The sun., 1893-08-06
A STATE-AID RAILROAD.
BONDS OF THE COMMONWEALTH SOLD
TO INSURE IT'S COMPLETION.

The state Investsd %, 900 900 In the Eater
prise, and Forthwith Arose that Remark
able Crop OF Southern Tier Statesmen.
Tho Erie Railroad Of which President King
and Director Mccullough were recently mp
pointed receivers. was for many years the
chief Of the state-aid railroads in New
York and is responsible for the political ac-
tivity OF scores OF prominent southern tier
statesmen. The old New York and Erie Rail-
road was Incorporated by the Legislature on
April -. 1882. with power to construct rail-
road from the city OF New York to Lake Erie.
The line OF tho route was not fixed by the
charter. but it was to be confined to the south
ern Ner OF counties. beginning ut the
city OF New York. "or at such point
in Its vicinity as shall be most eligible
and convenient" and continuing thence by
way Of Owego to tho shore Of Lake Eric. west
OF the Cnttaraugus Creek. Tho company had
ten years. from tho date OF the charter. within
which to finish ono. fourth rart Of the road.
fifteen years for one-hnlf. and twenty years for
the whole. The state. by an act OF March.
1885. loaned its credit to the company for 3d.
0OO,0OO. State stock to be issued therefor;
5000, 900 when the company should have con-
structed single track from tho Delaware and
Hudson Canal to tho intersection Of the Che
mango Canal. near Binghamton. a distance OF
14B miles: 100000 when the section from
Binghamton to the Allegany River was COM
pleted: 100000 on tho completion OF the 81
miles section from the Allegany River to Lake
Erie. and 100000 on the completion OF the n
miles to the Hudson Canal
This cooperative copartnership between
tho Erie Railroad and the State Of New York
had for its object, Of course, the speedy con-
struction OF an all rail line to Lake Erie in
order that the commercial supremacy OF New
York city. then threatened by Philadelphia
and Baltimore among its Eastern neighbors.
might not be sacrificed on account OF any de-
foct in transportation facilities. The people Of
New York having loaned their credit for
the enterprise. and tho Legislature. as tho
official representative OF the people undertook
to look after their interests by granting to the
Erie road certain immunities. and exacting
from, it certain benefits and advantages:
usually Of a political character. The state Of
Erie Railway, and along the southern tier.
tthrongh which 1t ran from Port Jeryis to
mnter w% iol 6asnee ns ERE souny
Aesany. TIocs. steuben, and chau!anaus
working mechanics. In addition TO those reg
ulnrly employcd as enGineers., conductors;
men. and laborcrs. extra men might be put on.
around election times, for such additional re-
tracts for materials % and ie extensfoss We're too.
chases for the road.
Influence with the Erie" was able to get sure
and steady work for his constituents to se-
among his townsmcn. who were. liberal at
election times. He was al so sure to gain the
good will of, foremen and division ,superin-
men was considerable. While. therefore. tho
state had nothing to do with the business Of
tho State through which the Erie Raiiroad ran
hnd considerable to do with 1t. and 1t became
2 factor in advancing their ambitions; or re-
other parts Of tho state.
Southern tier, mon are known everywhere
fondness for horses. their taste for bargain
ing: their willingness TO- engage in politics.
intrusted with the RESPONSIBILITIES OF eXecu-
tive Office. REPRESENTATIVES OF q purely agri-
hng is9en ee @ # ne GmDs Gt Wr ssSen
native ability in the front line Of politics
through the ability which they have developed
facilities furnished through their
connection with the Erie Hallway, southern
saps hs
They had Reuben E Fenton of jamestown
the the strength Of III the % Erie RaiIroad was thrown
on the Democratic side. the fayorite candidate
John T. Hoffman. became Governor for four
President Of tile Erie Railway, thourh not d
resident OF tho southern tier. In 1876. two
years later. Lucius Robinson southern tier
man. resident in Elmira. and an Erie Railroad
director. became Governor for three years.
ana he was in Turn succeeded By AlonZo Is:
Cornell. who came from the same section and
who had. at that time. close relations with
Tho ITe Ka0nd n the S. sESbeen sSSS 91 Mr. Mr.
failed to get, the Governorship. hut 1t got
t he next best thing going. the IIcutenant-
Governorshir and , as # turned Urn out 1 a1fterward,
the citice until saeceeded By Roswell Flower.
" bowaa1 DSng the D
Duration in 1902. the Office Of Governor Of the
Of T two y years. either by seuthern tier men or
by men from other sections connected with |
the Eric Rairoad:, 4.S
were dcyise. about tho same time. and con
most similar length. The rivalry between the
eoS,ists years @ ago and thSew both largely
into State politics. but under, the present
{, management . OF & the two great
Nsw SssR H' wS 'fff Rail-
not Pro road to
to e' tie state. and the A'e latter att 10 aeau. @
essn be- the res%cd 81 what must have
seemed to legislators OF correct constitutional |
Ideas an As the
State Democracy and Thomas G. Platt an
,thet southern tier man Is Ct the , head Ss Of What
Havana. Mr. Platt from Owego. Those places |
are thirty miles apart.