The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-09-08
A MILE A MINUTE.

SPACE ANNIHILATED-REMARK TIME ON
THE NORTHWESTERN RAILwAY-A MILE A
MINUTE FOR i3S MILES.
The Chicago Inter Ocean, OF the 5th inst,
contains the following description OF rail-
road feat: Much has been said of late years
of the humiliation of time and space. The
wonders of the telegraph and Of the subma-
rine cables have been paraded, and quick
time on railways has been talked about until
the people are sick OF reading. Then the
scientists have had much to say (which has
been duly reported and printed) of "perfec-
ton in our railway system, /" butin this con-
nection the new West" has never been
given credit for anything. II the wise
men We're in session in this country, time in
England and in the Eastern States was al
luded to; if in Old England or any part of
"the United Kingdom" the United King
dom was alluded to. A feat has just been
performed, however, that will attract atten-
ton to the West in this regard, and indicate
that our railway system and facilities are
approaching perfection, and that time is be-
ing steadily reduced-in fact that railway
management and railway time are keeping
pace with the grand march of advancement
of to-day. The greatest feat in quick time
ever performed in the world must be cred
tied to the Chicago Il North
western railway. In the East there
are two runs of the time on which
the newspapers are continually Dragging.
time of these runs are printed, and with a
great flourish of trumpets. 1t is about the
same in England, also, where "we're ahead'
is the watehword. The Eastern runs in this
case alluded to are those between Pittsburg
and Philadelphia and between New York
and Buffalo. The distance from Pittsburg
to Philadelphia is 443 miles, and it is made
in ii hours and 10 minutes: the distance
from New York to Buffalo is 40 miles,
which is made in IL hours and 20 minutes.
In great Britain the fastest running is be-
tween Liverpool and London, which is
FIFTY-Two MILES AN HOUR.
This time is made on the evenest, best made
roads, with all the Improvements in steam
and machinery, and crack engineers as
drivers. But to our own Western achieve
ment. The distance from Clinton, Iowa, to
Chicago, on the Omaha and California line
of the Chicago 81 Northwestern, is l3S miles.
The road is one of the best, and Is steel
rallied. On Thursday afternoon it &C.
CURED that party at Clinton wished to
reach Chicago at p. NJ, or as much
earlier as possible, and the officials of the
Northwestern being willing, the attempt was
made. A special train was accordingly got
in readiness, and the party embarking, it
moved out. The locomotive was No. % the
Wabasha, Phil. O'Neal, engineer, and Mat
Hayes, fireman. Every iron nerve and
muscle in the snoring monster of the rail
was strained. Too much coal was not fed,
however. 1t requires experience to know
how to ''fire'' as well as to drive an engine.
Out from the depot at Clinton, the Wabasha
passed at lightning speed. and as she drove
on, the people along the line became excited,
and stood in wondering groups, looking
after "that creased lightning bolt" Those
on board had lighted cigers a short time
after leaving Clinton, and sat chatting
socially for what seemed very brief period,
when, to their establishment, "Chicago!'
was called. The fact that the
cigars were still in long stumps seemed
to cause more surprise than anything else,
and they appealed to their watches to learn
the time that had been made. "Whatw ex-
claimed one of the gentlemen, shave we been
only l53 minutes on the road?" ''That is
what my watch says" returned another,
and such indeed was the case. The most
remarkable time ever made on railway in
the history of the WORLD had been accom-
plished. Then there were con ratulations
all around, the engineer coming In Tor the
lions share. There were several stops MAJ
besides those usual-at Clinton Bridge,
Round Grove, Rochelle and the Junction.
By these stops Is minutes were lost, making
the actual running time l3s minutes, or
q mile minute!