The Washington weekly post., 1900-12-11
vREELAND'S DRAMATIC LIFE.
The Conductor Picked tn BE President Of
street Railways.

George l. Fielder in Ainslee's
The career of H. H. Vreeiand is as dra-
matte as a play. He began as a section
man on the Long Island Railroad, became
a brakeman, and then got employment on
what is now known as the Putnam Road.
One day William c. Whitney was making
tour of inspection on this railroad with
other directors. He began to question the
officials of the company on details OF the
roads business. To almost every ques-
ton they replied lamely, "Guess you'd
better ask Vreeland about that"
''Who is Vreeland?" said Whitney.
Hes the conductor"
Vreeland was sent for, and Whitney
found him tall, raw-boned man, with a
square jaw and fine, regular white teeth.
which showed continually while he an
swcred d rapid fire of questions.
Whitney hadn't talked with him fifteen
minutes when he had him marked. Some
time later VTeeland received a telegram
from Whitney asking him TO be at the
office Of the Broadway and Seventh Ave-
nue. Railroad that day al o'clock. There
was no train on the schedule which would
get him into New York in time to make
the appointment. But by this time he
was assistant general manager. and had
pull enough to order a special train. He
reached the office OH time. He had been
waiting for quite a while when a clerk
came up to him and asked, Are you Mr..
Vreeland?"
That's my name" said vreeland.
wei, Mr. Whitney is waiting for you
inside {"
Yreeiand was taken in and introduced
70 the board of directors of She West
Houston Street and Pavonla FHry Rail-
way, VINO mad Just elected him president
10 MI the vacancy caused by the resigna-
ton OF John Crimmins. The street lines
included in this road were all badly
equipped and poorly handled. 1t was a
question of reconstruction that Just ap-
pealed TO Vreeland because il was diffi-
cult He gra sped the situation at once
ana wlthln q Few months had the property
moving in the right direction In sneak
ing 10 one OF his associates at this time
he said: 'Td rather do this than make
not far off. "a'
To-day Vreeland Is president of the
Metropolitan Street Railway, and Is con-
sldered the highest authority on surface
traction I'm this country.
Inen there was George r. M. Harvey
whitney had gained control Of an the
main arteries of surface traction excent-
ing the Third avenue line He began mo
neuvers 10 secure that Planning 10 be9t
the price OF the stock down. ne made n
newspaper campaign ard picked Harvey
W "a" t'AH BlNFs agent. Harvey was then
managing editor OF the World on small
salary. To-day he is worth probably half
a million. and is owner OF the North
American Review, but strangely enough
mas gone over to the Morgan camp. Mean.
while. Whitney had banged Third avenns
so eHecuvely that the price Of the stock
had been cut In two. All this time Vree
land had been studying the pronertv
when II was placed in the hands of n
receiver Vreeland secured access To the
statements, which he ate up in short or-
der; After day or two Of digestion. he
said 10 his chief: ~
Now, Mr.. Whitney. Is the time tn buv,
And buy was the slogan for ali in
siders al III
With characteristic fnesse, the Whitney
crowd worked the market both wavs
Some OF the shrewdest men In the stree
thought that the Whitney people Were
selling. But no one seemed 10 know what
was going on. '''''
IL was smooth deal The Whitnev
people bought the road at a lower nricg
than they had previously offered "a tho
owners. They got in at about s.. and nov
the stock Is quoted al 1l2 In tesffmonv
OF their appreciation Of Vreeland's worS
IN this deal. the Whitney syndicate sent
him a check for slo0,00 which thew could
well afford 10 do.