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THE STORY OF ERIE 81
intended. They would have to be taxed to pay the plan of a commission of eminent railroad
three million mortgage,if released, and they wanted acquainted with the location and construction of railthe
pledge of the Company fulfilled.
roads, to be agreed upon and named in the bill, who
' Diven and Brown were thoroughly aware of the should examine the line as surveyed within the
insurmountable difficulties that seemed to lay in the State, and if upon such careful examination they
way of obtaining the legislation they desired. Their should decide that the line as already surveyed and
wheels had been completely blocked thus far, and located was practicable, that the road should be kept
they asked me if I could not devise some plan that within the State—but if upon such careful examinawould
secure what they wanted. I told them I tion the commissioners should decide, under oath,
would try, and they placed the matter entirely in that the location within the State at certain points
my hands.
was not practicable, then the road might be laid in
My first move was to see the members of the Pennsylvania, where the line within the State was
Legislature from Orange County, for although a decided to be impracticable. This proposal, after
single track of the road had been opened to Middle- full discussion and consideration by the hostile
town, in that county, they were all, the members forces, was finallyaccepted and agreed upon, and
and Senator, in open hostility to Diven and Brown, met with no opposition from Diven and Brown, as
Thornton N. Niven of Newburgh, one of the three with them it was this or nothing. The names of the
members, was one of the most prominent and influ- commissioners were agreed upon to be inserted in
ential members of the Assembly. He had been the bill, and the bill was to include a provision for
among the most earnest supporters of Mr. Dickinson the release and discharge of the three million mortfor
Senator, and in that fight I had won his devoted gage held by the State.
friendship. In casting about in my mind by what " By these arrangements all local opposition was
means I could quiet the hostility of Orange County, changed to active support, and the hope was re-
I suggested to Mr. Niven a branch of the road to newed that the Erie road, which had lain dead for
Newburgh. He accepted the suggestion without a years with a single track to Middletown, would be
moment's hesitation, and that was agreed upon as a brought to life and finallysent forward to completion
part of the programme of conciliation. A branch to to Lake Erie. A programme of united effort had
Newburgh would not only help Newburgh, but been reached in which all the forces of the opposition
would help the Erie as well. To this Diven and now united to make it successful in the Legislature,
Brown agreeed at once. And this not only more if possible. I prepared a bill to carry out these prothan
satisfied the delegation in both branches from visions, which met the approval of all the interests
Orange County, but it gained their active support involved, which was introduced in the Senate and
in the effort to conciliate the other hostile locali- was there to be under my special care. A bill inties.
All these hostile localities wanted the road volving such important interests could not be rushed
PjUji^- through the Legislature in a hurry. * * * A
" This opposition to the plan of Diven and Brown feeling of indifference if not of hostility would be
of allowing the road to leave the State extended from encountered. A release of a three million obliga-
Middletown to Binghamton, and was resolute and tion would involve an increase of the State debt to
determined. Diven and Brown for the Company, that extent, which the tax-payers of the whole State
insisted that the Company must not only have a would have to meet. And there was a general feelrelease
of the three million loan, but the right to ing that the affairs of the Company had not been well
cross over into Pennsylvania on certain portions of managed. It was thought that the three millions
the line. The great point was to provide a solution loaned by the State had not been altogether carefully
of this difficulty. This required careful labor, and and judiciously expended. The wooden piles driven
much friendly intercourse with these hostile ele- to build the road on stilts in certain sections were
ments. In my conference with them I suggested the rotten in the ground. But this did not lessen the
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