What kind of business(es) did Vanderbilt control (location, dates number of employees, etc.)?

Answer 1

Most of the businesses that Cornelius Vanderbilt controlled were railroads.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornelius_Vanderbilt

Answer 2

New York and Harlem Railroad (1863–)
Hudson River Railroad (1864–)
New York Central Railroad (1868–)
Canada Southern Railway (1873–)[11]
Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway (1873?–)
Michigan Central Railroad (1877–)[12]
New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad (Nickel Plate Road, 1882–)
West Shore Railroad (1885–)
Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad
Dunkirk, Allegheny Valley and Pittsburgh Railroad
Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway
Lake Erie and Western Railroad
Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad

Thanks
BTW -- I'm just going to pick 2-3 and write the dates and location

thanks again Ms. Sue! :)