Read Online The Trainmasters by Jesse Taylor Croft - Free Book Online
Authors: Jesse Taylor Croft
Ads: Link
railroading.
On the strength of his thousand shares of Pennsylvania stock, he had sought and was granted interviews with a number of high-ranking
bankers, businessmen, and government officials who were not connected with the railroad. From these conversations as well
as from his own personal observations, he was able to put together an informative assessment of the Pennsylvania Railroad.
What he concluded verified what Sir Charles had already told him: The Pennsylvania was indeed the best-run railroad in the
country. As soon as the main line was completed over the Alleghenies, it would carry a large portion of the passengers and
freight between the eastern seaboard and the western interior, and it would earn a substantial profit.
But the very quality of the line’s operation had caused it to capture more than its share of attention from its rivals. The
other railways spreading west to the north and south of it were worried by the overwhelming competition the Pennsylvania system
would pose.
And the other sellers of long distance transport—the teamsters with their great Conestoga wagons, and the canal operators,
whose canals had only recently been dug at great expense—were howling ever more loudly. They feared the railroad would render
their livelihood dated. The teamsters and the canal operators were a rough lot who were not used to surrendering when their
incomes were threatened. They would not take the arrival of the railroad quietly.
And then there were the various financial wolves and jackals, the predatory capitalists who played such an important part
in American business. They had been known to destroy more than one fledgling enterprise in order to gain immediate profits.
The intelligence that John gleaned from his two weeks of investigations did not indicate which of these forces would attack
the railroad, or how the attack might be made. But there was little doubt that something would happen. Young America was a
raw and violent land. Many men who called themselves businessmen were not gentlemen but bandits and desperadoes. Rivalries
were often settled by direct force and violence rather than overt competition in the marketplace.
Thus the upcoming period in the railroad’s existence would probably prove to be its most vulnerable time, for, although the
line appeared to be as well financed as Sir Charles had indicated, cash was needed nevertheless, and investment capital in
this fast growing young nation was limited. What all this information would mean for him in the coming months, John had no
idea. But he knew that the officers and managers of the Pennsylvania would have to be ready for a number of eventualities
ranging from financial chicanery to sabotage and physical attacks. If John was going to play the kind of part in the completion
of the line that both he and Sir Charles had envisioned for him, he would have to be prepared.
To all this disturbing and challenging intelligence John added some fascinating pieces of history: The Pennsylvania Railroad
was not the first attempt to build a modern transport system across Pennsylvania. Yet the other system would clearly not suffice
in the future. Thirty years earlier, the state had embarked on an extensive canal building project. By 1852, the project was
for the most part completed, but the canal system had not proved to be a satisfactory mode of transportation, for the waterways
were closed throughout most of the winter. When spring arrived it was not unusual for the returning operators to find a large
portion of the locks and other major machinery ruined by frost.
Later, the state attempted to supplement the canals with connecting railroads.
The result was an impressive achievement. A traveler who used the state system could journey from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh
in greater comfort and convenience than ever before. He would take a state-owned train to Harrisburg, transfer to a canal
boat, and travel up
On the strength of his thousand shares of Pennsylvania stock, he had sought and was granted interviews with a number of high-ranking
bankers, businessmen, and government officials who were not connected with the railroad. From these conversations as well
as from his own personal observations, he was able to put together an informative assessment of the Pennsylvania Railroad.
What he concluded verified what Sir Charles had already told him: The Pennsylvania was indeed the best-run railroad in the
country. As soon as the main line was completed over the Alleghenies, it would carry a large portion of the passengers and
freight between the eastern seaboard and the western interior, and it would earn a substantial profit.
But the very quality of the line’s operation had caused it to capture more than its share of attention from its rivals. The
other railways spreading west to the north and south of it were worried by the overwhelming competition the Pennsylvania system
would pose.
And the other sellers of long distance transport—the teamsters with their great Conestoga wagons, and the canal operators,
whose canals had only recently been dug at great expense—were howling ever more loudly. They feared the railroad would render
their livelihood dated. The teamsters and the canal operators were a rough lot who were not used to surrendering when their
incomes were threatened. They would not take the arrival of the railroad quietly.
And then there were the various financial wolves and jackals, the predatory capitalists who played such an important part
in American business. They had been known to destroy more than one fledgling enterprise in order to gain immediate profits.
The intelligence that John gleaned from his two weeks of investigations did not indicate which of these forces would attack
the railroad, or how the attack might be made. But there was little doubt that something would happen. Young America was a
raw and violent land. Many men who called themselves businessmen were not gentlemen but bandits and desperadoes. Rivalries
were often settled by direct force and violence rather than overt competition in the marketplace.
Thus the upcoming period in the railroad’s existence would probably prove to be its most vulnerable time, for, although the
line appeared to be as well financed as Sir Charles had indicated, cash was needed nevertheless, and investment capital in
this fast growing young nation was limited. What all this information would mean for him in the coming months, John had no
idea. But he knew that the officers and managers of the Pennsylvania would have to be ready for a number of eventualities
ranging from financial chicanery to sabotage and physical attacks. If John was going to play the kind of part in the completion
of the line that both he and Sir Charles had envisioned for him, he would have to be prepared.
To all this disturbing and challenging intelligence John added some fascinating pieces of history: The Pennsylvania Railroad
was not the first attempt to build a modern transport system across Pennsylvania. Yet the other system would clearly not suffice
in the future. Thirty years earlier, the state had embarked on an extensive canal building project. By 1852, the project was
for the most part completed, but the canal system had not proved to be a satisfactory mode of transportation, for the waterways
were closed throughout most of the winter. When spring arrived it was not unusual for the returning operators to find a large
portion of the locks and other major machinery ruined by frost.
Later, the state attempted to supplement the canals with connecting railroads.
The result was an impressive achievement. A traveler who used the state system could journey from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh
in greater comfort and convenience than ever before. He would take a state-owned train to Harrisburg, transfer to a canal
boat, and travel up
Similar Books
