Memoir of Mr. G- W. Featherstonhaugh. — By J. D F. 219 
the public journals a system of railways in the Mohawk 
valley. It was accordingly announced in November, 1825, 
that an application Avould be made to the next legislature for 
an act to incorporate a company to construct a rail-road from 
Schenectady to the Hudson river at Albany or Troy as should 
be deemed most advisable. 
After untold difficulties from prejudices, want of compre- 
hension on the part of rural legislators, and vested interests 
in horse-flesh and stages, a charter w^as procured on the 27th 
of March, 1826,'^ for the proposed road between the cities of 
Albany and Schenectady, a distance of sixteen miles, present- 
ing gradients more difficult for the experience of that day to 
overcome, than are elsewhere to be found in the 500 miles 
from New York to lake Erie. In the interest of the rail-road 
he visited England to inspect the roads that were beginning to 
be operated there, and to consult with engineers who had some 
experience as to the most feasible plans. 
The rail-road being at length an established fact, and public 
opinion having been drawn to its support by his indefatigable 
pen, he returned with zest to his agricultural labors. But the 
death of his two daughters within a few days of each other, 
from diphtheria, and the loss of his sorrowing wife, made his 
home desolate. He was ordered to seek a milder climate, and 
closing his house, which was shortly afterwards destroyed by 
fire, never revisited the place, or resumed the agricultural 
pursuits to which he had given so many years of his life, and 
sacrificed a large part of his fortune. 
2 " We find that in 1812 a pamphlet was published fur the purpose of 
explaining the superior advantage of rail-ways and steam carriages 
over canal navigation. * * * * Mr. Stevens of New Jersey en- 
deavored to persuade all who were engaged in public improvement, 
that railroads were cheaper and more effective, as well as far more 
rapid in transit, than was possible to l)e obtained by water. Mr. Feather- 
stonhaugh of Schenectady (county) also about the same time put in a 
plea for rail-roads." Origin and progress of the Mohawk and Hudson 
rail-road. Munson, Albany, page 4. G. W. Featherstonhaugh in a 
letter to the mayor, said that transportation of property from Albany 
to Schenectady was seldom effected in less than two and sometimes 
three days. By rail-road the communication between the same would 
be safely made, in winter and summer, in three hours, at no greater 
cost than by canal, paying for sixteen instead of twenty-eight miles. 
He regarded this experiment as a test whether this economical mode 
of transportation would succeed in this country." Ibid. p. 7. 
^ "Stephen Van Rensselaer, known as the old Patroon, and G. W. 
Featherstonhaugh were the only persons named as directors in the 
charter. This seems therefore to have been the first charter of what 
became a successful passenger rail-road in this country." Ibid. p. 7. 
