The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-09-23
BIRTH OF A RAILROAD.
How the Chief / Inc Of the Empire
State was Started.
New York Recorder.

The railroads play SO important part
In the comedy or tragedy of human life.
that it is somewhat difficult to realize
that they have only existed in the United
States since 1881. For several years be-
fore that time, however, the newspapers
had discussed the subject of railroads,
and in 1919 Mr.. Stevens, of Hoboken,
had advocated their construction, but
nothing practical had been done until
then.
In the Utica Sentinel and Gazette Of
Aug. 20, 1895, appeared letter signed
Improvement" in which the writer
said, 81 intend to show the probable ex-
pense Of single edged railroad con-
structed for horse power from this viii
lage to Albany, with conveniences for
passing teams"
The writer then treats of railroads his
torically, and estimates that the cost OF
a single track road from Utica to Sche-
nectady would be about So, $50 per mile.
He also declares that the whole road
could be constructed for $500, 900. After
various attempts and failures the first
railroad, called the Mohawk and Hud-
son, between Albany and Schenectady
was constructed and opened for traffic
in 1881.
All the newspapers Of the time had
much to say Of the new wonder The
American Railroad Journal of Sept. 10,
1882, said: "The Mohawk and Hudson
railroad connects the city of Albany
with Schenectady. The length is fifteen
miles and sixty-nine chains. The delay
and embarrassment resulting from the
numerous locks and very circuitous
course of the great Erie canal between
these towns Ia canal which is, moreover,
nayigable only 220 days in the year, even
when no accidents occur, induced a
company to obtain an act of incorpora-
ton for the purpose of forming rail-
road to supersede the grand canal within
one year from the completion Of that
far famed enterprise. The work was
commenced on Aug. 10, 1880, by the
Hon. @. Q. Cambreleng. Four hundred
and eighty-three thousand two hundred
and fifteen dollars and forty-six cents
have been and $126, 1893 will be expended
In completing the work, according to the
official report made to the legislature of
New York in January, 1882"
GOVERNOR Stewards FIRST RIDE.
Governor Seward rode over the infant
road soon after its completion and de-
scribed his trip in this way: "We ar
rived at Schenectady at this morning
and Immediately were carried in post
coaches, distance of mile and half,
to the present termination of the rail-
way. There were In waiting three
large cars, which the passengers entered.
These cars differ not much as to the con-
struction of the body from stage coaches,
except that they are about one-third
larger and have seats upon the top.
''The body is set upon very short
springs, which cause but little elasticity
Of motion. The fore and hind wheels
are equal in size, made of iron, and are
about two and half feet in diameter.
They have rims four and half inches
wide, with projection on the side next
the carriage which serves to keep the
cars secure upon the rails, not suffering
the wheels to vary from the track. The
car is divided into two parts by high
though not entire partition in the center,
the door admitting into the forward
compartment being on one side of the
carriage and that admitting into the
other on the other side. In each Of these
compartments were six passengers. On
the top was the drivers seat and one
other, each holding three persons, so
that the car carried eighteen passengers,
with all their enormous bulk of baggage.
TWELVE MILES AN HOUR.
Having mounted our vehicle, fine,
large gray horse was attached to it by
shafts, exactly like those of one horse
wagon. 'Readyr said the stage man;
the driver whistled to the gray; away
went the car through hills and over val
leys. Before we had done looking at
our novel vehicle the car was stopped to
water the horse under bridge, and on
inquiring we found we had come four
miles in less than twenty minutes. The
horse drank, and away we went two
miles farther, and then fresh steed
was Immediately put in place of our
gray. / mounted the top of the car,
and, standing up there, looking over
upon the mountains beyond the river,
was driven in forty minutes more to the
present termination of the railroad, thus
accomplishing the journey Of twelve
miles in eighty minutes, including stop
pings"
In brief, this was the beginning not
only of the New York Central, but Of the
great railway systems of the country