Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1893-08-20
STAMPS FIRST RAILROAD.
Tho Contamination or a Long
Delayed Project.
After Fourteen Years of Anxiety tho
- King Has the Pleasure of Seeing
ir'4 the Retaliation of Hh
fondest Hope.

tr'44 the Retaliation of Ills
49, Fondest Hope.
That Is an interesting announce
mcrt, recently made, hat within q
few weeks the king of Siam has per
sonally opened to traffic the FIRST rail
road in his dominions, connecting the
capital, Bangkok, with the port of
Palinam, nj the mouth of Mennm
river. On this occasion, it is also made
known, his majesty delivered n speech
in which he referred with eloquent en-
thusiasm to the progress which his
country is now making in what are
convcntionally called tho arts of civ
ilization. This railroad is not nearly
so great nor SO important rs many
others in many parts of the world.
Yet, according to the New York Trib-
unc, there is scarcely another so rich
~ invested with picturesque interest
or SO suggestive in its proSimate con-
trast of high civilization against prim-
tive simplicity. The very idea of q
railroad in Siam seems homogeneous.
True, the capital city IF that country
has for years enjoyed such modern
Improvements rs street cars, electric
lights, passenger elevators, telephones
and newspapers. Yet they all have an
exotic mir. They seem like curiositics
on exhibition. All around them lies
the world of centuries ago. In no
other oriental country hat has SO
much come into contact with Europe
and America is conservatism so marked
and persistent as i'll the land of tho
white elephant. The ancient
and customs still flourish intact. The
old-tlme ccrcmonials, endless process
sions, innumerablc umbrellas on dis
play are still observed. The over
whelming mass Of the people are ex-
nctly as they were hundreds of years
ago. Probably the chief explanation
Of this lies in the nature OF the people
themselves. They are the %personitca-
ton of casy-going.
Some thirteen or fourteen years ago
the king decided that it would be we'll
to have some railroads built in Siam.
Accordingly he engaged u number of
European engineers to survey routes
and prepare plans and estimates. The
advance of the French in Tonquin. on
his eastern borders FASTENED him, for
he was persuaded thai n railroad sys-
tenn would be. n potent aid to defense
against invasion. But rivalry between
foreign spectators caused much delay.
1t was nearly two years ago that the
work was actually begun, the king per-
sonally turning the first sod. The cere-
mony on that occasion was picturesque
and impressive, especially in its curl
Gus mirslinS of oriental and 'occi-
dental manners. There was Il great
crowd present, including the king ana
his ministers. There were many for
eigncrs, looking practical and bust
ness-lilic, and n host of curious, happy
E%o-lucl;v natives. There was much
dignity and formality about it all, rs
was fitting. But there was alsc : great
deal of ease and informality. The min
lister of public works, u prince with an
unpronounGeablc name, began the pro-
Eranmc by reading an address to the
king. This done, his majesty made n
speech, ostcnsibly in reply to the min
istcr, but really addressed to the gen
cral nsScmblagc. He spoke easily and
cloqucntly, dwelling upon the great-
ness of the country and the progress
already made in the arts of modern
civilization, and then portraying with
entirely unwarrantablc enthusiasm
the great advantages that would re-
suit from the building of this railroad
md of other roads which in the near
future would be connected with it.
These formnlitics concluded, the king
took Il spade i'll his hands and stepped
forward to where n w~hcelbnrrow
was standing. 1t was n spade of the
most improved New England pattern,
but the blade was made of silver, pre-
sumably solid, and the handle. was
composed OF n solid shaft of ivory.
The whcclbarrow also was Of Amer
lean design, but vas made of ebony
and silver. Ills majesty thrust the sill
yer blade of the spade into the ground,
cucrgctically pressing it TO It's full
depth with his royal foot, and then
lifted n Coodly spadcful of coil and de-
posted 1t in the w~hcelbarropY. Then
the crown prince came forward. n
handsome md amiablc youngegcntlc-
man who had recently celebrated his
coming OF ngc with characteristic
Siamcac rites. lie took up the handles
of the w~hcclbarrow and trundlcd IL
nlong n carpctcd pathway, twenty-five
or thirty yards, and then dumped tho
~spadcful of earth which IL contained
upon the ground. Tho king, the royal
family, the minister of public works
and n number Of notable guests fol-
lowed him rs he wheeled tho barrow
aud looked with earnest interest ut tho
spadcful of clods as he turned them
out upon the ground. Then four state
~ and solemn ljrahinin priests. In their
~Sacrcdotal robes. stepped forward and
sprini;lcd upon the clods q few drops
OF holy water which they took from n
vase OF solid gold. Finally n brass
band, composed of native musicians,
the SinincSc national anthem,
and the ceremony was concluded.
But the king aud his august followers
had scarcely left the spot before the
contractors took possession OF Il, a.,,
their workincn t.crc busily engaged
with hv'drols Of spades and wheel.
preceding with the actual
OF the railroad.
v.