The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1877-02-20
Wagner and Vanderbilt.
Ho" THE PALACE CAR WAS INTRODUCED
on TIE CoMMoDoRE's RAILROADS.

Ho" THE PALACE CAR WAS INTRODUCED
on THE coMMoDoRE's RAILROADS.
Did you ever hear bow Wagner got
MS cars on NanderEilt's road :" asked
one gentleman Of another the other day
as they were being whirled along in one
OF those luxurious coaches over the
Hudson River Railroad.
No"
We'll as stories sbou, the dead Com
tnodore are in order, | will tell you.
Long before Wagner ever dreamed OF
being State Senator he Was station
agent at PAlAtine Bridge. While thus
employed he had the happy thought Of
building these cars Inducing three
others to join him. he formed compa-
ny and altered al old car over to a
sleeper. Each of the partners paid in
one half Of his subscription to the capi-
tal stock, and. as Wagner was not . rich
man at that time. it took about all be
was worth.
well, after the car WAS built, the
next thing was to get permission 10 run
1t on the COmmodore's roads. Mr..
Wagner went to New York. He first
called On William II. Vanderbilt, who
at that time did not have SO much to
say about the management Of the roads
Is he has had for the last four or FIVE
years. lie listened TO Wagner's de-
scriptiOn Of bis new car, aud was taken
with the idea; but he told hun it was
no use for him 10 see the Commodore,
rs he was satisfied that the old man
would have nothing to do with it. He
told him, however. TO 90 ahead and fit
up his car. put it on the road, and wait
until the old gentleman saw it, assuring
him that he would soon hear from him
when he did.
Wagner acted on the hint. the car
was put on. and made several trips be-
fore the Commodore espied it. When
he did, he gave 1t a critical examina-
tior, and then asked whose it was and
how it came there. He was told that it
belonged to Mr.. Wagner, and was being
run as an experiment. Wagner was
sent for Immediately. When he came,
be found the Commo modore in . towering
passion. What business have you to
put Car on my road without permis-
sions was his first salutation. Wagner
explained the arrangement be had
made with Willism II. but this did not
seem to mollify the Commodore. Take
your car off the road immediately he
said: III show you that am boss Of
this road.
This was a hard blow for Wagner.
as he had invested oil he had in the ex-
pertinent, and he turned away with
heavy heart. As he was leaving the
Conn. spoke, saying How many
cars have you got like this!' Wagner
explained that be had two or three
more on the works; that il was . joint
stock company; and that they would
be ruined if they could not make al
arrangement to run their cars on the
road. Well, said the Commodore, 'yOn
can tell the other parties that will
take their stock off their hands for what
they have paid on it. The sooner you
attend to this the better it will be tor
you. SO. hurry up, now.
Wagner saw the point. and IN a
short time he had bought the rest of the
stock aud taken it to the Commodore.
Lets see, said he; how much did you
say the capital stock of your company
Isl Wagner told him. Well, l guess
we'll multiply it by four. you can keep
one fourth, and Ill take the balance,
aad we'll build some more Of them cars
right away"
Aud that was the beginning of Wag-
ner's prosperity. To-day he is a rich
mar The old Commodore saw what a
necessity these cars were destined to be-
come, aud took his own way to get con-
troll of them. For every dollar Wag-
ner has made out Of them the Commo-
dore made three.