The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-08-17

marked consideration on all occasions,
yet he becomes more especially o man
of the hour at the present moment,
from his participation, either from
choice or from necessity, in the exist
ing railroad wal which las reduced
freights and passenger fare very much
below their former values in this part
of the world; and which bids fair TO in
dict no small injury upon certain rival
lines which are not, as is alleged. In q
condition to compete successfully with
the roads under his control.
As the secret of his position in this
relation is not understood by the gen.
eral public. it will be a matter of sur
prise to many that the running ex-
penses of the Grand Central, for ex-
ample, should be kept at a figure lower
than that pertaining to some other lines
Of equal length and apparent excel
lence; but when we come to disclose
the important fact, that, for years, Mr..
Vanderbilt has been quietly and stead
lily reducing the grades on all his roads,
so as to nearly double the drawing
power of his locomotives. the mystery
Of his being able to compete triumph
antly with his rivals In this war is ex-
planned at once.
William II. Vanderbilt, whose port
RAFT we publish TODAY. is the Oldest son
Of the late Commodore Cornelius Van
derbilt. He was born at the summer re-
sidence of bis father, New Brunswick,
N. j., and, after an excellent and prac-
teal education at Columbia College
grammar school, he entered, in his
eighteenth year, the financial house Of
Drew, Robinson G. Co., New York,
where he exhibited such industry and
executive ability, that, on the expir-
alton of two years, he was offered a
partnership. The close confinement.
however, having begun to prey on his
health, he determined to take up farm
ing as a means of recuperation; and,
the commodore having bought him
seventy-five acres of unimproved land
on Staten Island, he at once took his
young wife there, and set to work with
such skill and energy that he not only
cleared the seventy-iive acres, but soon
had a larger tract purchased, and $50
acres under crop.
In relation to this seventy-Gve acres,
Mr.. Vanderbilt alleges, 1t Is said, that
1t tried him sorely, as he had not suf-
icient means to work and improve 1t
thoroughly; nor would his father adj
vance him a dollar to aid him. In this
extremity he mortgaged the land for
SO 1000, which he turned to good ac-
count; and the circumstance coming to
the commodore's ears, the old gentle
man observed to him while they were
riding together on one occasion:
$50 you mortgaged the New Dorp
farm for SO. 0OO, did your You don't
amount to a row of pins. and never
wilt"
81 did mortgage the farm" replied
the son, land have put every cent Of
the money right into improving the
land"
"Well," continued the commodore,
.'I'n have nothing more to do with you;
for you'll only bring disgrace on your
self, your family, and everybody con-
nected with you.o
This latter Representation does not
appear to have been fulfilled; and as to
Mr.. Vanderbilt never amounting to a
row CT pins, we think there has been
no verg clear veri6cation of this asser-
ton either. However. the commodore
does not seem to have put much faith
in the one or the other; for the morn
ing after the conversation took place,
he sent the son q cheque fer $4,000,
ordering him to pay off the mortgage
Immediately.
Shortly after this period, the Staten
Island railroad company become en-
barrased, when Mr.. Vanderbilt and his
uncle Jacob entering the management
relieved the road of its difficulties and
improved its prospects in a marked de-
gree. The experience acquired here
gave the subject of our portrait such
an insight into railroad affairs, and SO
advanced him in the opinion of certain
capitalists and stockholders, that, in
1854, he was elected vice-president of
the New York and Harlem, and in.
1856 Of the Hudson River line, which
under his management became so pros
porous that he was unhesitatingly re-