Evening star., 1896-09-26
nave to go over the Lorraine branch or

have to go over the Lorraine branch or
walk.
Another thing taken into consideration
by US railroad men is that the excursion
season Is over for the most part During
the summer months every railroad is work. |
irg its hardest to secure the many thou
sands Of dollars that are floating around in
the way of providing recreation for the peo-
pie who have secured vacations. and at
this time Of the year travel is generally
dull. We have the road the cars and the
employees. and to keep everything on the
move is the greatest ambition of the real
railroad man.
What a nice thing 1t would be IL we
could persuade Major Mckinley to take a
trip through the south or the other roads
get him to travel to New York or to st.
Louis. Ex-President Harrison has given 1t
out that he will make only one more speech
during the campaign, and that in Indian
apolis 1 wouldn't take $50,OO for the ex-
curs4on or special train business on that oc-
casion. and he isn't in Mckinley's or
Eryan's class as an attraction. Imagine
the business that will be made for the rail-
roads by Mr.. Bryan's trip to Maine. At
every place he stops long enough to make
big speech, parades will be participated in
by political organizations, not only from the
towns wherein the speeches are made. but
from all the villages and towns within
radius of hundred miles With these
clubs go thousands of. people. and the rail-
roads gather in the golden fruit
How the Speakers Draw.
IN the matter OF DOulicdl OenOnStrd-
tions. every state in the Union is affected
and the excursion business can now be
placed at its zenith. Roads that generally
fight for business this time Of the year
| ike a drowning man trying to keep his
head above water. find themselves taxed
to the utmost to afford accommodation to
those who want to travel to political meet
inSs. OF course, the cheap rate has a good
bit to do with this state OF affairs, but then
Is hat q
ten at full fare
Another thing railroad managers have to
take into consideration, especially those
Cnnected with the big roads, Is to antici-
pate political gatherings, size up the crowd
he expects to turn out and then have the
necessary cars at that end Of the line to
accommodate the travel, SO that no one Is
turned away.
For this reason railroad managers have
divided the different speakers into four
classes as to drawing power. Mr.. Bryan
alone constitutes the first class, only one
other man. Mckinley, being capable Of
sharing honors with him.
In the second class go the names OF
Harrison. Reed. Hobart. Hill. Sewall, Wat
son, Teller. Sherman and Stevenson.
''In the third class the governors OF
states, Congressman and men with The rep
utation Of Alteeld. Tiilrnan and Coin Har-
vey. These latter men draw best near
| home.
In the fourth class are placed the state
senators, mayors and men on the paid list
| Of speakers. This latter. class is very de-
| eeiving as to drawing power. as a local
demonstration is liable to materialiZe at
any time that would swamp the best equip
ped road in the country.
| Il have now referred to the pleasant side
or money making part. of political cam
| paigns in connection with railroad transpor-
| tation, and il remains for to speak Of
| the unpleasant or responsible phase Of the
| story.
To Insure Safety.
| From the time a special is switched on
| to our road containing a parsonage of as
| much Importance as Mr.. Bryan, 1t is case
| of breathing hard with the officials in
! charge of the running of trains until that
| same special has been in turn switched on
| to another road. The sUperintendents of di-
| vision the principal responsible heads
| and then comes the trainmasters train rum
| Eers, supervisors and section bosses. Every
| foot of the road Is inspected by experts IN
| that line before the train passes, and a
| Continuous patrol. day and night, until the
| RESPONSIBILITY is removed.
Have you ever thought Of the sensation
| that would follow should the train carrying
! Mr.. Bryan be wrecked? Outside of the
| great political calamity that would result
| should Mr.. Bryan he killed or injured think
| Of the stain upon the railroad into whose
| hands he was intrnsted for safe transporta-
| ton. Not only this country would re-echo
! with the details of the catastrophe, but the
entire world would know 1t all. and with
| the story the name of the unlucky road
| would always be coupled.
| The same applies to the many excursion
| trains run to political meetings Take, for
| il stance, the excursions to Canton, number
| ing several sections of a train the cars OF
| which are packed to the doors. They must
| make good time. run close together, SO as
| to land the passengers in a bunch, and yet
! be strictly secure from accident. This class
of passengers very frequently indulge in
little tricks, such as pulling the air-brake
! Cord OF bell cord. and every employe. no
! matter how humble, will be continuously on
the alert fro now until the campaign is
oker.
Il would like to the campaign con-
| tinUe forever, bat l know the trainmen and
| train officials breathe easier when the fate
fll Sd of November has come and gone"