Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-06-09
A HOT CHASE
BY AN Ex-ENGINEER

n LOCOMOTIVE euRAlcSL anu @ Si'AA
engineer are two very different persons,
for one has charge of a locomotive
engine, and the other has charge OF,
and controls, variety of instruments.
First is the transit, then the level, the
levelling-rod. the flag, chains, axes and
stakes, all in charge of competent men.
An engineering party, to do good work
quickly, should consist of at least ten
persons.
The chief of the party usually goes
ahead and picks out the route the
others are to follow, and often takes a
f1ag-pole along with him. Sticking this
Into the ground, he waves his hand for
the others to come ahead" and the
transitman sets his instrument in that
direction, and causes the vertical cross
hair in the telescope to cut the pole,
OFFICIALLY, in two.
But / am afraid some readers may
not know what cross-hairs are. Most
of you know the principle of tele-
scope; an objects glass collects a large
number of rays of light and concen-
trates them, and lens, or series OF
lenses, magnifies them. That is the
simple principle, and in transit, or
level, just where the object-glass forms
the image and the eye-piece magnities
it, there are two cobwebs, SO fine
that the unaided eye can hardly see
them, stretched across a round brass
ring, at right angles with each other.
one perfectly vertical and one horizon
tai. The point where they cross each,
other is the exact center of the lens
These are the croSS-hdirS, and they
are on the optical axis OF the instru-
ment. With their aid straight line
can be prolonged any distance, or in a
level, the difference. in. elevation, be-
tween two points can be determined to
the thousandth part of foot, provided
the operator and instrument be in good
order. and if the rodman, who holds
jointed pole graduated to one one
thousandth of foot, understands his
business.
To explain the working of an engin-
eeriDg party would be tedious and un-
intele sting to many, and as that has
nothing % do with my story. will not
do so.
Instead of that, imagine me and my
rodman running line of levels from
stream of water to a new railroad, to
see whether there was elevation enough
to force it into the tank, and the rest
of the party miles away, busy at
something. That was the very thing
was doing one day on the Northern
Pacific Railroad Git was not that rail
road, but it is handy one to use on
this occasion).
The stream of water was two miles
away from the new track, and that
morning we had ridden from our board
ing place, ten miles east, on little hand
car. The grade there was descending
one, westward. for long distance. and
all we had to do. when going in that
direction, was to sit still and fly along
over the new rails.
About FIVE miles further west large
gang of men were working, laying
track; and the smoke of the engine on
the construction train" was plainly
visible across the undulating prairies.
George and /, therefore, did not feel
lost or alone, and we worked hard all
the morning and ate our lunch in the
cool shade of the tank-house, Just
finished. As we had nothing more to
do that day, determined to put the
truck on the track. after we were done
eating, ride down to the track-layers,
and return with them on the fat car
that evening.
But I was hungry and ate a great
deal, and then began to feel strangely
drowsy; the last thing / remember
before fell asleep, was George stand
ing by the level in the hot sun, and