The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-10-11
THOSE SPEED TRIALS
LOCOMOTIVE RACING QUITE A FAD
AMONG RAILROAD OFFICIALS.

Yankees Went Give UP to the Britons.
Reading and Pennsylvania Likely to Have
Brush-Like Yachting Rivals Have
Come Down to Letter Writing Contests.
The public has been RECALLED during
the last few weeks by what bids fair to
be never ending discussion as to the
relative speed merits of the American
and English railroads. First the Yankee
declares that he is supreme, and then
comes his British cousin with an abso-
lutte statement that the regular average
on some one of the lines running from
London to Scottish city has never been
equaled, let alone excelled.
Not one of these claimants, however,
has tried to argue for an average speed
of more than 60 miles an hour, and they
have all shown extreme modesty as
compared with the boomers for project
ed electric railways If these are to be
believed, the time is not now far distant
when Americans will be whirled across
the continent at speed of not less than
100 miles an hour, which will easily
duN 1OlONC1 pun w loup oiiO .lSll
claimants for speed honors.
Only few weeks ago articles of in
corporation were filed for another cleo
trio elevated railroad to run between
New York and Chicago. According to
the prospectus, the capital is to be
5000, 900, 900, and the time limit be-
tween the two cities is to be SO far re-
duced by the new scheme that travellers
will never think of patronizing the old
fashioned steam roads again.
The incredulous public, however, is
inclined to look upon these propositions
as visionary, and no one has any idea
that the present methods of travel will
be superseded for many years to come.
The international letter writing con-
test between Lord Dunraven and c.
Oliver Iselin was commonplace event
as compared with the competitive efforts
Of General Passenger Agent Daniels of
the New York Central and those who
were interested in keeping the speed eff
forts of the British railroads before the
public. The Yankee again seems to have
had the best of it too, for there has been
no answer to Mr.. Daniels latest open
letter.
The date has not yet been set for the
speed trial on the Philadelphia and
Reading, but it is quite likely that this
roads distance destroyer, No. 3S5, will
be put through it's PAGES very shortly
This locomotive, which comes from the
Baldwin shops at Philadelphia, has never
been tried at top speed, but i'll its regu-
lar work it has shown so great capacity
for spinning over the rails that its de-
signer has high hopes for it. If it fails
to show higher rate Of speed than its
rivals on the New York Central, it will
be because figures cannot be SO adjusted
as to show results. Engineers and su-
perintendents of motive power have an
incompatible way of accomplishing
these things.
AS soon as the Philadelphia and Read
ing has set up record between New
York and Philadelphia it is quite GER
tain that set will be made against it
by the Pennsylvania railroad, which is
the Readings deadly rival, and from
V1itO OllliO I'll VIII NO 81 W
occupy the public's attention that the
British roads will be entirely forgotten
for the time being.
Just as the trainers of race horses
give their charges trial gallops before
starting them i'll great races, the Pennsyl.
vania officials have already given one of
their new express locomotives a prepare.
tory whirl from New York to Philadel
phia. twas given out with marked dis
tinctness that the object of the run was
simply to test the engine and fuel, and
not to make Or break a record
After the trip it was announced that
the 90 miles between the two cities was
covered in 50 minutes, and that many
of the miles were traversed in less than
minute each. On the next attempt the
officials say they will cut this time down
considerably New York World.