The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1862-01-08
ON THE RAIL.

We had occasion to visit the city Of
the Straits, last week, and very much, as
matter of course, passed over the De-
troit aud Milwaukee Railroad. We say
as matter of course, as it has become
quietly settled as the channel Of travel
and traffic, and its conveniences are nc
copied by the public as unthinkingly as
the rising and setting of the sun.
1t is one of the best possible evidences
of the thorough, efficient management of
the Road, that such is the case. When
the running of trains is so regular that
no thought is taken Of the possibility of
irregularity, when accidents are entirely
unheard Of, and the business of the Road
is transacted so quietly that casual OBJ
server can form scarcely conception of
the heavy freight traffic which is passing
over it, we may be sure that the working
machinery of its management is perfect,
and that il is under the control of mas
ter mind.
The Detroit and Milwaukee Railroad is
one of the Institutions Of Central Michi-
gan, and has aided greatly in developing
the resources of our State.
AS we quietly flew along the rail from
Pontiac to Detroit, we called TO memory
ride from Detroit to Pontiac on the d.
& p. r. R., in the olden time. At an
uncertain time in the morning we left the
depot shed, near tie old Railroad Hotel,
in single passenger car, drawn by an in
stitution which rs nearly resembled the
crazy mans "cook stove on wheels" ms
anything else. 1t was rickety rackety
old tank engine, carrying its own wood,
and watered with a wooden bucket, like
wheezy old stage horse. With much
suffering and ado we got off, and went
slowly jogging over the humps in the old
strap rail toward Pontiac. About half
way there we were surprised by the grad
ual cessation of the monotonous jogging,
and, on taking an observation, by tree
outside, we found ourselves at a dead
stand. On inquiry il was learned that
the engine was out of steam. After ex-
ploring the country in the neighborhood
to our satisfaction, while the engineer was
getting fresh boil, as the machine start
ed off again we accompanied it on foot un-
til We got tired of walking, and concluded
that, as our ride was paid for, we might
as we'll have it. At length dinner time
and Pontiac were reached. After dinner
we set out on our return, which was &C
complished in much the same way
as our journey out. We noticed that
no freight or passenger depots were nee
essary, rs passengers hailed the train,
which waited for their accommodation at
any place along the road, and one old farm
or stopped us to put dressed hog aboard
to be taken to market. We succeeded in
reaching Detroit by evening, making it
good days work to go to Pontiac and
back by railroad.
In one respect the old railroads sur
passed the new. The quiet, gentemanly
Conductors of the present day, who per-
form their duties so courteously, are no
whar," in comparison with the magnif-
cent brass bound gentry of the olden
time, who used to stalk through the cars
roaring TICKET" every ten miles or so.
By their lofty airs they seemed to assume
that it was the very depth of condescen-
sion, on their part, to permit ordinary peo-
pie TO ride in their wagon, and that they
must continually exercise their authority
TO make folks realize their humble de-
pendence upon the lord Conductor.