The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-09-06
THE Vanderbilt STATUE.


II is a significant sign of the spirit of the
age that, while projects for erecting monu-
ments and statues of great heroes and states
men drag heavily, or are abandoned for want
OF funds, more than half a million of dollars
were recently collected to defray the expenses
of the artistic monstrosity which has been
erected on the top of the Hudson River Rail
road depot in honor of Commodore Wander
bilt, the great steamship and railway specu-
latcr. 1t required years of continuous effort
to beg from the school children of Philadel-
phia the cost of the statue Of Washington
which now stands in front of Independence
Hall, and the only hope of completing the
proposed monument in Washington Square is
based on the gradual accumulation of funds
from compound interest ON a small capital.
We believe that by hard effort means were
finally raised in this city to purchase statue
of Lincoln and the day is perhaps not very
far distant when it will be erected; but, like
all other American works of art, it is a very
modest and cheap affair when compared with
the tribute to Vanderbilt. Some time ago this
project was conceived in the gigantic brain
of modern sculpist, and after he made his
drawings, and submitted them to a committee
of New York gentlemen, we are told that 'the
funds were quickly subscribed" The work
was begun at once, under strict iniunetions of
secrecy, and it has been completed in a single
year. A good idea of its magnitude is given
ythe statement of the Tribune that 'it covers
an area of 1926 square feet, measures $50 feet
in straight line, and 81 feet in extreme
height; weighs nearly 100000 pounds and
cost over half a million of dollars" The
centre consists of an immense bronze statue
of the Commodore, who is surrounded with
nearly everything else under the sun, includ-
ing steamers, locomotives, Neptune, sea-
monsters, birds, fruits, lighthouses, cotton
bales, fences, COWS, etc. Nor is this all. cat
the extreme left Liberty sits erect" and
though we doubt whether this was not a
serious blunder, we are consoled by the state
ment while ''two harvesters" are Gin the at
titude of working, the artist has not forgot
ten to give the finishing touch to his work by
introducing "a raccoon peering around the
corner" He is said to be looking at a sea-
monster but this must be mistake, either of
the reporter or the designer, for we are salts
fed that his true duty is to keep a
sharp eye on the Commodore himself, who
is a representative man of the railroad mono
polists of the country. Some of these fine
days he will prompt the people to inquire
how and why these magnates are permitted to
amass wealth so rapidly and to acquire such
wondrous power not only over the industry,
but the politics and legislation of the land.
He will force men to ask whether we are
really passing through quiet but none the
less effective revolution, which transfers the
control of public affairs from the hands of the
people to cosy railroad offices, and makes
representatives and Governors the mere pup
pets of railroad Presidents. Years ago the
nation was profoundly agitated by the allega-
ton that the United States Bank exercised
undue influence in public affairs, but it was
an innocent and impotent lamb compared
with the powerful railroad lions which now
exercise despotic sway in many portions Of
the Union. 1t is unnecessary to particularize
Every intelligent observer of the current
of events will readily perceive that the
main question is as to the extent tc
which State Governments are subser
Went to railroad influences, and the
name of the company OF companies which
for the time being, are in the ascendancy
Railroads are great necessity of the age, anC
it is Just and desirable, in view of the usefu
mission they perform and the heavy respon
sibilities they assume, that their officer
should not be bound by frivolous and unne
cessary restrictions; but admitting all this
should not limits of some kind be set to thei
power, and should not the existing and futur
interests of the American people be more effec
tually guarded than at present? In no othe
government in the world are railway kings a
powerful as in the United States, and nowher
else can they amass wealth and infuenc
with the rapidity displayed here. Their in
telligence, energy, and enterprise deserv
rich rewards and all due respect, but eve
great railroads will be bought at too dear
price if they are purchased by the liberties G
the nation, and if the lions share of th
profits of the national industry is to swell tn
plethoric pockets of railway kings