The Washington herald., 1916-09-20
AFTER DINNER POLITICS.
when the Hudson River Rsilrosd wss
Built.
By DR.. Il. ]. EDWARDS.

The late John Crosby Brown, who for
years was the head of the international
banking house established by his grand
father, Alexander Brown. at Baltimore,
sometimes spoke to his friends Of what
he regarded as one Of the great achieve
ments of the latter-the organization and
building Of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
road.
Mr.. Brown said, in explanation Of his
grandfathers action. that the building Of
the Erie Canal threatened to impair the
prestige Of Baltimore as a port and
greatly increase that OF New York.
Therefore Alexander Brown, having
learned from his Liverpool friends Of the
construction Of railroad from Liverpool
TO Manchester, brought Baltimore men Of
capital together for the purpose Of dis
cussing the expediency Of building rail-
road from that city to the Ohio River. If
that were done, It was thought that Bal
timore would save her prestige. The
road was built and contributed much TO
the prosperity OF the city.
The statesmen and leading business
men Of New York decided TO match Bal
timore by building a railroad from tide
water on the Hudson to the port Of Dun
kirk on Lake Erie. In that way, the
State would have two transportation
systems-the Erie Canal and the railroad
Many years were to pass before this
railroad was completed, but at last IT wa s
finished in the spring Of 1852. As the
opening OF the Erie Canal from Buffalo
TO the Hudson had been celebrated by
conspicuous ceremonies, so II was thought
worth while to celebrate the opening Of
this new railroad.
President Millard Fillmore was asked
II he would take part in the ceremonies
and ride in one OF the cars from the
Hudson to Dunkirk That was a propO-
sition which Fillmore did not hesitate 70
accept although hesitation was a char
aCteristic OF his. He was so enthUsi-
BstiC as TO say that he would not only
take personal part in the celebration, but
would bring his Secretary OF State, Dan
Tel Webster. and the senior Senator from
New York William II. Seward with
him. President Fillmore was in the best
OF spirits when he took the Erie Railroad
train at it's terminal upon the Hudson
River. He sat where he could look out
Of the open window He acknowledged
the many greetings which were given 10
him by the excited throngs which gath
cred along the line of the road. Occa-
SionaIly he pointed to the great Daniel
Webster as though to say, my Secretary
Of State is honoring this occasion with
his presence" Webster Unbent. although
he was not at the time in good health.
He seemed TO enjoy the excursion. al
though his enthusiasm did not match
that OF the President OF the United States.
There had been completed about that
time q portion Of what is now the Hud-
son River Railroad. But the first rail-
road ride that Milard Fillmore took was
at the time he was comptroller OF the
State Of New York in the mid-forties.
when he rode from Pittsheld. Mass, 10
Bridgeport Conr, upon the newly-COm-
Melted HOusatODiC Railroad But he was
frequent traveller by steamboat from
Albany to New York. Years afterward
he told Thurlow Weed that his ride upon
the first train over the Erie Railroad
was the most exciting and most enjoy
able railroad trip he ever had.
iCopuiEht. 1916 hv the Mcclure Ne~snSpeT
SyudicItsl