Mr. Vreeland was asked the secret of successfully managing a
street-railway system of this sort.
“High-priced men,” he unhesitatingly replied. “High-priced men, and
one-man power in all departments. Ten-thousand-dollar-a-year men are
what I want,—one of these rather than five two-thousand-dollar-a-year
men.”
“I began at the bottom and worked up. I think that is always the way
for a young man to do, as soon as he has decided upon his career. I was
fitted for the railroad business, and it didn’t take me long to decide
just what I wanted to be. I think much of my progress was due to my
early beginning. I think an early beginning means a great deal in after
life.
“I have always been glad that I chose the business I did. I have never
had any reason to regret having done so. Of course, when I was very
young, I had discontented moments, like almost every other youth, but
I overcame them, and stayed with the railroad. I believe that everyone
should overcome those passing fancies, instead of yielding to them. Too
many young fellows, just starting out, go from one thing to another,
never satisfied, and consequently never making any progress. I think
the faculty for ‘sticking’ is one of the most valuable a young man can
have. When an employer hires a man, he likes to feel that he won’t be
wasting his time in teaching him the business. He likes to feel that
the man will remain with him, and be a real help, instead of leaving at
the first opportunity.”
The rest of the history is well known to the people of New York, and
to experts in street railroading throughout the country. The “Whitney
syndicate,” so-called, was then in possession of a few only out of some
twenty or more street railway properties in New York City, the Broadway
line, however, being one of these, and by far the most valuable. With
the immense financial resources of Messrs. Whitney, Widener, Elkins,
and their associates, nearly all the other properties were added to
the original lines owned by the syndicate, and with the magnificent
organizing and executive ability of Mr. Vreeland, there has been built
up in New York a street railway system which, while including less than
two hundred and fifty miles of track, is actually carrying more than
one-half as many passengers each year as are being carried by all the
steam railroads of the United States together.