Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-11-18
On the Road.

Il is only by means of comparison that
one can definitely realize the great improve
ments in the methods Of travelling that
have taken place within the last century.
The changes occur 80 gradually they make
but little impression upon us. For exam
pie now that the railroad time needed to
make the trip between New York and
Philadelphia has been reduced to less than
100 minutes, there are already those who
are predicting that in no more time than
FIVE years trains will cover the distance
between these two cities in single hour,
and no one is in the least surprised at the
assertion. In 1900 those who travelled in
this country did so at no little personal
discontinue, and with an expenditure of
time that would greatly interfere with busi-
ness as it is now carried on. A man wish
ing to go from New York to Boston left
Monday forenoon and arrived at his destin-
alton Friday Afternoon, stopping all night
at New Haven, New London and Provi-
dence. The fare for the trip varied from
$l5 to SIS, and there was an additional
outlay required of from IS to Sc for board
and lodging; that is, the trip took up four
days Of time and called for an outlay OF
FROM $40 to $24 After the war of 1912
there was an Improvement, and the time
between the two places was cut down to
about two days and the cost of the journey
to $14. In 1917 the fare between New
York and Philadelphia was $40, and be-
tween New York and Albany by boat 81,
and the average time twenty-four hours.
A route was that year opened between
Philadelphia and Quebec; the distance 700
miles, fare $47, and Time required TO make
the Journey 103 hours. In 1926 the Boston
newspapers recorded the circumstance as
one worthy of special comment, that New
York papers had been received in that city
"a hours after the date of their publication.
In 1898 the time required to make the
journey between these two cities had been
reduced TO q hours, the rUute being from
New York city to Providence by steam
boat, and from thence to Boston by stage.
But In winter these trips were frequently
given up in consequence of stormy weather
and those who wished TO avoid danger and
be certain in their movements still prefer
red the overland route. In 1882 there
were two regular stage routes between
New York and Boston, but competition
had greatly reduced the fare. The slow
line made the distance in about 81 hours,
and charged for passage s., 80, while the
fast, or mail line, took its passengers through
in about 45 hours, and charged them 500
O trip. A short time after this the railroads
came sufficiently into operation to make 1t
unnecessary to run through trips in stages,
and the latter were chiefly used to connect
the termini of the slow w-building railroads
Having made the progress that we have,
there is not the least likelihood that the
work of improvement will not go on. The
history of railroad accidents shows that,
when trains on some roads run at q slow
rate of speed may meet with mishaps, there
is relatively little danger in running at the
highest possible speed on o road that is
thoroughly constructed where the appoint
ments are as nearly perfect as possible and
the supervision constant. On this account
one does not have to be unduly sanguine TO
think that long before the centuryis out we
shall be able to go from Jersey City TO
Philadelphia in an hours time, and from
the grand central depot to Boston in less
number of hours than the number of days
spent by our ancestors, in the year 1905, In
making the same trip.