The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-11

ls such a comm on everyday affair that 1t
is not considered worthy OF comment,
even, while we are looking forward to
reduction of the running time by twenty
minutes or more. And yet by way OF
contrast, and for purposes OF comparison,
II is interesting to note that the first
through train from this city 10 the Hub
occupied something over i've hours and
quarter. OF course, on that occasion there
was no effort To make fast time. On the
contrary, the trip was one for inspection,
chiefly, and considerable part OF the
five hours was used in viewing the work
OF the pioneer railroad builders, which in
those early days excited the wonder and
amazement OF the people.
The Gossiper has been shown an ac-
count of this first trip over the Boston
b Providence road written by one OF the
large party OF prominent citizens who
participated in 1t, and very interesting
one il is, in view of the marvellous
changes that have taken place since the
occurrence of the event which 1t records.
This initial railway journey was made on
June 2 1885, and II was the intention OF
the promoters Of the enterprise to have
had the train drawn by locomotive
which had been built in Philadelphia and
which arrived in Providence the day be-
fore. This plan had to be abandoned,
however. as Ii was discovered that some
of the pipes of the engine were out OF or
der. Resort was then had TO the old, re-
liable, IL less speedy, motive power, the
horse. This enforced change OF plan was,
DOUBTLESS, Disappointing, but after all
the members of the party enjoyed them
selves much better and obtained a more
satisfactory view of the work along the
road than they would have, had they been
whisked over 1t by painting, pulsating
and moke-breathing locomotive.
The start was made about l2:45 o'clock
and the train was made up OF two cars,
which in these days very much resembled
stage coaches mounted on wheels, with
doors at the sides, instead OF at the ends
as in the modern railway carriage. Each
car wss propelled by two horse power.
That IL, two horses, hitched tandem,
were attached to Zach. According to the
writer OF the account OF this first trip the
party proceeded merrily and without mis-
hap of any kind for an hour or two. Then
without wsrning the train came to stop.
Investigation quickly showed that the
interruption was due to freak OF one
section of the motive power. The head
horse attached to one OF the cars had be-
come rather frisky and in the exuberance
OF her spirits had kicked over the traces
and rolled down an embankment into
ditch dragging the wheel horse with her.
No serious results followed, but tho frisky
apimal was sent of and more "ductile
steed," az the chronicler put 1t, was sub
stitrted.
With the "ductile steedp in the van the
journey was resumed, but not many miles
had been gone over when there was
another stop. This time the wheel horse
had taken q notion to topple over and
when iound was reposing calmly under
the end Of the car II had been helping
to draw. The animal was extricated
without much difficulty and with no in
jury worth mentioning, but the two
equine mishaps so impressed the party
that IL came tc the unanimous conclusion
that horse power wasn't to be compared
with steam power for railway purposes--a
conclusion which subsequent experience
has emphatically endorsed. however,
this second mishap gave the chron1cler an
opportunity TO record something about
the road and the manner and method OF
its building. The road he says had been
graduated in such a manner that the in
cdnation is no where greater than 81 feet
IL mile and only for short distance is
II anywhere sufficient to perceptibly re-
tard the speed of the cars. In his enthu-
stasm he declared, end not untruthfully,
that 'it has been laid TO endure with the
everlasting hills and Is finished with
peatness very gratifying to the eye"
The viadrct at Canton particularly im-
pressed the chronIcler for he declares IL to
be a stupendous work. "The excavations
and emhankment in Canton" he adds,
'sare also worthy of minute attention;
they testify in strong language TO mans
domain over Nature and his ability to
overcome any obstacle in any undertaK-
ing that Is not either morally or physi-
cally absurd. The project OF
cutting through these rocky heights
and crossing the valley OF the river by via
duct was very bold one. A besitating
nina would have surmounted them by
stationary engines or some less formidable
way. But any other method would have
detracted very much from the facilities
which give value 10 such road"
The party did not leave Canton until
twenty minutes past O'Clock and by
o'clock II was in Boston. And 1t seems
the railway officials OF these early days
were as hospitable as their successors for
the chronicler records that ''the party
accompanied the directors to their depot
at the fremont House and enjoyed their
overfiowing hospitality with keen appe-
tites and grateful hearts"
The Gcssiper IL informed that several
prominent Prov idence Catholics propose
TO take part in the third American ma
tionai pilgrimage TO Rome, Lourdes and
tho continental shrines. The spiritual
directors OF the pilgrimage are the
Fathers of Mercy OF New York and the
Rev. William Smith will accompany the
piigrifas as father director Mr. and Mrs.
II. ". Tbroop are the organizers OF the
pilgrimage and the present intention IL
TO fnii on the Red Line steamer Western
land on Wednesday, July 8 with the ex-
pectati0n 81 reaching Antwerp on July
~. Tho places TO be visited are Colovnc,
Heidelberg. Luxerne, Milan, Venice, Flor.
encc. padua, Loretto, Bologna, Rome,
Pisa, Genoa, Marseilles. Toulouse, Bor-
ocaux, Louross and Paris.
! Everybody hnp heard Of the Keeley
motor and everyone is also aware thEt
np 10 the present time that particular mo-
tor has refused 10 mote with. persist