The Daily Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Or.) 1876-1883, 1881-01-19
san Francisco Call.

1885, when the first railroad open
ed for carrying passengers was be-
tween Stockton and Darlington,
England. The cars here were also
drawn by horses. 1t Is amusing,
in view of the perfection since at
tanned I'm railroad construction, to
trace the methods adopted up 10
the time when the regular locomo-
tive was introduced to draw trains
over the fiat iron rail. The first
really successful railroad enter
prise in the United States was the
road built between Baltimore, be-
yond Ellicotts mills, to Point of
rocks, sixty-seven miles in length.
We are informed by the Encyclo-
pedia that 'the road was planned
for horse cars only, but the sue
cessful construction of steam loco
motives in England encouraged
the attempt to run them here, and
i'm 1880, a small locomotive
built in Baltimore by Mr.. Peter
Cooper, was put upon the road,
and by tins. and also by horses,
trains were regularly run in that
year to Ellicotts mills" 1t would
be tedious to notice in detail the
numerous railroad enterprises from
the time of their first introduction.
There are many of those living
who have travelled on roads with
the fat iron rail, when the speed
was from twelve to- fifteen miles an
hsur. The spikes worked out
frsn the fat rail, which sprung up,
and formed what were called
''snake- heads" vhich often pierc-
ed through the bottOns of the cars,
to the great danger of the passen-
gers. InveHtive genius next gave
us the I iron rail. In the mean
time great improvements were be-
ing made in the locomotives, cars
and running gear Of railroads gen.
erally. A high rate of speed
could be made over the I iron
rail; but it is being replaced on all
frst-class roads through the coun-
try by the steel rail, which is found
to be more enduring. In looking
at the remarkable progress made
in railroad building during the
half century that is pasu-in con-
temPlating the steep grades that
can be overcome, the long tunnels
that are pierced through noun
tains, the comfort enjoyed in the
palace cars, the great rapidity with
which passengers can be transport
ed from one point to ¬her-one
is almost led to believe that invent
i've genius has exhausted itself in
furnishing railroad devices. Look at
the vast tracts of country that are
traversed by these constantly accu-
nulatisg roads. Consider how they
have caused the wilderness to be
populated, and arid deserts to
bloom and blossom as the rose.
Regions that were divided from
each other by long stretches OF
space, and were strangers, are now
placed I'm social and commercial
intercourse. The journey of three
thousand miles is now performed
with less discomfort and difficulty
than would attend that of a hun
dred miles before railroads came
into fashion. Five years ago, when
the Yellowstone was mentioned, il
was as some far-off place, the
knowledge of which was indistinct
and dreamy. 1t was regarded a,
the wild home Of the savage, iRtc
which it would be dangerous fol
the settlers to penetrate. In les:
than Eve years more a railroad vii
extend through the Yellowstone
valley, and then, will it certain
ly, be in character to establish ;
National park there. Six or sever
years ago the Black hills VeareC