The National tribune., 1885-10-15
A MODEL RAILROAD.
Something of What 1t Has Done, and Is Doing, to
make Life less Burden for those who Travel.

Many who read this can remember and 1t
wont require very long stretch of memory,
when to travel more than hundred miles by
rail without having to change cars at least once
was thing unheard of; when fifteen miles an
hour almost took their breath away; when, If
the trains run at all at night, they had to sit
up in uncomfortable and rickety cars; when
"ten minutes for dinner" and poor one at
that, was the rule; when, in short, to take
ride of any distance on the cars a thing TO be
desired only on account of its novelty. But
now it is different modern railroads have gown
apace with modern thoughts and ideas
As good way as any TO Illustrate the differ
enee between Aud Lang Syne" and the
present in railway service is to select one of the
typical modern roads and give description of
the territory that 1t covers and the service that
it gives the travelling public. The CHICAGO q
North WESTERN, being the most extensive
railroad in the country, is chosen for this pur-
pose. This great railway system starts at Chi
cago, from which point it stretches out to the
North, Northwest and West, through the rich
est and best portions of the Northwest. The
following are among its through trunk lines:
lst. A line running nearly due north along the
shore of Lake Michigan, through the cities Of
Milwaukee,, Fond du Lac, Oshkosh, Appleton,
Green Bay to IshPeming and Marquette, Hough-
ton, Hancock, Calumet and the copper regions
of Michigan, carrying passengers from Chicago
through Wisconsin TO the Northern Peninsula
OF Michigan without change of cars. I'd. A
line running little west of the above through
the cities of Harvard, JaneSville, Jefferson,
WatcrtOwn, and intersectng the former at
Fond du Lac. Sd. A line running west from
Milwaukee through Waukesha and Madison to
Galena and Montfort 4th. A line running
west from Sheboygan on Lake Michigan
through Fond du Lac, Ripon aud Green Lake
To Princeton. 5th. \ line from Chicago through
Harvard, Beloit, Madison, Devils Lake, Bara
boo, ElrUy, Eau Claire and Hudson to ST. Paul
and Minneapolis. Trains on this line connect
iii a union depot with trains for Fargo, Bis
marck, the Yellowstone National Park and all
points in the Northwestern Pacific Coast re-
giOns. Connecting with this line at Eau
Claire is a branch that runs to Spooner, Wis,
where it divideS-one arm running to Ashland,
Washburn and Bayfield,; and the other to Su
perior City and Duluth. 9th. Lines running
from both Chicago and St. Paul and Minneapo-
lis, through to Huron, Pierre Watertown, Red
field Aberdeen, Columbia, and the famous grain
regions of Central Dakota. 9Th. 4 line running
nearly due west from Chicago through Dixon,
Sterling, Clinton, Cedar Rapids, Des Moines,
MarShaltown TO Council Bluffs, Omaha, Sioux
City, Norfolk, Fremont. Neligh Valentine and
the fertile fields of Northwestern Nebraska.
Through trains are run by this line carrying
passengers from Chicago TO San Francisco with
hut one change of cars, and from Chicago to
NliilOut CUdlpc. Slil y lIiic lIoIli Oh
Paul and Minneapolis to Sioux City, Iowa. 9th.
4 line from st. Paul and Minneapolis to Des
Moines, Iowa. 10th. A line connecting with
the main Iowa line at both Tama and Ames,
and running through Northwestern Iowa to
Central Dakota points. These, together with
the shorter branches shooting OF from the main
lines in various directions form an aggregate
of nearly 6,GG0 miles of road all under the NAM
agement of this great corporation. But not
alone in the number of miles owned does this
road excel. In lieu of the old straps and light
irons and slow time it carries its passengers
safely at the rate of 40 miles an hour over
smooth steel rails on solid rock foundations.
The old fashioned and uncomfortable day car
is superseded on this line by palatial coaches
that are models of comfort and elegance and
that at night are transformed into luxurious
sleeping apartments furnished with comfortable
beds and AL appliances for rest and refresh
ment. But the climax of all improvements in
the modern over the ancient railway service is
in the Dining Cars as introduced and operated
by this company.
1t is useless to attempt to enumerate the
comforts of a Northwestern Dining Car. They
must be experienced in order TO be properly
appreciated. The cars are palaces on wheels,
and their tables are loaded with the choicest
viands that the most expert cooks can prepare.
Railroad travel is no longer tedious bore, but
surrounded by such comforts and luXurcs as
those provided by the North Western for its
patrons one can ride from ocean to ocean with
ont experiencing the slightest discomfort or
fatigue.