Arizona silver belt., 1890-02-01
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 On our first page will be found an
 interesting account in reference to in,
 fant railroads and locomotives, and
 their first feeble operations. The ref. erence to them IS called forth by the
 recent death of Horatlo Allen, under
 whose direction the first locomotive
 was built and run in America. In
 that connection we will add word or
 two in regard to the first conception
 of the working of "the machine" west
 of the Mississippi River, and the ad-
 vantages to be derived by the use of
 steam on land, as motive power.
 It was not until the year 1881 that
 those living west of that stream wit
 messed the then great wonder of the day, the locomotive. In that year, in
 the Baptist church, corner of Third and Chestnut streets, St. Louis, min iature railroad was on exhibltion--a circular track. on which was small car, pushed by miniature engine, at the computed rate ofa spawned horses best llck, on square trot.
 At that time the United States was trying to complete the great nation al turnpike from Cumberland, Mary land. to the Ohio River, winch Con- gress in 1906, had legislated into be- ing, but it never attained adult pro- portions. The national pike was intended to encompass the union, and from which tue Western States ex- pected to be commercially benefited; but in 1884 "tbe great undertaking was snutied out by the railroad mania which then possessed the Atlantic States. Portions of that great first internal improvement commenced at public expense, were left for comple- ton to the charity of the respective States through which it was intended to pass. So far as finished, 1t lapsed into neighborhood roadways, and is still used as such.
 St. Louis, however, bad net caught on to the fact that the national pike was in state of collapse until more than year after is demise. In 1853 St. Lotus memorialized Congress ito let the national road cross the Missis. sippI at St. Louis Tn it's extension to Jefferson City" but as Congress had 10 embalm the corpse, mem bers deemed it imprudent to disturb it. |
 The railroad mania, having fol- lowed the star of empire west and l having crossed the Mississlppl via Wiggens ferry, was hospitably re- ceived in St. Louis, and became a wei come guest in the breast of John F. Darby, and soon grew contagious which resulted in a call for an inter- nal improvement convention, which was duly responded to by the several counties of the State. The convention met April 20th, 1885, in the St. Louis court house, when it was particularly urged that the legislature should pro- vide for the building of two railroads, one from St. Louis to Fayette, and the other from St. Louis to the iron and lead mines in the southern part of the State. After building those roads, on paper, the convention was so well sat istied with the result of thelr labor. Tn developing the resources of the State, that members felt like jubiianng and to the National Hotel, cor her of Third and Market streets. where a regal spread had been prepared for the festive oecasiOn, John F. Darby presiding, assisted, as vice. presidents, by Gen. John Rutland, Hugh O'Neil, Thomas Cohen, William Milburn Bev. erly Alien, J. W. Johnson, W. G Pettus, and Charles Keemle, every one of whom, long since, was provided with dead-head ticket 10 another world, as has also he sixteen delegates representing St. Louis county Tn that convention.
 It was not, however, until the Mis- souri legislature, in lS49, authorized the construction of the Missouri Pa elic from the city of St. Louis 10 the western border of the State, and until ground was formally broken" at the eastern end of the line the following year, that railroad bnilding, west of the Mississippi River. can be said to have practically begun.
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 Alice Edith Blythe, nee Alice F Dickason, testified in San Francisco in