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

George l. Fielder, In Ainslee's-
The career of II. II. Vreeland is as dra-
matte as a play. He began as 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
a tour of inspection on this railroad with
other directors. He began 20 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 YreelandP" said Whitney.
Hes the conductor"
Vreeland was sent for, and Whitney
found him a tall, raw-boned man, with a
square jaw and fine. regular white teeth,
which showed continually while he an
swered a rapid fire OF questions.
Whitney hadn't talked with him fifteen
minutes when he had him marked. Some
time later Vgeeland received a telegram
from Whitney asking him to be at the
office Of the Broadway and Seventh Ave
nue. Railroad that day at 2 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 on time. He had been
waiting for quite a while when a clerk
came up TO him and asked Are you Mr..
Nreelandg'
That's my name" said vreeland.
We'll, Mr.. Whitney is waiting for you
inside
Vreeland was taken in and introduced
10 the board of directors of ahe West
Houston Street and Pavonia Fi&ry Rail-
way, who had Just elected him president
TO NIL the vacancy caused by the resigna-
ton of John Crimmins. The street lines
included in this road were all badly
equipped and poorly handled II was q
question of reconstruction that lust aD-
pe2led 20 Nreeland, because Il was diff
cult. He grasped the situation at once
and within few months had the property
moving IN the right direction. In speak
ing 70 one Of his associates at this time
ne said: I'D rather do this than make
money" But the making of money was
not far off
To-day Vreeland is president of the
Metropolitan Street Railway, and Is con-
traction IN this country.
Inen there was George B. NJ Harvey.
whitney had gained control of an the
main arteries of surface traction except-
ing the Ihrd avenue line. lie began ma
neuVer5 TO secure that. Planning 10 hsgt
the price OF the stock down. he made a
newspaper campaign and picked Harvey
up as MS press agent Harvey was the,
managing editor of the World on a small
salary. To-day ne is worth probable half
million. and is owner of the North
American Review. but strangely enough
mas gone over 10 the Morgan camp Mean.
while. whitney had banged Third aVenue
so effectively that the price OF the stock
had been cut In two. All this time Vrea
land had Deen studying the property
When 1t was placed i'm the hands OF n
receiver, Yreeland secured access 10 tho
statements. which he ate up In short or
der. After day or two of digestion. he
said TO his chief: ~
Now, Mr.. Whitney, Is the time TO buy"
siders. III
With Characteristic finesse, the whitney
crowd worked the market both wavs
Some OF the shrewdest men I'm the stree,
thought that the Whitney people were
selling. But no one seemed 10 know what
was going on. ''''
II was smooth deal The wbftnev
people bought the road at a lower nrics
than they had previously offered 10 the
owners. They got In at about s.. and nov
the stock Is quoted at 1l2 In testInonv
OF their appreciation OF Vreeland's worS
In this deal. the Whitney syndicate sent
him a check for $40, 90, which they eo,,Id
well afford 20 do