed il
New Yors by 7. and y swords ii The year 100.
entitled Observations on tho proposed state Road
from iluisons river. near the city # Hudson, 70
Lake Eric, by the Olcou;, Catbarinc's, Bath. and
sray's settlement. to the western bounds Of Steu-