278 The Mohawk and Hudson Rail Road. 



president of the road, Mr. Cambreling, gave the following 

 memorable toast : 



The Buffalo Rail Road — May we soon breakfast at Utica, 

 dine at Rochester, and sup with our friends on Lake Erie. 



It occupied seventy-two continuous hours of wearing 

 travel by stage to reach Buffalo at this time. 



The locomotive returned with five cars, making the trip 

 in thirty-five minutes. It was now dubbed jocosely 

 Brother Jonathan, and the English engine John Bull; 

 although the true John Bull did not come on till the next 

 year. 



It is remarked that this trip removed the doubts of the 

 gentlemen from New York, with regard to the practicability 

 and utility of the Harlem enterprise. 



Such was the increase of travel over the road, that while 

 the daily average of passengers was 180 in August, in the 

 month following it was 322. 



The notice of an application to the legislature for a 

 through road to Buffalo was soon after "published, and a 

 new medium for speculation arose, and grew in magnitude 

 daily before the vision of capitalists. 



In January, 1832, the company reported to the legisla- 

 ture, that the amount actually paid and disbursed in the 

 construction of the road was $183,215; that by the 

 estimates $156,693 would be required to complete it. 



In the spring of 1832, the road was completed through- 

 out its whole line, and the inclined planes being in working 

 order, another grand excursion was given on the 14th of 

 May, extending from the foot of Gansevoort street into the 

 heart of Schenectady. The event was witnessed by a large 

 assemblage, and attended by the firing of cannon. The 

 cars were drawn up the inclined plane by means of a long 

 rope attached to them, and to a stationary engine at the 

 top, the whole steadied and balanced by a car loaded with 

 stone descending on the opposite track. The same cere- 

 mony was observed at the Schenectady terminus, occupy- 



