New York's First Railroad

It is less than fifty years since tho firs railroad was built iu this state. On the 29th Jay of July, 1830, ground was broken for tbu construotion of' a line by the Mo hawk aud iluilson railroad coujpany tha had been incorporated by an act of the legislatura on the lTth day of April, 181it' It wa foruied for the purpose of "conHtrUCllllL iX bluuiu ui uuuUK lalltuaa ui aj between the Mohawk and Hudson rivers couiniencing f rom the Hudson river at any point within the bounds of Uie city of Albany, or within huif a iiiile west of the same, to transport, take, and earry property and persons upon tbe same by the power and force of sttaui, of animáis, or of any ¦ueehanical or other power, or of any coui bination of theui, which the said corporation may choose to eniploy." Abuut the20chof July, 1831, twelve and one-half miles of the road had been cotnpleted, and on the 2th of the same niuntli a locomotivo, the De Witt Clinton, was placed upon the track. It was built by the West Point foundry. Another locomotivo had been ordered froui Stepheusou, o! Kngland, which was placed upon the road on tbe ITth of Septemlier. A trial rif tbe first locooiotive was not successfnl. It was found deiective in the capaoity ol the boiler, and portions had to be relurntd to the foundry for improvement. The road was formally opened by a gram) excursión over the line on the 24tli of September, 1831. Just as the company was about to start, the leed pipe of the Knglish locoinotive, the Robfirt Fulton, broke, and horses were substituted to carry theui. The train oonsisted of two cars. The tlirec cars comppsloc the other train were drawn by the I)e Witt Clinton. The locomotive made the return trip with all ftve cars in thirtyñve minutes. Tbe com pietion of this road was accomplished in the spring of 1832, the cars first used being coach bodies placed upon trucks and hupported by thorough braces, in the manner of stages. The terminus at Albany and Sehenectedy were inclined planes worked by stationary engines, and the cars were drawn up by means of a largo rope, uul balanced by means of a car loaded with stone descending the oppoMte traok. This road was the first buik in this state, and is now a part of the New York Central and H-udson river railroad. The state engineer's report shows that at the end of the fiscal year, Sept. 30, 1S79, there were 288 railroad companiesthat had roads in this state, repreenting a capital of $461,580,485, and earning a revenue ol $106,792,939.