Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1879-10-16
FORTY-NINE YEARS AGO.
Opening of the First Passenger
Railroad ina the World.
Baltimore American .

-~~--~~N~N~-@-
Just forty nine years ago-that is,
September ID, 1S3O-the first passen-
ger railroad in England, the Liverpool
and Manchester railway, was opened
with great ceremony. A year before
a prize of 500 pounds had been made
for the best locomotive engine, which
had been won by Robert Stephenson's
Rocket, upon which was subsequently
modelled the old grasshopper engines
of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad,
their appearance being suggestive of
their name. Eight locomotive engines
had been completed and put upon the
line, and all had been tested with en-
tire success. To every engine was
attached four passenger carriages,
each containing twenty persons. The
first engine, the Northumbrian, drew
the most distinguished guests-the
Duke of Wellington, Sir Robert Peel,
and other members Of the ministry.
1t had one line of the double track to
itself. The other seven locomotives
with their carriages, followed each
other on the other line. The process
sion started from Liverpool at IL
O clock, with flags, music, fine weather,
and great enthusiasm. Seventeen
miles from Liverpool, they stopped to
take in water, and in order to afford
the Duke of Wellington an opportu-
nifty of seeing the procession, the
seven locomotives, with their car
riages, were ordered to pass slowly
by the Northumbrian, standing on its
track. Several gentlemen alighted
while the locomotives were taking in
water, and one of them, Mr.. Huskis-
son, member of the parliament for
Liverpool, and an earnest supporter
of the railroad cause, catching sight
of the Duke of Wellington, between
whom and himself there had been
some political GOODNESS, ran eagerly
across the track to shake him by the
hand. At that moment the order was
given for the seven engines to move
forward. Mr.. Huskisson was bewil-
dered. The Rocket, which was the
leading engine, struck him while he
was still in doubt where to flee. The
wheels went over his leg and thigh,
and he expired that evening. The
accident cast a deep gloom over the
days festivity. The trip was con-
cluded, that the people along the line
might not be disappointed, but all
rejoicing and gayety were at an end.
The next day the railroad was opened
for passenger traffic, and carried one
hundred and forty persons from Llv-
erpool to Manchester i'll two hours.
The original calculations of the con-
struction had been based on probable
returns Fl iom heavy merchandise traf-
fic-Coal, cotton and iron. They had
4 formed no high estimate of emolu-
ment from transporting passengers.
: But the railway was hardly opened
a before an average of 1920 persons
: daily were willing to trust it with their
2 lives. In few years it was found
p. that the enormous traffic was too
e heavy for the original rails, and it be-
: came necessary to relay the road at
l considerable expense. But though
r September Is, 1880, is the greatest
/ day in railroad annals, being that on
? which the worlds first railroad was
| opened complete, our own Maryland
: railroad proceeded the Liverpool and
l Manchester in utility. The first sod
s of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
n was broken for its construction July
i 4, 1928, and by the next year horse
i cars, assisted by one locomotive en-
f gine, was carrying passengers between
: Baltimore, the Relay House and ELL
1 colts Mills.