Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1889-10-25
\ VETERAN CONDUCTOR,
He Has Boon Punching Tickets Evo1
Since the Yoar 1910.

0ulcO the 10ar 104O.
Nathan 7. Swan, of Bangor, is the
Oldest railroad conductor in the United
States in point Of actual service. He
began railroading in 1910 as conductor
on the Bangor. Oldtown & Milford
road, which was the second railroad
built In this country. and has been
punching tickets ever since. He Is
now conductor OF the principal passen-
ger train on the Bangor & Piscataquis
road, running from Bangor to Moose
head Lake and return. distance of 175
miles, every day. and he is known by
all the tourists and fishermen who
have Travelled that way for years past.
There have been great changes in
railroading since Conductor Swan be-
gan his career on wheels. The Ban
gor, Oldtown & Milford. better known
as the Veazie railroad. from :ts pro-
jector and principal owner, General
Samuel Vcazie, was great institution
in It's time, but would be curiosity to-
day. 1t was built about the year 1886,
and extended across the back country
from Bangor to Milford, distance OF
twelve miles. being intended, princi-
pally, as a means for tho transporta,
tion Of lumber sawn ut the up-river
mills to Bangor, although a consider
able passenger traffic was also devel.
oped. There were no curves. the line
running straight as an arrow from one
end to the other, blg lodges having
been blasted out and hills cut through
to make way for the roadbed, while at
places great hollows we filed iu
to avoid any thing like a grade.
The rails were IL feet long, 81
inches wide and 4 inch thick, spiked
to timbers, after the fashion of a
streetcar track. The rolling-stock at
the outset consisted of two 6-ton loco
motives, built by Stephenson. at Now
castle-on-Tyne, Eng, at cost of sc. 600
each; three passenger cars, built at
Cambridge, Mass, at a cost Of 81. 200
each, and few fat-cars for carrying
lumber. The engines had no cabs,
while the passenger cars had their
entrances along the sides, English
style, and the brakeman pc ched on
top. Six miles an hour was the max.
imum speed on the road, but this rate
was seldom attained. The old road
was discontinued long years ago, but
its bed may still be seen stretching
across the country like a Chinese wall,
and in so good a state of preservation
that 1t II used In places as turnpike.
IN. Y Sun.
-''Po you ever feel lonesome, de-
'erte& and as though you had not a
friend in the world, Mrs. DobbsP'' in
quired johnson OF his widowed land-
lady. Eyes. indeed. Mr.. johnson, and
my heart always goes out to those
poor unfortunates who are left alone
in the world" Then / take it that
you have bestowed the full measure OF
your pity on that strawberry IL the
shortcake, Mrs. Dobbsp' II would
remind you. Mr.. johnson. that con-
duct my business on strictly cash
basis" she replied, with withering
scorn.-Minneapolis Journal.
1t was q suit involving q claim OF
fraud in the sale OF q cargo OF coffee,
and a melancholy man was in the wit
ness box. you have been sum-
moned, Mr.. Ollapod, to testify as an
expert in this case, thinkP'' said the
attorney. Eyes, SIR" "You are a
Judge Of coffeeP" II think ought
, 70 be-" What Is your occupationp"
demanded the Judge IL am the pro-
prietor Of railway eating house"
You can stand aside - - Chicago
Times.