The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-29
1 WRECKLNG TENN

attracted the attention of the most eminent
mechanical engineers of that period, and
Tor q quarter of a century they struggled
with the one fault of Trevithick's locomo-
tive-that of making steam. In 1880 the
Stephensons, father and son, solved the
problem by the invention of the steam
blast, which, by constantly blowing. enabled
an engine to make steam enough to draw
ten passengers at the rate of thrty-fiye
miles per hour.
Stephenson's first locomotive was called
the "Rocket." 1t was tested ON the Liver
pool and Manchester Railroad, and from it
was modelled the first locomotives used in
this country, weighing from FIVE to six tons
and able TO Draw on a level about forty tons.
After the manner described alb We the
modern giant was born, and Darwln's
prophecy,
Soon shall thy arm unconquered steam. afar
Drag the slow barge or drive the rapid car,
Made in 1881. was realized, and the methods
Of transporting freight and passengers reyo-
lutOniZed.
The railroads of the United States now
aggregate over 100, 600 miles, capitalized at
$4,000, 100000, and about 100000 of human
beings are dependent upon them for their
daily bread. But this is not all. Every man
IN the land, civilized, half civilized, or saw
age, is interested constantly in railroads and
luO Vi HSpUltdtlOu VI liSISuJ anu ptloUuS
over them,
The Sioux of South Dakota casts his eye
longingly tow ard the east and signs as he
thinks of a late train bearing him fresh ra-
lions; the merchant suffers from broken
bridge, and the millionaire looking Tor his
mail matter curses as. he reads OF a mis-
placed switch. Truly, this is q railroad age,
and it is marvellous to note the rapid multi
piication OF facilities following the first APP
plicaGion of steam to land transportation,
and pleasant to contemplate the greatly
improved conveniences Of railroad travel as
We know them to-day for this last half OF
the century which is drawing TO a close has
been wonderfully prolific of improved appli-
ances in this most important department OF
humaa energy ana enterprise. Bu, III the
face OF all that invention has done TO min
lister to the physical wants of travellers, ana
insure their safety on the road, accidents are
of frequent occurrence, sometimes accom-
panied by loss of lille, and always by a loss
of property.
The clements of nature are forever at war
with the products of human endeavor. and
these natural and forclble enemies of man
are constantly testing the results of his
knowledge and experiences by battering
down Ills work and mOckingly asking him
to try again. To guard against the number
less contingencies that are forever arising
in the transportation OF freight and pas
sengers, all roads OF Importance maintain
with careful supervision what is known as
the wrecktng service" department of
this great industry OF which very little is
known. II is probable that the Pennsyl-
vania system has the best wrecking service
OF any road in the country.
The PittSburg Division is divided into
four minor districts, each one under the
charge Of supervisor who is provided with
two work-trans, one Of which is employed
in the wrecking service. Fifty men are
usually employed on this train, their several
places of abode being connected by an
electric system with the Office of the division