Year: 1873

lProm the Louisville Courier-Journal.l


When Commodore Vanderbilt gave
half million of money to a Southern
literary institution it was supposed that
it was the beginning of his prepara
tions for winding up his earthly affairs,
and that he would probably make
proper disposition of all his posses
sious, and, reserving to himself only
free pass to the other world, calmly
settle himself down to await the start
ing of his train. But the brave old
Commodore still lives and is still full
of fight lie saw how the Western
farmers I'D got their heels, including
those appended to the celebrated boots
of a certain farmer Beaver, of Ohio,
sauarely on the by ydra headed monster
monopoly; and as the monster had
done something for him, he thought 1t
but fair to do something for the mon
ster. The Commodore did not pass
any resolutions nor did he compose a
song and set il to soul-stirring music.
He saw the monster down and he saw
the Illinois Judge sitting astride of
him. while the farmers of Illinois join
ed hands and cireled around them,
singing their own praises in a heroic
hymn, and he quietly made a note on
IL" Then he as quietly walked III
while they were all singing and re-
ioicing over their victory. and bought
up the Lake Shore railroad, which.
running through country which has
been settled for two generations Of
men, drains the rich peninsula be-
tween the lakes, and connects the popl
lous towns OF the south shore of Lake
Erie with the railway system of the
East Having picked up the Lake
Shore railroad, the Commodore, with
out single resolve save that he bad
IN las own breast aud without n single
stanZaS, droppea Gown 20 DuHHfo ana


hiiched his purchase on to the western
end of the extensive system Of ruil-
roads which within the past few years


he has consolidated under the name of
the New York Central and Hudson


River Railway. This little operation


gives the old railroad king control of
2,150 miles of railway, constituting


the main line between the West and


the seaboard the whole concern rep


resented on the stock exchange by
securities equal to S2l5, 900. 900. with
gross income last year of SIS 800 900.
! During the eighty years of Mr.. Van


derbilt's life lie has encountered many


vexatious things and he has generally
overcome them. The farmers resolu-
tions worried the old gentleman and
their songs riIed him. Having set up
the railroad business on them, he


thought he would give them touch in
I the telegraph line of business, so he


scattered himself round promiscuous-
/ ly on Wall street and secured a con-
/ trolling interest in the Western Union
Telegraph Company, and next October
be will enter into possession of the big
/ telegraph company, with its seventy


THOUSAND miles of wire, its forty mil


lions o. capital and its eight or nine


millions of income The farmers have
/ little liberation for the giant monopo-
4 list or Wall street, but right in their


teeth he has made arrangements by
4, which they will have TO get their trans


portation and send their dispatches on


terms dictsted by himself


Seriously speaking, what do the


farmers resolutions and platforms and


an hemns amount to before such pow


er as this Suppose they elect judge
here aud there and send honest aud
brave old farmers to the Legislature,


what can they do against all this array


of wealth, with the power, the skill,
/ and the talent that it can purchase ?
] We can only hope that the farmers
movement is genuine ground swell
/ that will rrvsevery thing before it.
a little effce