Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-05-10
NEW YORK CENTRAL
TELLS OF ITS GROWTH
In Four Years Carried 2OO,-
100000 Passengers---NOt
One Fatally Hurt

Just as an historical account and to
inform the world what has been done
in railroad building since the little
engine "DeWitt Clinton" started ON its
first run Of l6 miles on August 8, 1881,
the New York Central railroad has is
sued little booklet telling of the
growth of the New York Central 'ys-
tenn up to the present day.
On'the 16miles between Albany, New
York and Schenectady the first run
was made, with rails made of strap
iron, and with a maximum speed of 10
miles an hour.
Opposition to any thing that would
interfere with the Erie canal prevented
very rapid growth of railroads and it
was not until 1886 that the New York
legislature gave a permit for the build
ing of the line on to Utica, n. Y, and
then only for passenger traffic. In
1874 permission was given to carry
freight.
From time to time, small detached
railroads were built from Albany and
out into parts Of the state and in 1913,
it was possible to travel from Albany
to Buffalo by changing cars six
times, riding over that many independ-
ent roads.
Finally it was agreed that it would
be better to unite the various railroads,
in order that operation should be under
one management. In May, 1858, this
was done, under the name of 'New
York Central Railroad"
Efforts were made from time to time
to connect Albany and New York City,
but opposition was strong and permis-
sion was refused until 1916. Finally
| by 1851, service was established be-
tween the two cities.
In the same year the roads between
New York and Buffalo were consoli-
dated, the Lake Shore and Michigan
company was formed, bringing together
the three principal companies owning
roads between Buffalo and Chicago.
Out of the large number of incor-
porations and small roads, there natur-
ally evolved a trunk line connecting I'M
portant traffic centers. In May, 1852,
the first train ran between Toledo and
Chicago, and in 1858, between Toledo
and Cleveland and in the following
year, between Cleveland and Buffalo.
In 1873 Commodore Vanderbilt, who
was then president of the New York
Hudson River Railroad company, be
came president of the Lake Shore and
Michigan Southern Railway company,
and from that time to the recent con
solidation, the general policy controll-
ing these two roads has been the same.
Here are some facts regarding the
present New York Central railway
system:
Has 5000 miles Of road and about
14,00O miles of single track, enough to
90 about half way around the world.
Its trains travel in eight states, with
in which lives two fifths Of the pOpu-
lation of the United States, producing
65 per cent of the manufactures.
1t owns 3,G0S passenger ears, and
| 143,4l4 freight cars. The passenger
traffic income in 1914 was more than
sixty two millions and the freight
business, almost one hundred and SIX
millions.
Electrification of the road is com
plete TO Harlem on the Hudson river
and to North White Plains on the Har-
lem line. The road was practically the
pioneer in operating high speed trains
by electricity.
In the four years ending December
81, 1914, not single passenger was
fatally injured, though passengers mum,
bering two times the population Of the
country were carried safely to their
1aafinot otion