Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1891-08-13
Immense CROWN or railroads.

Bar Association Of Tennessee, by Mr..
4 John A. Pitts. Of Nashville, at Lookout
Mountain. July 18th. on Estate Regula-
i tlon Of Railroads. % The writer argues
that the State should regulate the rail.
roads. We quote his Introductory re.
marks, as showing the immense growth
! OF railway interests: M
! The marvellous growth displayed In the
Juvenile story of "Jack and the Bean.
stalk Is scarcely IN be compared to tina,
Of the steam railway. II the idea OF
rapid land transportation Of persons and
goods. receiving Its impulse from other
than animal force. ever entered the mind
OF man prior to the present century. 4,
found no expression In any practical de.
vice adapted to that end.
On Christmas Eve, 1901, Richard
Treveihick. Cornish mining engineer.
in common road locomotive invented
and constructed by himself, carried the
first load OF passengers ever drawn by
steam. On March oath following, he
and an associate applied for and subse-
quently obtained from the English Gov
ernment patent for his invention. then
called steam carriage, and designed for
use only on common roads and highways.
The obscure inventor struggled in vain
against the stubborn opposition which
the unreasoning prejudice OF ignorance
and the dogmatic skepticism OF learning
too often unite In interposing against
whatever suggests a change In the estab-
lished order of things. George Stephen
son. who subsequently well earned the
honorable title of "father of the steam
railway almost alone, 1t seems, per-
ceived the merits and utility Of Treve-
thick invention, He took II up. greatly
improved and developed il, and some
twenty years afterward made the frat
practical and successful application OF 1t
to railway locomolion. Even then II
met with little favor. so obstinate was the
doubling conservatism Of the time.
Having succeeded In 1891, In the face
of opposition and difficulties that would
have broken the courage OF less daunt-
less spirit. In organizing company for
the construction Of railway from Liver
pool to Manchester, his announcement
that he would operate the line with an
engine that would run twelve miles An
hour was regarded by the most enlight-
ened public opinion Of the day as OF
itself sufficient TO stamp the project as
bubble. Even the great Quarterly Re
vtew could not refrain from goodh
mored ridicule. Twelve miles an hourp
It exclaimed: las well trust ones self to
be fred of or Congreve rocket" Yet,
when the line was completed in 1899, ana
Stephenson's locomotive, waggishly
named tho Rocket" was brought to
the test, 1t was found capable OF the then
unbeard of speed Of thirty five miles an
hour; and thus was inaugurated the great
renaissance not only Of commerce, but OF
civilization as well-the veritable nopum
orgdnum Of modern times.
During the same year-1S29 lone OF
Stephenson's locomotives was placed on
exhibition In the city Of New York.
The first trial In America took place at
Honesdale, Pa, August 9th OF that
yeai and the first railway constructed on
this aide Of the Atlantic TO be operated
by locomotives was the South Carolina
Railroad, completed in 1S3O-the Balu-
more and Ohio, though previously con.
structed, having been operated by horse
power up to that time.
From the year 1899 or 1880, therefore,
dates the establishment Of the steam rail-
way as an instrument Of commerce-but
little more than half century ago.
The enormous growth OF railway en-
terprse and business during this brief
period would have been absolutely In
credible beforeits actual accomplishment.
Even now, as we stand In the midst OF 1t,
view Its magnificent proportions, and
study the figures which exhibit its prog
ress and present attainments, we are al
most driven TO doubt the evidence Of ouI
, senses. No one, without giving special
attention and earnest thought to the sub
iect, can realize. or. indeed, have the
+ remotest conception Of its magnitude.
: According to the report Of the railway
statistician to the Interstate Commerce
Commission for the year ending JUNE
3Oth, 1889. the length Of track IN th'
A.; United States alone. including sidingi
and spurs, was In round numbers POI ,OOt
miles-a length more than sufficient L
encircle tho earth eight times; while thu
capital employed. including stocks
bonds, and current debts and expenses
; outstanding. aggregated over $4,000. 900.
0OO--nearly thirty times the assessed
value Of all the property, real and per
: sonal, in the State Of Tennessee. 1t CAV,
, employment that year, according to tn
! sans authority. to i705.0Oo men an
women, provided q living, for more tha
100000 persons, not including stocl
$ and bondholders. or about ave pei cen,
0 OF the entire population Of the country
: aud transported 47s,oOo 900 passenger
7 and nearly. 100000 900 tons Of freigh
2 Its gross earnings. exclusive of rental
of tracks. yards, and terminals, were s9e5
600, 900; and its net income, over an
above operating expenses, was more tha
a s3s0. 900, ,000-a sum almost equal to tn
a II