The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-08-05

map arranged in a ssmi-circle showing tho
thirteen states IN which the company oper-
ates. The lines Of the company and all
the principal cities are clearly indicated,
the place; for example, the capitol and
Washington monument for Washington.
Independence Hall with tho Liberty bell
hanging in ito belfry, for Philadelphia
while the Auditorium n Worlds fair
buildings speak for Chicago. A feature OF
still greater interest. however, Is the fact
that small tinsel engines scattered along
the various lines indicate the exact position
of every : ain on the entire 1850 miles OF
roNd when the CLOCKS ct uck six p. ~. ON
Oct. u last. 1t is "a II ono had been
raised to u great elevation at that hour
and Razea down with unobstructsd
vision on every tain OF it's entire syatem.
Among the many other interesting things
represented a Q cases contsinin9 articles
showing the m provemsnt In rails. frogs,
bridges, signal apparatus, cars. ferry boats,
engines. lanterns. headlights and. In fact.
everything from tho smallest to the great
eat that 90 to make up Il great and COM
plete railway system. These articles arc
so urran9 ed ss to show the order in which
they were used and Therefore constitute a
history in objective form of the evolution
Of the American railway system. On large
wings hung to firm posts near the middle
Of the room are numerous views along the
ASnScs "a Q ga VI =
pot blanks. old passenger tickets and
many other curious and interesting forms.
Just outside and south of the west end OF
the building stands the original John Bull
engine, shipped from England in 1881
and first run on the seven m.'es
of road near Bordeutown and New
York. This is the oldest loco
motive in America and ia a wonderfully
curious little piece of mechanism. To look
at it ono would hardly think it capable OF
service, and vet only last April II pulled
two cars from New York city to Chicago
and made as high as 70 W miles per hour.
Connected with this engine are two cars.
one hat SAW service on the Camden d
Amboy vii. DAD in 1886, the other q repro
duction Of Il similar design. He who gazes
upon this simple train, which was the pride
Of the county fifty or sixty years ago. and
then u on tho elegantly equipped trains Of
to-day can scnrosly realize that there are
men now living who rode on this primitive
tain and wondered if IL we're possible for
man to improve a system so perfect. Upon
the same track but a little to the east stands
a strange combination of trucks which
in MI fou-. two rair. each pair being
closely coupled together by means Of
strong b.idets, either end Of which
rests q. on the center OF the individual
truoks. Extending from the bridge of the
first pair to that of the second is a ponder
Gus bridge of heavy iron and steel and
formed TO receive the immense gun mana
faotu ed by Krunr, of Germany. and now
on exhibition in the Krupp building on the
lake front near the Casino pier. This
combination Of trucks, resting upon thirty
two wheels, was manufactured expressly for
the shipment of the great Ktupo gun, the
weight of which 10 100 tons-the largest
gun ever maze. The combined weight of
the gun and trucks is nearly SOC, 600 pounds.
The system employed by the company
for throwing switches is 90 complete az the
ingenuity Of man has thus far heen able to
devise. II is known as the Westinghouse
electric pneumatic interlocking compressed
air signalling system. The system as OK
hibited is complete With stnndard signal
tower and 10 in active operation with an
expert Westinghouse man in charge. With
this system an incorrect signal oannot bS
given, since ali switches must be properly
thrown before the signal can be given. The
great value of this arrangement must be
apparent to all who realize the fearful re-
suits OF mistakes in handling rapidly NOV
ing trains.