The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1877-01-13

abortive or successful, contribute to his
profit. He gave no quarter and asked
none. BY establishing an opposition
steamship line to California in 1S40 he
profted directly, and frightened and
harassed his competitors. Here he laid
the foundation of his immense acqui-
sitiOns.
But Vanderbilt dies as great railroad
magnate, having transferred his ener-
gies from the sea to the land. He
went into railToadng at the nick of
time, in 1864, when that business was
in its most tlourishing period. Before
that time however, he had invested
millions In railroads, through his osten-
sible business was on the sea. His le-
gal fight with the New York and New
Haven Railroad, about the Schuyler
over.issue Of stock In 1854, by which
he sought to force a corporation into re-
sponsiOility for the acts of its agent, is
| familiar to everybody who has reached
middle life. Vanderbilt succeeded, aud
he obtained from the company the rull
value Of his large amount of stock,
thus getting as he always insisted on
| getting, u handsome return for his in
YeStmeut.
Vanderbilt's greatest business sagac-
| ity was shown in his dealings with the
| Harlem, Hudson, aud the New York
the first OF these roads, he proceeded to
make advances upon the others. He
saw that the Hudson River was a con-
nectiOn vital to the Central, and he so
used the contrOlh gained over the for
mer road as to bring the latter to terms
when that asiute politician and able
manager, Dean Richmond, died. Van
derbilt, though then comparatively
small stakeholder 10 the corporation,
was wisely put in his place as President
Of the New York Central Railroad.
Central Railroads. Getting full power Of
Then he formed the successful combi-
nation between the Harlem, Hudson
River, and New York Central, and
made himself the foremost railway man
of the country. He at once proceeded
to run these roads ON strictly business
principles. He stopped the gorgeous
display Of locomotives on which the en-
gineers wasted so much labor, and is>
sued a decree that they should all be
made black. Vanderbilt didn't believe
in show and under his management
the stocks of his consolidated roads
came to the stand among the best in-
vestments of the Stock Board, and he
showed commendable pride in main
tanning their credit under the stress OF
financial disaster.
Measuring him with ordinary people,
we put Mr.. Vanderbilt in very high
place. He was great man, and more
than that, we call him very useful
man. He worked for himself, but in
so doing he served the public as well as
himself-as every powerful individual
ity must always do-by honestly and
ably managing the varied concerns out
of whose profits he gathered the great
fortune which death now compelS hin
, to transfer to others. His vast railroad
property, it is well understood, will
= not be divided
Though not a man Of education II
the collegiate sense, and liable some
times to play havoc with our common
, tongue, Commodore Vanderbilt was al
, exceedingly courteous man. He hac
) grace, dignity, and elegance OF bear
ing aud an easy command Of himse
which witnessed his quality as superl
or character. We shall long miss th'
gallant, self-willed, large-ninded, ant
strong. handed old CommOdore.-Su