Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-02-22
ACROSS THE CONTINET.
What the New York Graphic Thinks

The Fl. Wayne& Penn. Line has forts
starting point Chicago, running East, Ella
Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Philadel-
phia, to New York. In Chicago this
Railway enjoys most remarkable and
valuable rights of way. It's passenger
depot is situated in the very center of
the city, and within three to five min
utes walk of the prominent hotels, lead
ing wholesale houses, banks, chamber
OF commerce, post Office, and custom
house.
Its franchises within the corporate
limits OF Chicago are to-day estimated
to be more valuable than the first four
hundred miles of this elegant road.
The route is popular with the business
men, first: N account Of the short ride.
it being only 912 miles from Chicago to
New York, an advantage of 81 miles
over all other lines. Second. for it's
substantial road-bed of stone, track of
steel and bridges of iron and granite.
Third, for the promptness and reliabil-
ity of it's three through New York pass
enger trains, and the magnificent equip
ment of Pullman Palace and Drawing
Room Cars on all trains. The Westing-
house Automatic Safety Breaks, facili-
tate quick stoppagcs, and the INTRODUCED
ton On January lst, 1878, Of Janney's
New Improved Patent Platforms, Buff
fers and Couplers, render what is known
IN railway parlancc as ~tclescoping trains
impossible. By the introduction of Jan
ney's patent, trains cannot part while
in motion, and by the use of strong steel
springs, there is no strain whilst moving
on curves. This is an Innovation, the
question of strong platforms and safe
couplers and buffers, has been a subject
of great thought and care by the officials
of this line, Janney's patent has over
come all obstacles, and to-day the Fort
Wayne and Pennsylvania can safely
challenge the world to furnish or
suggest an improvement in their track,
machinery or equipments, which will
insure greater safety and comfort to it's
patrons han they now enjoy. The
fame of the Fort Wayne & Pennsylva-
MIA Railway, is univeral. Travlcrs
from the far off Japan, China, Australia,
the Indies and Continental Europe unite
in their praises of this wonderful thor
oughfare. Tourists glowingly describe
the beautiful and matchless mountain
scenery, and sight-scekers. by a day
light ride over the road, forms an idea
of the riches Of the growing West.
For the first 300 miles stretch of rolling
prairie between Chicago and Crestlinc,
magnificent farms with their green fields
of golden grain line either side of the
road, and as far as the naked eye can
reach, forests of orchards, elegant resi-
dences and buildings furnish abundant
evidence of the wonderful thrift and
prosperity of the Western people. The
curling smoke from the endless collierys.
and the thousands of open mouthed fiery
furnaces, and the humdrum of the
busy manufacturing establishments
which are distributed at various points
for the distance of six hundred miles,
exhibit the astonishing resources of the
people who help to maintain this gigan-
tic enterprise. The Fort Wayne and
Pennsylvania, between New York and
Chicago, was selected by Jarrett & Pal
mer, as being peculiarly adapted for
their famous California Special Express,
which ran across the Continent from
ocean to ocean in Eighty hours. The
train left New York on the morning of
June 1st, 1876, making the run to Pitts
burgh, without stopping, Al miles in
Nine hours and FItty-fre INMATES.
This extraordinary run is withouta par
allel in the history of r~ailroading. 1t
must be remembered, on the Pennsyl-
vania railway, by a peculiar arrangement
of water trenches between the rails,
engineers are enabled to force water in
to their tanks while moving at full
speed. Between Pittsburgh and Chicago
the train ran away, or other words, beat
it's own schedule time. 1t was on the
Western Division, which for 300 miles
is perfectly level and almost an air line,
the famous burst of speed was accom-
plished. For two hours in a binding
storm of. wind, rain, lightning and ter
rife thunder which seemed to conspire
against the successful termination of
this great race against time, the train
flew we the heavy steel rails and Gle
gantly ballasted tracks, at the rate of
sixty miles per hour. At ten p. VI.
precisely, smoking and steaming, with
many minutes to spare, amidst the gree
tings of the excited multitude which
has assembled, the train entered the
Fort Wayne depot, making the unprcce-
denied run of 912 miles from New York
to Chicago, in 20 hours averaging over
forty-ivc miles per hour, including
stops.
The accomplishment of this extraor-
binary continuous rum, is an evidence of
the perfect condition and wonderful
management of this model highway of