York Central. The great system in the Middle West, now known as
the "Big Four," or Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis
--embracing 750 miles of lines westward from Cleveland and
Columbus, Ohio, to Indianapolis, Springfield, and Cincinnati, and
having traffic connections with St. Louis--was also a Vanderbilt
property at this time, although not under the formal control of
these interests. Another important competing line secured in this
period was the New York, Chicago and St. Louis, built to parallel
the Lake Shore and known as the "Nickel Plate" route. This road
extended from Buffalo to Chicago, and, like the West Shore, had
been constructed with the hope of ultimately selling out to its
competitor.

The development of railroad properties under the Vanderbilt
influence was not confined to the territory east of Chicago and
the Mississippi Valley. As early as 1859 a large system of roads
had been merged in the section extending westward from Chicago to
Omaha and radiating throughout Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas,
Wisconsin, Missouri, and other States. This company was known as
the Chicago and North Western Railroad, and its property, which
was one of large and growing value, by 1886 embraced a system of
over 3500 miles of road. Although neither controlled by the New
York Central nor directly affiliated therewith, it was classed as
a Vanderbilt property.

While for many years after the death of the Commodore the
Vanderbilt family remained in direct financial and operating
control of the New York Central and its myriad of subsidiary
lines and their genius as railroad builders and operators was
distinctly evident, yet the brains and resources of the