Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-12

TEE BoRprSTowS MONUMENT.



TIE BoRpESTowN MONUMENT.
WHERE THE JOHN BULL FIRST RAN
A Nonumenf Marking the Spot Formally
Dedicated Today.
The events attending the first trial trip Of the
old "John Bull locomotive, which, having long
outlived its usefulness, now stands in q corner
of the National Museum, an interesting relic Of
the first efforts at railroad making in the
United States. were commemorated today by q
celebration at Bordentown, New Jersey. The
ceremonies were held there this afternoon incl
dent 10 the completion Of the monument mark
ing the place where the first piece Of track
between Philadelphia and New York was laid in
1881. II was on this piece of track, about FIVE
sixths OF a mile long, that the "John Bull"
upon its arrival from England, was set up and
made its trial trip.
The ceremonies marked the sixtieth ami
versary of the first movement by steam upon q
railway in the state of New Jersey, November
II, 1881.
The program arranged comprises an address
Of presentation by Joseph I. Richards, assistant
chief engineer Pennsylvania Railroad Com
pany; address of acceptance by +. Wolcott
Jackson, general superintendent united rail-
roads of New Jersey division Pennsylvania
Railroad Company, and an historical address,
The Camden and Amboy Railroad. Origin
and Early History J. Elfreth Watkins, GU
rator section of transportation and engineering,
u. y National Museum Smithsonian Institu-
tion, Washington.
The following officials of the Smithsonian In
stitution accompanied Mr.. Watkins to Borden
town. Y. !, via 9 o clock train this morning to
participate in the exercises: Mr. A: Howard
LARK, curator american historicna Assoc Ia
c,I soc;atv Of WasSinston. Mr. " Y Toy
treasurer Sons of the American Revolution;
Prof Thomas Wilson. curator Of prehistoric
anthropology United States National Museum;
Mr.. H. W Spohord, assistant editor proceed
ings United States National Museum Or. u.
Brown Gcode, who expected to take part IN
the celebration, was prevented from going at
the last moment by illness.
The presence at Bordentown OF the venerable
Isaac Dripps, who assisted on the Camden and
Amboy railroad as mechanic, when only
twenty years of age, and who put together the
first locomotive, the John Bull, now In the
National Museum, upon It's arrival nom Eng
land, and who acted as engineer when the John
Bull made Its trial trip, added interest to the
occasion.
The MONUMENT.
I,s,.h AM, =, ,b. or;a;,.I ssc,;o, of tr,cl
-, - -. -
on winch thls nrst trial trlp was mace mon
uments have been erected The foundation
stones OF the larger monuments are the blocks
upon which the rails we're originally Ald-cut
70 form proper bond for masonry. lhe ran
Is from the original track forty-two pounds
original track. as are also tine spikes. which
were gathered for the purpose The stone
blocks placed as supports for the rail are ar
ranged without hammer dressing to show their
original shape, and the cube OF granite Is
nfting milestone In the history OF the railway.
Mr.. WATKINS ACCOUNT OF IT.
Mr.. Watkins in his historical address gave
.h--,.-. h;,.o- :, a.. ....,.s-.-
.o"p'en,N VI s M ',
ieacing 10 the estaohshneht Oh the railway IN
New Jersey and the conflicts with the canal
companies
Coming down to the experimental trip he
sI. AZ snas maj Ie tne qse 81 "ne ,I .ne
t;res or borss nowsr had Already becoms .
political issue The farmers and other horse
owners ard dealers who had made money by
selling hay and grain and horses to the stage
and freight-wagon lines were discussing the
possibilities Of loss of business Many Of the
members Of the New Jersey legislature were
farmers. The management OF the Camden aud
Amboy railroad was anxious to give these gem
tlemen and other prominent citizens an oppor-
tunity to examine steam locomotive at work
and to ride in q railway train. Sixty
years ago today, on the 18th OF
November 1881, by special invitation
the members Of the legislature and other
state officials were driven from Trenton to
Bordentown in stages to witness the trial
Among them were John p. Jackson father OF
the present general ,uperintendent of the
united railroads of New JERSEY division Of the
Pennsylvania railroad who aftervard took n
prominent part in the affairs of the New Jersey
railroad. whose termini we're at New Bruns-
wick and Jersey City). BENJAMIN Fish (iirecto-
for Sftv veayz Tor The 70 p,den and Amhoy al
road. afterward president of the Freehold and
Jamesburg Agricultural railroad: Ashbel Welch.
Chief enoi1eer and snperintendent OF tbs Rel
yidere and Delaware railroad for MANY years
and president of the united railroads of New
Jersey durins the wears immediatelv preceding
the lease to the Pennsylyania railroad: Edwin
A. and Robert L. Stevens. aftervard managers
of the road.
Two coaches ouait SO mat tney might De
drawn by horses were attached to the locomo-
tive. These coaches were of the English pat
tern They had four wheels and resembled
In eaen facing eacn otner- Ihere were three
0oors AZ each Sue lnese cars were made Dy