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to estimate the extent of their gains. The joy of the plunderers was short-lived. Harlem, to the astonishment of everybody not in the secret, did not fall. During one day it remained firm. The old giant had put his broad shoulder under the load; in order to steady himself, he had braced his arms on his knees. Thus he stood the first day. On the second day, finding the load after all not very heavy, he began to straighten himself. "Harlem is rising!" was the cry of dismay that flew through the ranks of the robbers. It rose steadily day after day. Those who had purchased now demanded delivery. There was no stock in the market. Delivery was impossible. The speculators were, therefore, compelled to settle with their customers by paying the current value of the stock in money, and this carried well-merited ruin to every member of the infamous combination. Subsequently a more honest. legislature gave the required legislation, and the three roads controlled by Vanderbilt were consolidated. In 1871 the "Grand Central Depot" was completed in New York, for the accommodation of the united roads, including also the New York and New Haven railroad now under the same management. A new road was constructed to connect the Harlem and Central roads, called the Spuyten Duyvil and Port Morris railroad. It connects with the Hudson River road at Spuyten Duyvil, and follows the northern side of Harlem river, in Westchester county, until it joins the Harlem road, about a mile and a half north of Mott Haven.

The ground selected for the depot building at Forty

second street and Fourth avenue, is suffiently removed from the fine mansions of the avenues to prevent any annoyance from smoke and noise. The depot proper is in the shape of a half cylinder-the immense ribs of the roof, which reach the ground on both sides, taking that form. The ornamental buildings on the south and west sides are quite extraneous to the main depot, and follow, for the most part, the architectural style of the Renaissance. The pressed brick of all this outside work is finely set off. by the white iron facings, which, when kept well painted, are a good imitation of marble. An entire square, extending from Fortyfourth to Forty-fifth street (five acres), is covered by the building, which is 692 feet long and 240 feet wide. Although the front is not more imposing than that of some Western depots, the appearance of the whole, as seen from the southwest, is more striking than that of any similar building on this continent, and probably in the world. As to size, it is unsurpassed. The depot of the great Midland road in London is of exactly the same width, but is five feet shorter. The towers of the front (the central tower is 130 feet high and the others 110 feet-the three towers of the west side 110 feet), together with a few patches of nearly perpendicular roof, are covered with slate. All the main roof is covered with glass and iron. Even the sheds over the sidewalks, where passengers most frequently enter the building, are half covered with glass.

The west side presents a curious succession of towers, interspersed with sections of frontage, resembling isolated mansions. There are many doorways on this side,

giving access to the saloons on the first floor, the great rooms in the basement-which are to be rented to various tenants, who will be of use to passengers-and the long suites of business offices in the upper stories. The north end is entirely devoted to giving ingress and exit to the railroad trains-the whole space being taken up by iron doors and doorways. The view from any point inside the great dome-like roof is very grand. The intricate network of iron arches and rods, half covered with thick glass, seems, when the sun shine's upon it, like a gigantic cobweb in the sunshine after a rain. The twelve tracks are divided into groups of two by elevated walks.

Commodore Vanderbilt is the father of thirteen children, four sons and nine daughters. His wife died at an advanced age in 1868. He is distinguished for his liberality to worthy charity and for well known generosity. He is in every sense a conspicuous example of the American gentleman of the "real old sort,' enjoys excellent health, has recently married a young wife, and now, at the age of seventy-eight, is as active, correct and prompt in the despatch of business, as a man in the prime of life.

Jay Gould.

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Jay Gould was a banker and broker of considerable standing on Wall street, at the time Fisk made his first appearance in New York. He was in the confidence of Commodore Vanderbilt, and frequently participated in the profits of the great financial operations

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that were organized and put through by that gentleGould was a careful, safe operator, a man of sound judgment and deliberate action, rarely embarking in any enterprise without having first calmly surveyed the whole scheme and arrived at a conclusion that it would pay.

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When Fisk returned to Wall street and resolved upon "making it pay," he, as has already been explained, settled down under the protecting shadow of Daniel Drew. In the struggle of Vanderbilt and Drew, wherein each labored to capture the Erie railway directorship, in 1867, Gould was a candidate on Vanderbilt's ticket and Fisk was a candidate on Drew's ticket. They were, therefore, brought out in opposition to each other. It will be recollected, that a compromise was effected between the two great leaders in such manner as to give each a fair representation in the new board. On the combination ticket appeared the names of both Gould and Fisk. That ticket was elected, and these gentlemen came together as directors of the Erie Railway company. Fisk liked Gould and Gould liked Fisk. The two men were opposites in every thing. Gould is tall, slender and dark; Fisk was short, stout and of light complexion. Gould was cautious, cool, calculating, slow -Fisk was reckless, impetuous, impulsive, instantaneous. These men at once united their fortunes and their forces. Gould planned and Fisk executed. Gould gave to the firm respectability, Fisk gave courage. The operations of the house and of the men who were in it are elsewhere told in detail. Gould rose to the

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