The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1854-07-26
Steam on Land and Water Railway
Superiority.


Whatever Of beauty and majesty may be at
tached to our conceptions Of the proud ship
gliding through the water without SAIL pro
PEELED only by the mysterious agent of steam.
it is certain that, taking into account the re-
quirements of the times, the world has bene-
fitted most by the introduction of the steam
engine as q means of lOcomotion on railways
The superiority of the latter, especially as a
medium Of travel, has been substantiated wher-
ever the two modes have been brought into
rivalry. \ few years ago the great chain of
Western Lakes was threaded daily by Il class
Of steam vessels, which, for comfort, speed and
magnifcence, have been cxcclled upon no 9th
er waters in any part of the world. Brought
of late into competition with railways. the bet
ter class have all been withdrawn from the
longer routes, and are now used only to piece
out unfinished railways, or to run in connec-
ton with them for the pupose of atlording va
rety to the traveller. Thus, steam on water
is no longer regarded as able to cope, either in
| speed or capacity, with steam on land.
We confess to a feeling of awe, as we gazt,
upon the seemingly conscious locomotive.
rushing along upon the narrow track, spout
| ing its columns of fire and smoke. as if exut
ing in its bounlless energy, and prodigal of its
enormous strength. Making mock of al
barriers, both Of height and depth, as it glides
onward with swallows speed, we can hardly
see one of these wonderful engines in full ac-
ton, without ascribing to it something of hui
nan intelligence will and power Of it,
own. And though we know it to be but &
tame thing in the hands Of the bCgrimmcl Ell.
gincer, our first flnciful conception is sustain
ID by the social revolutions it has wrought
md the influence ii has eXcrtcd and mus
hereafter exert, in promoting the welfare Ct
mankind. When we see extremes of countrie,
brought into the ncarncss of ncighborhoods-
journeys ofmontlls reduced to pleasure trips O:
hOurs-mcmbcrs OF distant communities min
cling daily together in familiar intercourse
knowledge cd-corrc3pondcncc increase
sectional jealouscs rcmovcd-and new an,'
mutually profitable relations everywhere 6
tabshed-;t is not surprising that the agent
which has wrought all these wonderful changes
should be regarded, inyountarily, with emo
tons Of respect and awe.
The contest between land and water car
Rage by steam, which has resulted elsewhere
in the victory Of the former. has yet to b.
| waged throughout the West. That the fila
result will be the same here as elsewhere. We
can have no doubt. 1t is ordained that rail
ways shall become the universal mediums fol
| travel while steam vessels viii for long tim,
vet. in reliably navigablc waters, monoplliN
the heavy treig'ting of the country. But the,
strife here viii be more hotly contested. ans!
The scenery along our noble river Will draw
crowds to tnroEg the Saloons OF our steamers
long after the railway shall lave attcsted it,
superiority in speed and capabiity. Until the
upper Mississippi shall become familiar as arc
| the Hudson and the Connecticut q large pro
portion of travel will float bctw zen It's bluff
instead of sllimming over the dusty prarics on
| the railways yet to be- Nature. in some OF
her lovcicst developments, viii be on the side
of the steamers. while the railways will have
joined to their support the interest of men
'harpencd by the growing requirements of a
fast age. On the Mississippi, and along it,
banks, within the next ten years, is to be Tough
the great closing contest between steam on
| water, and steam on land. There can be NJ
loubt as to the result. The railways which
are yet but vaguely marked out in charters OF
incorporation, are to gain victory over steam
packets, which have wealth to back them
scenery to aid them, and a long and uncontest-
ed supremacy, from which to draw confidence
and hope.