Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-05-27
FIFE BRAKEMAN AT CHURCH

GAUGES, SCRUB AND POPULAR.
NICE AND RIVER ROADS.
On the road once more, with Lee
bsnon fading away in the distance,
tho fat passenger drumming idly on
tue window pane, the cross passen-
sor seund asleep, and the tall, thin
passenger reading Gen. Grants
Tou- Around the World and won
deriug why Green's August Flower"
should be printed above the doors of
"a Buddhist Temple at Benares. .
To me comes the brakeman, and
seating himself on the arm of the
s5at says:
Il went to church yesterday"
Yes" | said, with that interested
Infection that asks for more. "Aud
what church did you attend 7"
Which do you guess :" he asked
"Some union mission church." |
hsEarded.
mo- he said, ] don't like to run
On these branch roads very much
| don't often go to church, and when
do l want to run on the main line,
where your run is re4 nlar and you
go on schedule time, and don't have
to wait on connections. | don't like
to run on q branch. Good enough.
but don't like it."
episcopal" l guessed
Limited express" he said, call
palace cars and s. extra for seat,
fast time and only stop at big sta
tons. Nice line, but to exhaustive
for a brakeman. All train men in
uniform, conductors punch and Ian
terms silver plated, and no train boy
allowed. Then the passengers are
allowed to talk back at the conduc-
tor, and it makes them to free and
easy, No, | couldn't stand the pail
ace cars. Rich road, though. Don't
often hear of receiver being APP
pointed for that line. Som mighty
nice people travel on it, too"
"Universalists r | suggested.
"Broad gague," said the brake
man; docs to much complimentary
business. Every body travels on a
pass. Conductor doesn't get fare
once in fifty miles. Stops at flag
stations, and won't run into any
thing but union depot. No smok-
ing car on the train. Train orders
ore rather vague though, and the
train men don't get along we'll with
tho passengers. No don't go to
the Universaists, though | know
some awfully good men who run on
that road"
"presbyterian E. asked.
Marrow gauge, Ell y said the
brakeman pretty track, straight
as rule; tunnel right through a
mountain rather than go around it;
spirit level grade ; passengers have
u show their tickets before they
get on the train. Mighty strict road,
but tho cars are little narrow
have to sit one in seat, and no
room in the aisle to dance. Then
there is no stop-over ticket allowed;
got TO go straight through to the
station you're ticEeted for, or you
can't go at ALL When the car is full
no extra coaches; cars built at the
shop 10 hold inst so many and no
body else allowed on. But you
don't often hear of an accident on
that road. It's run right up to the
rules"
Maybe you joined the Free
Thinkers I" | said.
Scrub road" said the brakeman,
"diit road-bed and ballast no time
card and no train dispatcher. All
trains run wild, and every engineer
makes bis own time, just as he pleas
es. Smoke if you want to; kind OF
go-as-you-please road Too many
side tracks, and every switch wide
open all the time, with the switch
man sound asleep and the target
lamp dead ont, Get on as you
please end get off when YOU want to
Don't have to show your tickets, aud
the conductor isn't expected to do
anything but anuse the passengers.
No, sir. was offered pass, but
| don't like the line. | don't like to
travel on a road that has no termin-
Us. Do you know, sir, | asked a
Division superintendent where that
ron TO, and he said he hoped to die
II be knew. | asked him if the
general superintendent could tel me,