Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-07-14
WONDERFUL RAILRoADING.

Much has been written about the
construction of the mountain divi-
sions of the Rio Grande; travellers
have marvelled at the four per cent
grades and the Is curative of the
remarkable narrow-gauge railroad
which penetrates the most rugged
canons and climbs the loftiest noun
tain ranges of the Rockies. But no
body has ever well described the Won
derful little feeder of the Leadville
division, which modestly leaves the
main line in Browns canon and as
cends the mountain gulches to the
east with the steepest grades and the
heaviest curves in the world that are
overcome with the ordinary drive
wheel locomotive. Afar up in this
range of mountains, seven miles a.
way, and nearly 5000 feet higher than
the bed of the canon, is the famous
Calumet mine, from which is taken
the hematite iron ore that keeps in
blast the furnaces of the Bessemer
works at Pueblo. Every morning of
the year ponderous locomotive and
small train of cars tolls up the steep,
and every afternoon they make the
perilous descent to the valley, loaded
with iron, with the steam brakes on
the cars, the water pressure on the
locomotive drivers, and man stand
ing at the brake-wheel of each car.
This is the most wonderful piece of
rallroading in the universe. The
maximum grade is 406 feet to the
mile, or nearly s ger cent, and the
maximum curative 250. The ter
minal of the branch is half mile
higher than the commencement. I'm
agine, then, the difficulty of ascend
ing with loaded ones. Still, strange
though it may seem, a locomotive
cannot make the descent unless at
least five cars are attached. The lat
ter are essential to provide the resist
ing power for the steam brakes. The
trip up is snailish, the return is rapid
in spite of the steam pressure which
cuts the car-wheels into sparks that
fly out in constant stream from the
brakes, in spite of the water-brake
on the locomotive drive-wheels.
Some years ago, when the operation
of the line was commenced. runaway
accidents were of almost daily occur
renee. The seven miles were within
a brief period strewn with the wrecks
of cars and locomotives and iron ore.
The most discouraging results attend
ed the persistent efforts TO make the
line serve the purpose for which it
was constructed. Day after day con-
troll over the descending train would
be lost; some defect would interfere
with the working of the steam break;
and, even with the brake in success
full operation, the train would take
crazy notion and go flying down
the mountain sides, along the Drinks
of fearful precipices; through the
rock-bound gullies and around the
acute curves like bolt of lightning.
The train hands would leap for life,
and then the locomotives and cars
would be dashed into fragments. In
all these accidents, however, nobody
was hurt. Thousands and thousands
of dollars worth of rolling stock is
said to have been DESTROYED before a
successful system of operation was
established. Only very few of the
higher officials of the Rio Grande re-
alize how terrible was the experience
of these lides, and it is told of two
of them who once summoned up suffi-
cient curiosity and courage to make
the journey, they were so frightened
that they hung on to the steps of the
caboose, expecting every moment to
have to leap for life.
Finally, extremely heavy locomo-
tives were built, and a force of eXcep-
! tionally brave trainmen were secured.
The latter were instructed to
cling to their post at every hazard,
and to never finch in the moment of
danger. Not serious accident has
been recorded since. Starting from
the mine every brake is manned, so
that in case the steam should fail the
train could be checked. While there
have been several runaways, in two
years there has not been a wreck.
The sight of one of these trains de-
scending is one of thrilling interest,
the sparks from the car wheels cut
ting a pathway of light down the
mountains, which can be best de-
scribed as having the appearance of
molten stream of fire rolling down
to the river bed of the canon.
In Switzerland, there are grades
as steep as these of the Calumet
branch, but they are equipped for
operation with the cable and cog
wheels.
PRESIDENT JACKSON'S EAR
LY CAREER.
Born in such obscurity that it is
doubtful to this day whether he was
born in South Carolina, as he himself
claimed ~ on tbo No,+b Couol;..