Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-03-05
vice President Webb ON Railway Develop
nent.

ments
It Is not easy 70 make any positive pro-
dictions about the increase in railway speed,
or ut least 10 put limit upon the possible
ity Of swift travel in the next century. yet
il is safe 10 make some approximate sng-
gcstions based upon judgments that come
from the experience Of today.
A few years ago an express speed OF thir-
ty-five miles an hour was regarded ms fast
travel Today there are q number Of trains
which make regular runs OF between forty
and fifty miles an hour. and there is one
train running from New York to Buffalo
on the New York Central. a distance Of 80
miles, at al average speed OF about nifty
three miles an hour. This same train has
made the run once at an average Of less
than q mile minute. and IL frequently at
tains n speed Of rs much AS seventy or sew
enty-five miles an hour
This experience. which Il comparatively
recent, has convinced me that we are still
much under the limit OF what may be ex-
pected by travellers In the Twentieth CEN
fury. expect 10 see even before the Tween
tieth century trains running regularly 1t
an average Of sixty miles an hour. and
have no doubt at all that early In the next
century there will be a number Of trains ON
some Of the greater roads whose schedule
time will call for - much a. 100 miles an
hour have no doubt that traveller early
in the next century will be able 10 get his
breakfast in New York and his evening din
ner in Chicago.
We have already learned how to con-
struct locomotives which are capable Of
making ninety miles and more an hour. and
we have learned how best To utilize their
enormous powerS Given the perfect loco
iro,ive-and we have very nearly secured
the perfect machine OF this sort~-we need
only two OF three other conditions. There
must be perfectly constructed track and
roadbed. Ii must have inapprec.able grades
and very slight curves Unjust be so made
as 10 be elastic and yet Withstand easily the
strain caused by high speed Then We must
have perfect signal system. That ! am
sure viii be developed
The block system OF today Is sufficiently
thorough TO make the high rates Of speed
attained by trains Oh my own road. for in
stance. possible There should he no grade
crossings-these eat up time dreadfuliy
sometimes--and passenger cars must he
lieht. hut very strong. and the number Of
them limited TO high speed train We
need the best coal and ~ course highly
trained employees Withthere conditions
and they are sure 10 DO obtained carly IA
the next century, feel safe In saying that
regularly scheduled daily trains running
loo miles an hour viii he sivertised by
many Of the railway companies
The question Of safety and Of popularity
win be no mere considered than are the
same questions when person entsr~ 40 or
binary express train of the present tine
With the conditions that have de-csib<d
above. a tram running 100 mica an hour l.
Jus; - safe "a enc running forty. In either
case II Al accideut happens Il r. likely 20
pfuve disastrous 1hs tendency u tte
time Is toward rapid travel. and Il h.s al
really been discovered that these fastest
trains are NOT an ex pertinent. bat are put On
the roads In response % public demand
III. WALTER WEBB.