The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1878-10-19
TICKETSI
A Man who Travelled Seven Million Miles
The Oldest Conductor in the Coun-
try Relates his Early Experience
Troublesome Times in the
Long ago of Railroading
Fast Travelling not
a New Thing.

Fast Travelling not
New Thing.
''They don't do things like they used to-" muse
the man who claims to be the Oldest living raj
road conductor, rs he settled two hundred pOunt
of avOirdupois in a comfortable position and cleal
ed his throat to tell why they didn't Then
threw back his hat and disclosed a well-rounder
olly-ooking face, with clear outlines "Pm sixty
seven," said conductor William Roberts, by wa
of preliminary, but he does not look to be owe
fifty. lie is remarkably well preserved, and hi
small bright eyes peer out over two big fat cheek
which show that heis able to manipulate the pune
for a few seasons vet,
81 believe ] am the oldest railroad conductor il
the United States" he said as he bounced his can
Oh the floor and Strengthened himself out so tha
his memory could run clear. 81 entered the rail
road business in 1891 and did not relinquish actv
service until two years ago. when an accident in
capacitated me from further work for some tim
| to come. was bus or coach driver with m,
father in the city of Baltimore up to 1881, and a
nineteen years of age was called to the profession
to which have tenaeiously chung until nearly tn,
term of life allotted to man has been fulfilled
They didn't know much of building railroads in
those days, and when the idea of constructing the
Baltimore and Ohio road was broached peonle
laughed at it, To give them an idea of what the
tramway would be like circular belt Of rail was
laid in the rOtunda of the Exchange in Baltimore
aud small car placed upon it. Here the men,
bers of the commercial and financial bodies whom
it was desired to interest in the scheme, enioyed
the novelty of whizzing around the rotunda and
riding on rail. So ignorant were the people of
railroad building that they made the car wheels
with the fanges outside. This they ascertained
| to be a great mistake when they attempted to take
the cars around curve. Then they placed them
on the inside, and found that worked all right
Inquiries were sent to England and all around in
the hope of learning some improved method of
railway building, with but little satisfaction CLEAN
ed. However, we managed to get along first.rate
ourselves
"In 1928, 1929, 1880 and 1881 the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad was constructed, and extended
to the Relay House, thence to Ellicott's Mills
The cars were somewhat like the summer cars on
the horse railroads, while in a few months we ad-
vanced so as to remOvecoach bodies and place them
on iron wheels to run along the track. The trains
were drawn by horses, each car, holding about
twenty persons, having one horse. In this hum
BILE manner the foundation was laid for what is
now one of the great trunk lines of the country
For couple Of years the trains were running with
out conductors, but in December, 1881, three of us
were appointed to act in that capacity. Both of
my partners have died since. They were John T.
Surault and Gustavus Allen. At that time the agent
sold you piece of paper on which was printed
your destination. This was your ticket. When
you purchased this your name was written upon
it, and at the same time your name was entered
in a large book in the office, thus ANDREW Jack
son, EllicOtt's Mills The conductor was great
man, and much thought of. He was invited to
dinner with the prominent citizens, and associated
with the chief officers of the company.
"Well, now, l really don't know why the COM
panies introduced those punches but presume
they thought some of the conductors getting
rich too fast, so they determined upon some check
to prevent them becoming owners of the roads
1t was 1860, or some time about then, that the
punches were first put into use.
"When the Baltimore and Washington road was
first opened, in 1885, appointed conductor,
and spent three years there. We had steam en-
man named Davies, at Little YORK. People talk
about fast trains in these days. Why, in March,
1887 the day before Martin Van Buren was inaug-
urated President, we ran an engine and special
car from Baltimore to Washington in sixty-fve
minutes This was to bring the Presidents mes
sage North the next day. What q big thing that
was whole car and an engine for the message
of the President Well, we started OIL, but broke
down before we arrived at Baltimore, and had to
send the message on by coach. There were many
incidents of an amusing character which came un-
der nv notice on that road. One day we had
special car containing two immense cheeses for
President Van Buren. Some tellnw sent them to
him all the way from Massachusetts. Probably
he expected post Office by return mail. The
cheeses were very large being at least two feet
thick"
"The President accepted them of course, said
the reporter, intending to anticipate the answer.
presidents In those days were not like the pres
ent breed. They didn't take brick houses, horses
and steamships. Mr.. Van Buren looked at the
cheese and smiled. He offered to purchase them
from the man, but take them as gift he would
not There was no clause which he could find in
IL. oil fha n
gift from his people, the cheese was prepared
to ship back to New England. However, 1t was
stopped at the National Capital and sold for fifty
cents per pound, and there was right merry fun
while it was being disposed of. The President
himself bought a couple of pounds.
"Then, there was James X. Polk, of Tennessee,
rs we used to call him. He loved horses Indeed,
think he was as fond of fast steed as General
Grant. Many sleek animals we're sent down over
the road bearing tag, showing they were for the
Chief Executive If the horses suited his ideas he
would purchase them and pay cash, but many OF
the CRITTERS were sent back to their owners, be-
cause the President was too conscientious to re-
eeive them as gift. Andrew jackson was the
same way, only stricter than the rest if anything
81 remained with the Baltimore and Ohio Com
pany until 1851, when l transferred myself to the
Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Com
pany and am still in service, although not active
iy employed. During the many years have been
employed as conductor have Travelled altogeth-
er by railroad somewhere near about 7,OOO,OOO
miles You open your eyes at the figures. But
when You travel on an average about seventy five
miles day for forty five years it counts up. All
but railroading now is not what it was years ago.
The conductors are different, the officers are chang
ed and there are so many new-fangled ideas that
one is almost bewldered. As soon as my spine
gets all right again will be ready to move thro,
the cars and will sound the well-known cry OF
rTickets p even if am sixty-seven years old"
ToADs.-Toads live upon beetles, bugs, flies,
grubs and such small game. They are easily tam
ed, and will learn to accompany weeder about
the garden and pick up such morsels as squash
bugs rose-bugs cut-wOrms and potato beetles,
that are thrown to them. A toad has been known
to put away within him over hundred different
kinds of bugs and flies and then wink for more
Such services as this surely ought to be recognz-
ed and such servant accommodated with both
board and lodging in the garden. No animal is
more inoffensive or minds his own business more
closely. This valuable habit may perhaps be con-
sidered as ''the jewel" which the toad has been
said to carry in his head. The toad is one OF our
valued assistants and should by oil means be en-