The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-07
A Magnatc of the Age of steam.

A Magnatc Of the Age of steam.
Very many anecdotes are told to illus
trate tho vigor and self-reliance OF Com
modore VANDERBrLr He was ono OF those
mon who are always equal to an emer-
gency, was cool under difficulties and dam
gers, and not a bit frightened by obstacles
He had what we call level head, and yet
he also had his vanities, else why did he
allow Commodore DE GRoor to manufac-
ture that wondrous celebration in bronze
OF his career and his success which startles
the gazcr upon the st. Johns PARK freight
depot7
But the old Commodore had n right TO
think with pride of his triumphs. They
were worthy of the brouze, though the
bronze was not worthy OF them. There is
n niche at the lower end OF the Grand Cen
trail depot fitted for statue. Probably
in that Will be put the statue Of the great
railway baron. and we hope the execution
of the work will be intrusted to some
body else than such n sculptor rs Commo-
dore DE GRoor. Vanderbilt had an adj
mirable figure aud presence for statuesque
effect, and his marvellous material success
would inspire n sculptor OF genius.
The life of the old Commodore connects
us with the last century. We are rapidly
reaching the time when all those who
drew the breath of life in the eighteenth
injury will have passed away. Few of
them remain now, for even those who
saw the light Of this century in its dawn
ing have now reached years beyond those
ordinarily attained by the strong and the
long lived. We shall soon have none left
OF the contemporaries of CORNELIUS VAN
DERDILT.
He was born in 1874. Railroads and
steam vessels were then unknown, though
WATT had considered the question of the
feasibility of steam carriages, and FULTON,
the very year before, had addressed to
Earl STANHoPE suggestions regarding the
application of the same motor to naviga-
ton. This was the era OF canals, and
FULTON had also in England, made the ac-
quaintauce of tho Duke Of BRIDGEwArER.
the founder Of the canal system of that
kingdom. The countries OF the world were
still separated by barriers of ignorance re-
garding one another, injurious obstacles
to trade, growing out of n wrong sys-
TEN of political economy. and the absence
Of the common feeling which easy and I'M
restricted Intercourse breeds. 1t was no,
until 1907. when Vanderbilt was thirteen
years old, that FuLToNs steamer, the Cicr-
mont. had demonstrated its ability to nav
igate the Hudson at the rate of Ave miles
an hour by the aid OF the new motor.
The railroad, as we know II, didn't come
until later. IL was III io-J ,n.-. 80. .,,cor-
began to be carried by steam on iron IA lis
in England. France followed the next
year, and soon wo had such roads here.
This was the period when JOHN STEPHEN
son and JOHN ERIcssoN were reaping
honors in England. and HoRATIo ALLEvand
PETER COOPER were active in the United
States in the fresh development OF oieiliza-
ton. VANDERBILT was early on hand TO
utilize the new means OF traffic for the
benefit Of his fortunes. Already in 1910
he was at work earning his livelihood aud
busy with schemes for his personal profit.
and seven years later he was the master OF
good capital for those days. lie was
ready then to 70 into steam navigation,
which was exciting everybody's interest.
He followed up the triumphs OF the new
motor for half IA century, aud where for
tunes had before progressed at stage coach
and canal boat speed, his went on accumu-
lating at steam speed.
The study Of the career OF this man in
wolves the study OF the growth OF our rail-
road and steamboat enterprise. The SYM
Dol Of his success might well be WATTS
tea kettle. He was the successor of the
old feudal barons-the lord Of the steam
engine, which divides Us from the last
century rs gunpowder from the days OF the
spear ana the battle axe. Vanderbilt dies
the richest and the most powerful of the
railway kings of the world. and he leaves
an estate and an hereditary aptitude and
ability which will connect his name with
railway management for at least u genera
ton to come.