Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-07-06

Topeka d Santa Fe marks new era in
Western railroading which willbe Of in
estimable benefit TO all the people, but
more especially 70 the people of Denver.
The Kansas Pacific, with its $50 miles "a
travel, consumed q hours in making
them, or less than q miles Der hour. The
Santa Fe, with over 100 more miles to
travel, made about the same average and
consequently came in several hours be-
hind, with the additional disadvantage
fiash this is all changed. The rate has
been expedited to nearly 30 miles per
hour and through train put on. There
Is every reason to believe while this il .
very great change it is merely step to-
ward greater one. It is the first move
in big fight on time, which far exooeds
in importance even fight ON ratea
Notwithstanding the advantage which
the Kansas Pacific possesses in its
shorter road, it will hardly be able TO
hold its own with the all steel rail route
and fine rolling stock of the great Bana-
ma line. With fast locomotives aud
other improvements tho prediction is
made that the run to Kansas City will
yet be made in 20 hours. The trains Of
the rival roads stood alongside Of each
otheRin the Union depot, Kansas City,
on Monday morning, Ike two athletes
ready to spring away. The Santa Fe
Advertiser told the KepubIicaa to take q
front seat and he would see some fun.
The gauntlet had been thrown and the
challenge uttered. 81 will to in Denver
before you," said the Santa Ee. "Try
it," responded tho Kansas Pacific. At
9:25 the latter pulled out quickly, and as
the last Car crossed the Kaw River, away
went the Santa Fe, with the JEFF Cool
id9e'' in advance, Dickerson driving and
Brady conductor. The run to Topeka,
s. miles, was made with only one stop,
and VIXEN the Coolidge" sounded her
whistle in the capital of Kansas tho
Kansas City was already miles behind.
Old "3l6'' then hitched ON, and when
Glazier touched the throttle Brady
whispered to him: 'Put her through IL
she bursts Q trace" Glazier nodded,
and as the Republican climbed to . * ct
behind him in the cab, he pulled her
open for Nickerson, $50 miles away. and
what ride it was!
On every hand nodded the wheat fields
Of the greatest harvest ever known. The
fields seemed to smile with plenty and
with peace, and with welcome to the
''Thunderbolt. Into and through viii
lagos and hamlets the fast train sped,
the people gathering in crowds and
why it did not stop, as usual.
Some even walked mp as IL to board it
when it stopped, but ere thcy could
draw back from tho Cyclone Of air oaus-
ed by the rush, the "Thunde:bolt" vas
~ "a ~ thu 1set
Stopping only at cities like Empogia,
the "Thunderbolt" sped over into WAL
nut Valley and then into the garden Of
Kansas. the valley Of the Arkansas. The
sleek cattle looked mp from the waving
grass on every hand, while the farmers
paused in the burrows and shouted a.
the old .'3l6'' shrieksd her greeting.
The shades Of night were clOsina, and
the day was kneelin9 down before the
night whom the ''rhundsrb0lt" paused
at Salem to slake its thirst. Il was due
ut Nickerson At 7:26. when the pipe
was hoisted 0laxisr looked ct his watch
and it marked 7:18, with Nickerson six
miles away. make IL, Al, said Brady,
AZ he gave the signal. and the enainssr
said, laconically, Easy" Down the
level stretch the big train ran. The tel
egraph poles began to look like fenes
posts, the cab rocked until the Repwbli-
can man began to get seas!ck. A culvert
was passed with roar, house he'd BY
like sheet of brown paper in cyclone,
the whistle ahrieked once, theeair brakes
Missed and old s'Sl6' still stood ct Nick
erson. The reporter looked at the watoh2
Il marked TBS precisely.
Division Superintendent Niokeroo0
stood on the platform - Walt Hislip
backed down "9O6v and coupled on 70
tho 'Thunderbolt." The NIGHT had
fallen, and ..2O6'' was q little cranky,
but Hislip held her level. and ssnt her
along with her HEADLIGHT burning hole
into tho night at the rate Of 70 miles IN
hour, while On every hill bla1sd huge
fires like beAcons Of welcome. II was
the prairie grass, and the fires formed Z
continuous Fourth Of July oeleosA&io0.
On through the Mennonite settlements
the "'rhunderbolt" rocked and whirled
with q shrek and rumble; stopping ct
Larned, and 0nce on the open prairie,
until Dodge, 14 miles, was reached. and
SO on. until o'clock In the morning the
train rolled into Pueblo,51< hours ahead
OF the old time. A few minuto9 wait
only, and then the sThunderbolt" start
cd up tho valley, climbed the divide and
then, pausinR Z minute, sped down thG
other side into Denver. Az tbs engine
stood painting and troublinQ With IT,
raoe tho depot clock marked BIB. A II
stood there the X. r. Whistled Q II
crossing, Is minutes late. The "Thun-
derbolt had Travelled 100 miles more
and Won the racs.-Dearer kepsetsesa
H. 4