Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-04-12
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.

New York and B0sfOn-The F1rs
Steamboat VOyage-Ocean Steamer
The First RaiIway-The Telegraph
The Atlantic Cable.
The utilitarian spirit of the age is striking
ly exhibited in the intensity Of the desire
to diminish the quantity of time necessary
to pass from one point Of the earth's sur
face to another, and to communicate almos
instsntaneously with remote distances. Tn,
great triumphs of genius within the las
balf century, have been accomplished
within the domain of commerce. And In
contemplating the progress which has en-
sued, it is a cause of humiliation thai
as in the case of other great discoveries
so many centuries have elapsed, during
which the power of steam, an element
almost constantly within the observation oi
man, was, although perceived, unemployed
| But reflection upon the nature 0f man and
his slow Advancement in the great path oil
fact and science, will at once hush the ex-
preston of our wondering regret over the
past, while noble occupation of the mind
offers itself in speculation upon the future.
The canal, turnpike, plankroad, steamboat,
| railway, river and mountain tunnel, and
| electric telegraph, are of comparatively
recent production. At the close of the last
century, with the exception of few mill
tary roads inherited from the Romans, and
those of the same description construct
ed by Napoleon, the means of communica-
ton between distant points were almost en-
tirely confined to inland seas and the large
rivers. 1t is for this reason that the mari
time cities and provinces att 9ined such dis
proportionate wealth. At the commence
ment of the Christian era, ffty-six miles
was considered good twelve hour journey
by the cisiuml or post chaise. Julius Caesar
B. G 27, occupied eight days in jOurneying
from the river Rhone to Rome, $50 miles.
The news Of the fall of Maximin, A. D.
244, was carried to Rome from Aquileis,
320 miles, in four days.
The invention of chariots, and the man
ner of harnessiDg horses to them is ascribed
to Erichthonius of Athens, B. G. 1886.
The chariots of the ancients were like our
phaetoDs, and drawn by one horse. The
invention of the chaise or calash is ascribed
to Augustus Caesar, about a. d. 7. Post
chaises were introduced by Trsjan, about
A. D. 100. Carriages were known in
France in A. D. 1900, when but two existed
in Paris; in 1850 there were but three in
that city, and those wsre Of rude construc-
ton. Henry ~. had one, but it was with
out straps or springs. A strong cob-hOrse
(hGQuCnee) was let for short journeys;
later, these were harnessed to a We
hicle called cOche-G hdQuenee, hence
the name hackney coach. These
we're let for hire in Paris, in 1850, at the
Hotel Fiacre. They were known in Eng
land in 1866, but not the art of making
them. When first made in England, during
the reign of Queen Elizabeth, they were
called whirlcotes. Cabs are also of Paris
ian origin. The driver sat 10 the inside,
but the aristocratic tastes of the English
suggested the propriety of the driver being
seated outside. Omnibuses also originated
in Paris, and were introduced into London
in 1927, by an enterprising coach proprie-
tor, named Shillaber. They were intro
duced into New York in 1928 by Kipp and
Brown. Horse railways were introduced
into New York in 1851, upon the Sixth
avenue.
In 1860 there were but six stage-coaehes
in England; two days were spent in passing
from London to Oxford, ffty-four miles.
In 1869 it was announced that vehicle de-
scribed as the fying-cOach would perform
tie journey between sunrise and sunset. 1t
excited as much interest as the opening of
a new railway a generation ago. The New
castle COtrdTlt, of Oct. IL, 1712, advertises
"tbat all that desire to pass from Edinburgh
to London, or from London to Edinburgh,
or any place on that road, let them repair to
Mr.. John Baillier, at the Coach and Horses,
at the head of Cannongate. Edinburgh,
every other Saturday; or to the Black Swan,
in Holborn, every Monday; at both of which
places they may be received in a stage-cUach
which performs the whole journey in
thirteen days, without stoppage, Cf God
permit) having eight able horses to per-
form the whole journey. The coach se's
out at six in the morning" In 1877, the
mail from London arrived in Edinburgh
with only one letter in it. Even as late as
l760 it took four days to pass from London
to Liverpool, two hundred and ten miles.
1t was not until 1925, that daily line of
coaches was established between London
and Edinburgh, accomplishing the dis
tanee in forty-six hours. And even so
late as 1885, there were only seven coaches |
which ran daily between the two cities.
In 1851, Sir Richard Saltonstall was six |
weeks going from Salem to Jamestown. In |
1886, the Rev. Mr.. Rogers, the first minis |
ter of Ipswich, was twenty-fo weeks on |
the voyage from Gravesend to Boston. The |
first stage coach in America started in Bos- |
ton, from the site of No90 North straet,for |
in 1861. The first line of |
stage coaches between Boston and New
York was established in 1872, coach leay-
ing each city once month; fourteen days |
we're required to complete the journey. In
1902 the mail stage started from Boston for |
New York on Monday morning at eight |
O'c'ock, and was due in New York at noon
Friday. The stage-coach from New York
or Boston started from the Fresh |
Water, now the site of the
rombs, in 1772. In 1743, Benjamin
Postmaster of Philadelphia, in an
da ed April IA, announces
"lhat the Northern post will set out for
New York on Thursdays, at three O'Clock
q the afternoon, till Christmas. The
Southern pest will set out for Annapolis
lext Monday and continue going every fort
light during the summer season." In
766, the news of the repeal of the stamp
ct was eight weeks crossing the ocean.
The first express agent, from Boston to
VeW York, carried an account of the de-
truction of the tea in Boston Harbor. He
eft Boston on Friday afternoon, aud ar
ived in New York on Tuesday afternoon,
n 1873, Josiah Quincy, father and GRANDPA
her of the Boston Mayors ofthat name, spent
hirt three days upon a journey from
S. g., to Philadelphia. In
775, Gen. Washington was eleven days in
DING from Philadelphia to Boston. Upon
is arrival at, WATERFOWL, he was met by a |
ommittee Of citizens and congratulated
pom the speed of his journey. The first
agular communication between Boston and
was established in 17SS, by JON
than Lowe, who ran two-horse open car
age between the two places, twice week !
ach way. Beside the Gloucester coach, {
My four stages ran into Boston at that !
me. In 1910, Edward Everett passed up
taten Island Sound; the first steam .
oat voyage ever made. The news of the !
attic of New Orleans, Jan. s, 1915, was !
days in reaching Philadelphia. ,
ixty years ago the regular mail time be- :
Veen New York and Albany was eight :,
ays. AS late as 1924, the United States
lsil was thirty-two days in going from I
ortland TO New Orleans. The news OF the !
cath of Napoleon Bonapsrte at st. Helena, 7
lay ), 1921, reached New York on the 18th
August. The death of Thomas Jeffer-
IN at Monticello, on the Fourth of July,
326, reached Boston on the fourth day af-
rwards. The death of President Harri4
N at Washington, on the 4th of April, y
81, reached Boston on the third day after y