The Newark journal., 1903-05-22
ntrth ot. Great Amerlcnn Railroad.

May r, 1903, marked the Fltteth Annl- versary of the incorporation of the New York Central Railroad; d fact interesting in the history of the State of New ! ork, for the consolidation of the ten separate small roads into one line, that formed continuous route from Albany on the east to Buffalo on the west, was the beginning that made possible the enormous ln- dustrial and commercial development m the country contiguous to 1t.
 Articles of agreement were flied May IT, 1858, the first Board of Directors was elected July 9th, and the whole line de lIvered to the new company August lst, 1853; insuring better service, more com plete connections between all points, and more general stimulus to development than was possible under separate and rival corporations. This also opened the way for the consolidation of the New York Central Company with the Hudson River Railroad in 1869, which event presaged that era of wonderful progress Tn the undeyelOped west, for 1t created q direct line from the ocean to the inland seas. known as the great lakes, and brought distant territories into close con neetlon with the seaboard.
 It IS picturesque fact that this line traYerses the one break ln the whole Ap- palaehIan chain between the Gulf of Mex leo and the St. Lawrence River, and it would seem as if Nature meant this to At h ihAdNdN luL AidNAl+ AeIldIn1A the Indian found 1t so, for the Mohawk trail, the pathway of the confederated lroGuois tribes, is almost identical with the New ork Central Railroad of to-day. This trail was also the pathway of war during the French and Indian and the Revou- tionary Wars, and later. i'll it's offering of easy travel if lured the pioneers o{ the West to the Mohawk Valley, wh:ch is so rich to-day with the product of agricul. tural industry, on to the broad and tallow fields of the Genesee, to build up and develop the traffic of the west upon the great lakes.
 It is far cry indeed from that primi- tive little line of the New York Ceutr9, ot hitY wears ago to the great Railroad of to-day with its Twentieth Century Inn ited. speeding like the wind carrying it's passengers on luxurious palace ears. over smooth roadbeds, with scarcely percepti- bic jar. and fifty years of progress could not ind better illustration than k re- lated in an interesting letter of reml- nlscences written by Mr Joshua Wilber, Of l-ockport, New York, describing rail- road travel in New York in 1889
 The writer says: We took the cars on State Street in Albany; these cars were drawn to the city line by horses. for locomotives were not then allowed n the city. The cars were of the ancient pattern, entered by doors on the side, with seats across the car. the passengers facing each other, as in the old.fashoned stage coaches.
 @.The speed was tremendous about twelve miles an hour. Arrived on tha ridge opposite Schenectady our cars were let down an incline plane. secured to q large rope cable. the other end beng attached to flat cars weighted with stone which were drawn up on parallel track as we went down. At Schenectady we changed cars and travelled west to Utiea. reaching there in the afternoon That was then the end of railroad travel.
 \ csRal packet was boarded which landed us in Syracuse next morning. There another packet was taken for Rochester, which we reached carly the following day 4 third packet brought Us from Rochester to Lockport in six teen hours
 The time consumed in coming from New York City to Lockport was nearly four days. being on the move all the time. except the night spent at Albany.
 Not long after the roads built from Albany westward and from Buffalo east. ward met. and a continuous line was formed. but with many changes of cars and other inconvenience.
 Then the Hudson River road was opened, and Buffalo and New York became neighbors."