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d Albany； the competition became very serious。 Newer and faster boats were rapidly built。 These racers would reach the Bay of Peekskill in the late afternoon； and the younger population of the village would be on the banks of the river； enthusiastically applauding their favorites。 Among well…known boats whose names and achievements excited as much interest and aroused as much partisanship and sporting spirit as do now famous race…horses or baseball champions； were the following： Mary Powell； Dean Ricbmond； The Alida； and The Hendrick Hudson。
I remember as if it were yesterday when the Hudson River Railroad had reached Peekskill； and the event was locally celebrated。 The people came in as to a county fair from fifty miles around。 When the locomotive steamed into the station many of those present had never seen one。 The engineer was continuously blowing his whistle to emphasize the great event。 This produced much consternation and confusion among the horses； as all farmers were there with their families in carriages or wagons。
I recall one team of young horses which were driven to frenzy； their owner was unable to control them； but he kept them on the road while they ran away with a wild dash over the hills。 In telling this story； as illustrating how recent is railway development in the United States； at a dinner abroad； I stated that as far as I knew and believed； those horses were so frightened that they could not be stopped and were still running。 A very successful and serious…minded captain of industry among the guests sternly rebuked me by saying： 〃Sir； that is impossible； horses were never born that could run for twenty…five years without stopping。〃 American exaggeration was not so well known among our friends on the other side then as it is now。
As we boys of the village were gathered on the banks of the Hudson cheering our favorite steamers； or watching with eager interest the movements of the trains； a frequent discussion would be about our ambitions in life。 Every young fellow would state a dream which he hoped but never expected to be realized。 I was charged by my companions with having the greatest imagination and with painting more pictures in the skies than any of them。 This was because I stated that in politics； for I was a great admirer of William H。 Seward； then senator from New York； I expected to be a United States senator； and in business； because then the largest figure in the business world was Commodore Vanderbilt； I hoped to become president of the Hudson River Railroad。 It is one of the strangest incidents of what seemed the wild imaginings of a village boy that in the course of long years both these expectations were realized。
When I entered the service of the railroad on the first of January； 1866； the Vanderbilt system consisted of the Hudson River and Harlem Railroads； the Harlem ending at Chatham； 128 miles； and the Hudson River at Albany； 140 miles long。 The Vanderbilt system now covers 20；000 miles。 The total railway mileage of the whole United States at that time was 36；000； and now it is 261；000 miles。
My connection with the New York Central Railroad covers practically the whole period of railway construction； expansion； and development in the United States。 It is a singular evidence of the rapidity of our country's growth and of the way which that growth has steadily followed the rails； that all this development of States； of villages growing into cities； of scattered communities becoming great manufacturing centres； of an internal commerce reaching proportions where it has greater volume than the foreign interchanges of the whole world； has come about during a period covered by the official career of a railroad man who is still in the service： an attorney in 1866； a vice…president in 1882； president in 1885； chairman of the board of directors in 1899； and still holds that office。
There is no such record in the country for continuous service with one company； which during the whole period has been controlled by one family。 This service of more than half a century has been in every way satisfactory。 It is a pleasure to see the fourth generation； inheriting the ability of the father； grandfather； and great…grandfather； still active in the management。
I want to say that in thus linking my long relationship with the railroads to this marvellous development； I do not claim to have been better than the railway officers who during this time have performed their duties to the best of their ability。 I wish also to pay tribute to the men of original genius； of vision and daring； to whom so much is due in the expansion and improvement of the American railway systems。
Commodore Vanderbilt was one of the most remarkable men our country has produced。 He was endowed with wonderful foresight； grasp of difficult situations； ability to see opportunities before others； to solve serious problems； and the courage of his convictions。 He had little education or early advantages； but was eminently successful in everything he undertook。 As a boy on Staten Island he foresaw that upon transportation depended the settlement； growth； and prosperity of this nation。 He began with a small boat running across the harbor from Staten Island to New York。 Very early in his career he acquired a steamboat and in a few years was master of Long Island Sound。 He then extended his operations to the Hudson River and speedily acquired the dominating ownership in boats competing between New York and Albany。
When gold was discovered in California he started a line on the Atlantic side of the Isthmus of Darien and secured from the government of Nicaragua the privilege of crossing the Isthmus for a transportation system through its territory； and then established a line of steamers on the Pacific to San Francisco。 In a short time the old…established lines； both on the Atlantic and the Pacific； were compelled to sell out to him。 Then he entered the transatlantic trade； with steamers to Europe。
With that vision which is a gift and cannot be accounted for； he decided that the transportation work of the future was on land and in railroads。 He abandoned the sea； and his first enterprise was the purchase of the New York and Harlem Railroad； which was only one hundred and twenty…eight miles long。 The road was bankrupt and its road…bed and equipment going from bad to worse。 The commodore reconstructed the line； re…equipped it； and by making it serviceable to its territory increased its traffic and turned its business from deficiency into profit。 This was in 1864。 The commodore became president； and his son； William H。 Vanderbilt； vice…president。 He saw that the extension of the Harlem was not advisable； and so secured the Hudson River Railroad； running from New York to Albany； and became its president in 1865。 It was a few months after this when he and his son invited me to become a member of their staff。
The station of the Harlem Railroad in the city of New York was at that time at Fourth Avenue and Twenty…sixth Street； and that of the Hudson River Railroad at Chambers Street； near the North River。
In a few years William H。 Vanderbilt purchased the ground for the Harlem Railroad Compa