Explanation: The cartoon depicts Cornelius Vanderbilt and James Fisk in a race for control of New York's rails. Throughout 1868 and 1869, the two men had fought for control of the Erie Railroad. Competition among railroad companies was not unique to those competing to build the first transcontinental railroad line. Local and regional railroad companies also competed, as reflected in the cartoon provided above. Here, Vanderbilt straddles his two railroads, the "Hudson River R.R." and the "New York Central R.R.", admonishing his competitor, "Now then Jim--No Jockeying You Know!" The dwarflike Fisk, sitting astride the "Erie R.R.", replies, "Let em rip Commodore!--But Dont Stop to Water or You'll be Beat." The cartoon represents a conflict among railroad companies on the East Coast of the U.S., particularly in New York. They fought to be the company that met the western tracks and be the east side of the transcontinental railroad line.
By River Murphy Julian Charter School 1/9/15