The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-04-09
MISCELLANY.
The Great Railroad War.

"a NEW orK eSp0ndent OF the ChcaSo
journal furnishes the following sketch of the
prominent actors in the quarrel about the
Erie railroad:
Public sympathy is almost wholly with the
Drew party in the animated tight which is
now going on with Vanderbilt This rises
not from any admiration Tor Drew, but from
strong repu9nanee to permitting CoLilno-
oore Vanderbilt to get control OF all The
great thoroushfares leading from the metlop-
OILS. Public sentiment, In lact. Is running
so strong against the latter that the mef-
chants are preparing to hold public meet
Inc and express their condemnation of Van
derbilt's plans. II he carries them out, our
mercantile interests will for the time being
be completely at his mercy, inasmuch as he
can charge them just as much as he pleases
for Eeight, DC. Should Vanderbilt, however,
succeed IN getting control oil the Erie, and
thus have the monopoly, a new road would
undoubtedly soon De projected from New
York leading west. Such road in tact, has
already been projected. We allude to the
midland route running through Sullivan and
and Ulster counties, DC. The towns have
been bonded, and nearly all the necessary
prepa atoms tor beginning operations have
been completed. This road, however, will
have its western terminus in New FORK State.
Notwithstanding his prominent position in
I 9 Methodist oh lIch,
DANIEL DREW
is regarded on the street as little better than
a sharper. His word will not be taken, and
1t Is considered that he will go back on his
best friends il 1t ! G tor his own advantage to
DO SO, as you are aware every thing is done in
the Stock Exchange by word oil mouth. In
the sale and transfer Of stocks on EXCHANGE
: mas word Is all the guarantee one obtains.
MT. Drew enJo,S The reputation on Change
OF having repeatedly gone back on his wcrI;
thaE Is TO say, he has promised 10 take stocks
al such and such prices, and then lie hedsed
When the time came Tor doing SO. When,
lew years ago. he was bitten to the tune OF
nearly Ole million in Harlem, the entire
street united to crush and drive him out, be-
cause OF the belief that he could not be
trusted. L know not how much foundation
there IS Tor these beliefs aud opinions: |
alude to them simply to show the light in
Wplch the Erie manipulation is looked upon
by Wall street. MIR Drew is a short thick
set man, with rather shrIveIed, weazen face.
ne dresses very plainly, carries a cane, and
nas quite farmer like appearance. His car
rage IS frequently TO be seen standing in
front OF David Goesbecks Office during bust.
ness hours. His brokers are Fisk & Belden
and David Groesbecks all OF whom he made
financially III Hiding on the Hudson River
roao, lew mouths ago, Tell in with a
stfan Ter, who informed me that wuen he was
a cnild on his fathers farm, back Ct Pougl-
Keepsle, Daniel Drew, then tail, lank, bare
looted boy of sixteen, used to come and
purchase his fathers calves and drive
then OF to the New York Market
lie ran al opposition to two other droyers
VINO bought stock through that county for
new YORK, and became such powerful COM
pet tor that they were compelled to take him
INTO partnership. He forwards. by funds
saved, purchased the DulfS Head Tavern. in
tnlrd Avenue, which became the headuuar
ters o. tue butchers and drovers who came to
the city. He did well here a, d having
amassed considerable funds, conceived the
!oea OF starting an opposition to then old in
9ependent and unaccommodatin line of
hudson river steamers. In putting his nIan
into execution. he aimed to secure The co on,
eraIlon or every BODY along the liver. For
thls purpose he scattered tickets among ali
Tue tavern Keepers, stage drivers, haeknen.
etc. giving them good commission. He
tnen inade them individually interested in the |
opposition or Peoples Line" and at the end |
VI tne nrst season lie had cleared enou b to |
snare OF the funds to undertake the OF nos
ZION. The old line was compelled to haul off
tenIirey during the second year, Mr.. Drew'e
boats were so populor.
COMMODORE Vanderbilt.
now in his seventy -sixth year, is one of tI;e
handSoinest men IN New York. He has a
skin and complexion almost as fair as a wo-
man. DE dresses very neatly always wears
white cravat, and ministerial cut coat.
and would be taken by ninety-nine in HIM
dred for a preacher. Though REGARDED as |
headstrong, very self-wiled and unscrupu- |
lods, be nevertheless has the reputation of
always dong exactly what he agrees to do,
Though having SUCH vast Interests on his
nands' there is probably no business man who |
mas more leisure. SO systematic and thor
ousn are his business habits, that he is al
ways ready tor drive in the paik by 8
o CLOCK IN the afternoon. He always drives
himself, and takes delight in distancing everv-
tnlng on the road except Robert Bonners |
nags, which he finds match for his own
De spends nearly every week day evening at
!ne CUPS, playing poker or whist, to which be /
Is passionately devoted.
JUDGE BARNARD,
WOO mas thus far rendered all his decisions
IN favor OF the Vanderbilt interest. is he. |
lleved by the public to be an interested mar.
", anu Drews counsel talk of impracbino
n'h. 40 not Know what foundation there
may De tor TINS belief. One thing however is
cer1ain ne would iare hard in the State Sen
I'VE orougIt before that body for impeach-
t.ent' assuming that the members thought |
pup any way in league with the Commodore, |
for the latter has incurred the hostility of |
both branches of the Legislature by curtail- |
ing to the narrowesG limits, as he has, their |
free pass privileges. Per contra, it is said |
that Judge Barnard intends to prosecute
Fisk and Belden and others, tor defamation
OF character, IN having charged him with be-
ing an interested party. Richard, alias
DICK SCHELL,
is the Commodore's right hand man in his
railroad and other Wall street operations.
he hal charge OF the late spool" in Erie, and
10 fhn - Al.
the Vanderbilt clique decided to purchase
Sufficient to obtain control OF the road