The life of George Stephenson, railway engineer - Lighthouse ...

398 LIFE OF GEORGE STEPHENSON. [chap, xxxii.
affairs of his district. When a provisional committee was formed
at York to promote-a Leeds line, Mr. Hudson was requested to
act as the deputy chairman, Mr. Alderman Meek being the
chairman. The reputation which Mr. Stephenson had by this
time acquired as a successful railway engineer induced the com-
mittee to invite him to act as their engineer. His report in
favour of the line connecting York with the Midland system
was adopted, and the act was obtained in 1835. When the
railway was opened in 1839, Mr. Hudson had become Lord
Mayor of York, and was shortly after elected the chairman of
the Company.
Mr. Hudson's views with- respect to railways were at first
extremely moderate, and his intentions were most honourable
and praiseworthy. The York and North Midland line was only
about thirty miles long ; and he interested himself in it chiefly
for the purpose of securing for York the advantages of the new
system of communication which Mr. Stephenson had devised,
and placing it in the most favourable position with reference to
any future extension of the main line of railway, north and
south. Viewed in this light, Mr. Hudson was one of the greatest
local benefactors that the city of York had ever known, and
was entitled to the gratitude and respect of his fellow citizens.
The railway was not very prosperous at first ; and during the
years 1840 and 1841 its shares had greatly sunk in value. But
Mr. Hudson, when chairman of the Company, somehow con-
trived to pay improved dividends to the proprietors, who asked
no questions. He very soon exhibited a desire to extend the
field of his opei'ations, and proceeded to lease the Leeds and
Selby Railway at five per cent. That line had been a losing
concern ; so its owners struck a bargain with Mr. Hudson
and sounded his praises in all "directions. He increased the
dividends on the York and North Midland shares to ten per
cent., and began to be cited as the model of a railway chairman,
He next interested himself in the North Midland Railway,
where he appeared in the character of a reformer of abuses.
By this time he had secured the friendship of Mr. Stephenson,
who had a high opinion of his practical qualities—his indefati-
gable industry and shrewdness in matters of business. He had