The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-07-16
A WONDERFUL RAILROAD.
A Grade of Over 100 Feet to the
Mile Overcome Without Cogs.


Much has been written about the
construction of the mountain divisions
of the Rio Grande; travellers have mar
veled at the four per cent. grades and
the fifteen degree curvature, of the
most remarkable narrow gauge rail
road, which penetrates the most rug.
ged canons and climbs the most lofty
mountain ranges of the Rockies. But
nobody has ever well described tho
wonderful little feeder of the Leadvillo
division which modestly leaves tho
main line at Brown Canon, and ascends
the mountain gulches to the east with
the steepest grades and the heaviest
curves in the world that are overcome
by the ordinary drive wheel locomo-
tive. Afar up in this range of noun
tains, seven miles away, and nearly
5000 feet higher than the bed of the
canon, is the famous Calumet mine,
from which is extracted the hematite
ore that keeps in blast the Bessemer
works at Pueblo. Every morning of
the year ponderous locomotive and Il
small train of cars tolls up this steep,
and every afternoon they make the per-
lous descent to the valley loaded with
iron, with steam brakes on the cars.
the water pressure on the locomotive
drivers, and man standing at the
brake wheel of each car.
This is the most wonderful piece Of
railroading in the universe. The max
imum grade is 406 feet to the mile, or
nearly eight per cent, and the maxi
mum curvature 20 degrees. The term
inal OF the branch is half mile higher
than the commencement Imagine,
then, the difficulty of ascending with
empty cars, and the danger in descend
inc with loaded ones Still strange
though it may seem, locomotive can
not make the descent unless at least
five cars are attached. The latter are
essential to provide the resisting 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 con-
slant stream from the brakes, in spite
of the reverse action, in spite of the
lavish use of the sand pipe, and,ih spite
OF the water brake on the drive wheels
OF the locomotive.
Some few years ago, when the oper-
alton of the line was commercial. run
away accidents were of almost daily
occurrence. The seven miles was with
in brief period strewn with wrecks Of
cars, locomotives and iron ore The
most discouraging results attended the
persistent efforts TO make the line serve
the purpose for which it was construct
ed. Day after day control over the de-
scending train would be lost; some de-
feet would interfere with the worhinr
of the steam brake; and even with tho
brake in successful operation the train
would take crazy notion and 90 tly-
ing down the mountain sides along the
brink OF fearful precipices; through the
rOck-bound gUllies and around the
acute curves, like a bolt of lightning.
The train hands would leap for life, and
then the locomotive 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 successful sys-
TEN was established. Only very few
OF the higher officials Of the Rio
Grande realize how terrible was the
experience of these rides, and it is told
of two Of them VINO once summoned
up sufficient curiosity and courage to
make the journey, that they were SO
frightened that they hung over the
steps Of the caboose, expecting every
moment to have to leap for life,
Finally extremely heavy locomotives
were built, and force Of exceptionally
brave trainmen were secured. The lat
ter were instructed to cling to their
posts at every hazard, and to never
finch in the moment Of danger Not u
serious accident has been recorded
since. Starting from the mine, every
brake is manned 50 that in case the
steam should fail the train could be
checked. While there have been sew
eral runaway5 in two years. there has
not been wreck. The sight Of one of
these trains descending is one Of thrill
ing interest, the sparks from the car
wheels cutting a pathway of lirht
down the mountains, which can ha
best described as having the appear
ance OF molten stream Of fire roIJiDo
down the river bed Of the clpou2
Cleveland LeudCr.