434 Biographical Memoir of William C. Redfield. 



states. "This great plateau (says he) will indeed one day be 

 intersected by thousands of miles of railroad communications ; and 

 so rapid will be the increase of its population and resources, that 

 many persons now living will probably see most or all of this ac- 

 -complisbed." How well has this remarkable prediction, uttered 

 in 1829, when there was not a foot of railroad in all the country 

 tinder review, been fulfilled, and how truly has it happened that 

 many of the elder members of this association still live to witness 

 its accomplishment ! 



The motives which impelled Mr. Redfield to spread this subject 

 before the American people at that early day, when railroads 

 were scarcely known in this country, were purely patriotic. He 

 had no private interests to subserve in the proposed enterprize, 

 and the whole expense of preparing and publishing two editions 

 of the pamphlet embodying these enlarged and prophetic views; 

 was defrayed from his own limited resources. 



In 1832, Mr. Redfield, in company with Mr. Morgan, civil 

 engineer, reconnoitered the series of interior valleys through 

 which the Harlem railroad now runs, with, a view to the estab- 

 lishment of the New York and Albany railroad. He was instru- 

 mental in obtaining the charter of that road, and published a 

 pamphlet entitled "Facts and Suggestions relating to the New 

 York and Albany Railroad." About the same period, in con- 

 nection with. James Brewster, Esq. of New Haven, he explored 

 the route of a railroad leading from New Haven to Hartford, 

 which afterwards resulted in the construction of the Hartford and 

 New Haven railroad. As early as 1829, he addressed a memo- 

 rial to the Common Council of the City of New York, asking- 

 permission to lay an experimental railroad in Canal street. The 

 project of a railroad through one of the public streets of New 

 York was at that time considered as chimerical, but time has 

 developed the wisdom of the plan, and illustrated the sagacity 

 and forecast that first devised it. 



When the project of the Hudson River Railroad was started, 

 he entered into it with his characteristic enthusiasm, and was a 

 member of th.e board of directors, which brought that road to its 

 final completion. In the progress of the work he was deeply 

 interested, frequently visiting all parts of the line, and at diff"erent 

 periods examining on foot the entire road between New York and 

 Albany. His associates of the board acknowledged themselves 



