The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-03-25
a Railroad Monument.

"Ceremonies upon the completion of the
monument erected BY the Pennsylvania r
R. Co. at Bordentown, New Jersey. to mark
the FIRST piece OF track laid between New
York and Philadelphia, 1872 is the title
Of a book, paper bound, giving an interesting
account Of this unique monument and no
less unique ceremony. The pamphlet, or
more properly book, contains history Of
the FIRST railroad enterprises in this country,
which is full of interest when the eompari
son is drawn between then and now. Robt.
L. Stevens was the one man in all America
who looking through the years TO come. told
his increduIous companions The future Of
railroads in this country, before there was
track laid in all America. Of course be
was set down by the wisdom of the time as
crazy and crank on that subject. He had
simply thought il out as any competent
mind may do any subject which is to deyelop
in The future.
We are under obligation 10 Mr.. Joseph
T. Richards, Assistant Chief Engineer of
the Pennsylvania R. r. Co., who played an
important part in the erection Of this rail-
road monument. as far, as we are informed,
ever erected. Mr.. Richards assisted 10 the
design. drawings and specification of the
monument, and on Thursday, November
18th, 1891, on the Goth anniversary of the
movement of carriages by steam, in the
State of New Jersey. Mr.. Richards was
assigned the honor by the P. r. r. Co. of
transferring the unique monument he had
so conspicuous part in creating, 10 the
custody Of the United New Jersey Railroad
and Canal Co. There are two monuments,
one at each end OF the section of track laid
on which to make the FIRST experiment with
the locomotive made in England. Mr..
Richards in his presentation address thus
describes the monument:
"After most careful examination Mr..
Dipps 1.-THE old engineer who managed the
engine on the memorable day of its trial in
1881 drove stake at each end of the sec
tion Of track at which points you now see
the two monuments. The larger monument
needs an explanation, as its manner of con-
sruction is matter of history well worth
preserving. The foundation stones are the
block upon which the rails were originally
laid-cut to form proper bond for mason
ry. The rail is from the original track
forty-two pounds per yard in weight bent to
form the circle. The joint plates are from
the original track, as are also the spikes.
all of which we have gathered from old
shops and material yards for the purpose
the stone blocks placed as supports for the
rail are arranged without hammer dressing
to show their original shape, gand the cube
of granite is fitting mile stone in the his
tory of the railway"
tits unnecessary TO remind our readers
that Mr.. Richards was Rising Sun boy,
having been raised within three miles of
the village. He has our thanks for the
book which contains history SO interesting
of the early trials and triumphs the rail-
road dreamers as such men as Stevens were
termed by the wiseacres of his day. As if
10 make the contrast Of the present with the
past more impressive and striking large
colored map is added to the little volume,
Of the railroad lines of to-day extending
from the surf beaten shores Of the Atlantic
to the placid waters of Lake Michigan,
which combine TO form the great Pennsyl-
vania system.