New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-07
Mr.. DEPEW'S WESTERN TRIP
WHAT HE SAW. HEARD AND THOUGHT
ON HIS RAILROAD PILGRIMAGE.

THE STATE OF FEELING IN THE COMMUNE
TIES ABOUT THE GREAT LAKEs-"COXEY-
ISM" THE COAL STRIKE. THE PoLITI-
CAL OUTLOOK AND WOMAN SUI
FRAGE-woRDs OF A PH1Loso-
PIER AND WIT
Chauncey NJ. Depew returned home on Saturday
morning from his trip Chicago begun last
Monday evening. His companions were Cornelius
Vanderbilt, II. Walter Webb John Hone. jr.. Sam
uel Barton and John De Koven of Chicago. The
party travelled 300 miles, and not only ATTENDED
the annual meetings of the Lake Shore. Nickel-Pate
and Michigan Central Railway companies. but.
under favorable weather conditions. inspected many
lines and branches of the Vanderbilt system be-
tween Buffalo and Chicago and points north. Mr..
Depew, when visited by Tribune reporter Sat
urday appeared in fine physical condition Naturally
| enough an interview resulted, into which Mr.. De-
| pew threw himself" to speak. with his Gus
! tomary good nature and superlative courtesy.
In spite Of the fact that the wings OF the Ameri-
| can Eagle are at the present time somewhat weary
| and are Hopping spasmodcay against adverse cur
rents OF wind, Mr. Depew with his prophetic vision.
was not unwilling 10 give testimony to his faith Ia
its glorious attainments in the future, even with 4
woman's suffrage attachment to Its pinions lie be-
eves in the bird and Its gastronomic possibilities.
Mr.. Depew seems to be enthroned at that apex OF
|
only view the dioramic and panoramic. but the
prospective well. in all things both earthly and
heavenly; and he never winces, even when COLI
fronted with little questions pertaining to history,
| philosophy futurity.
OF this quality is the interview here given. Mr..
Depew spoke OF business conditions they exist,
of the great coal strike of the Coxey army of Fed
eral politics and of the subject of woman suffrage
as 1t is likely to be injected into the discussions be-
fore the State Constitutional Convention, which be-
gins its sessions tomorrow
SOMETHING OF y PARALLEL.
The springtime presents the horizon of hopeful
ness and JOY the vision of the ordinary tramp.
1t is then that he turns up his trousers above his
shoes and starts forward aristocrat ana
monopost. and with a countenance which indicates
confidence in results Every springtime Mr.. Depew
starts out also geographical excursonist. but
he makes the distance in shorter time and without
rolling up his trousers. but always with counte-
nance which indicates confidence in results. But
this last trip introduced possibilities likely 10 accrue
TO the disadvantage of the swift eXcursonlst as
much those which come TO the excursionists or
a lower degree Of locomotive power. Mr.. Dcpews
special train struck frog on one OF the roads in
Upper Michigan. The back Of Michigan railroad
frog is possessed Of all the enduring qualities or
pure steel, and it is likely bring confusion TO
the minds OF the travellers in special trains to
the minds of the footpad who thoughtlessly allows
his heeless shoe to become enveoped in It's terrible
clutch. But Ny Depew and his associates Were
drawn by the power Of steam out OF this clutch and
along the ba tx OF the frog until the wheels Of the
car truck caught again the smooth surface Of the
rails beyond
HARMONY on THE SEVERAL ROADS
To a Tribune reporter Mr.. Depew. speaking Of his
recent Journey said:
THE trip which made. beginning Monday
evening and ending this Saturday morning. covered
800 miles which. added 10 the 3,7oO miles which
Mr. Vanderbilt and made two weeks ago. covers
the distance between New-York and Liverpool and
return. with about COO 100 miles to spare. The
difference is twenty-three miles hour. at the best.
on the ocean. and fifty miles the poorest. on
land The party consisted OF Cornelius Vanderbilt
II. Walter Webb. John Hone jr, Samuel Barton
and John De Koven. OF Chicago. one OF Lake
Shore directors. For inspecting purposes we did the
whole length Of the Canada Southern and Michigan
Central by daylight and attended the annual cleo
tons OF the Lake Shore. the Nickel-Plate and
Michigan Central companies. There a single
vote cast in opposition to the regular tickle, at
either place. Considering the number of miles OPP
Grated by these three systems and the vastness OF
their transactions this unanmity OF approval from
the sockholdng constituency was as gratifying as
| remarkable.
| Then we inspected the Detroit. Lansing and
| Northern" continued Mr. Depew. (which goes from
Detroit the Straits OF Mackinac. The trucks i'm
mediately under the observatlon-room of the in
sharp this Northern road at hfty-hye miles
| an hour We were tossed around a little. but the
| wheels settled to their work on the railroad,
all OF which illustrates that special trains with the
officials board liable 10 the same dangers AZ
those which are met by the ordinary travcler-only
considerably more So" added Mr. Depcw with a
laugh because the special goes great deal faster.
zone thing which strikes railroad man on these
Western roads" continued Mr. Depew. rs the
thoroughness Of the work hitherto done upon the
track and equipment IN order to keep both in FIRST
class condition, and which enables them to
reduce their expenses enormously without seri-
ously mparing for considerable period the Ell
| cheney of their operations
What Is the natural appearance OF the country
as compared with the same season in other years.
was asked.
NATURES INDIGNANT QUESTION.
1.-THE whole Western country between Chicago and
| Buffalo" replied Mr.. Depew. reminds Of the
pictures formed by him. In his Imagination. Of the
| Garden Of Eden The orchards are In blossom. the
fields Of winter wheat never looked more promising.
the atmospheric conditions have prepared the land
I'm the best possible manner for crops. and Nature
seems 10 have Just laid herself out 70 teach an
object the politicians on wasted opportuni-
ties She sits on every rail fence and trudgcs be
| hind every farmers plough, pointing with one hand
to the smiling earth and 10 the promising harvest.
and with the other Washington. and Indignantly
asks: Why when the Lord has furnished every op-
portunity for the prosperity, employment and gen
eral happiness OF the people OF this country. should
they be kept from enjoying their blessings by states
| men who seem TO be equally incapable OF doing any
! thing doing nothing?
"Do YOU see any signs OF business improvement in
any branches Of Industry" wac the next question
There Is a slow Improvement apparent in he
general business situation. but 1t is spasmo1ic, was
| the reply 81 think there will be general resump-
! ton in some one industry for brief period, and
| then a discouraginG falling off again The process
| seems to be repetition Of that Of man climbing
! I'm three steps and falling back two the only en-
! arrangement being that after each effort he Is at
| least one step ahead. however much the loss or
| the two may try his temper and patience. The
RAILWAYS reflect these unnatural conditions In their