The record-union., 1897-07-10
A SUCCESSFUL TRANSPORTATION
FEAT.

The idea has unjustifiably obtained
that the Southern Pacific Company was
UNEQUAL to the carrying of a very large
body of passengers over its lines,
stretching across the continent. In
deed this notion has been voiced and
demagogues have made not a little cap
ital of it. Now let US see what has
been done in the matter of the Chris
tian Endeavorer excursionist transpor-
tation
The Central Pacific is a single track
road. 1t relates Ogden and the Pacific
Coast as a transportation way. The
section over which superintendent
Wright has charge is known as the
Mountain Division, having the steepest
grades and the most tortuous route of
any road leading to the coast. 1t is
conceded to be a difficult route, be-
cause of this fact, to run successfully,
as it is admitted also to be the most
costly to maintain and operate.
Over this road from ogden to San
Francisco and over the heavy mountain
division, the company between the I'd
and 9th insts., inclusive, carried with
out an accident or a hitch out of the
usual order, without single person be-
ing injured and without any unantici-
pated Iessening of speed fifty-eight spe-
cial trains delivered to the company at
Ogden with a rapidity unequaled in the
history of railroading.
In these trains, including the sections
of regular trains, there were fifteen
dining cars, four private cars, 113 bag
gage and mail cars, 120 day coaches,
157 tourist coaches and 3S9 standard
sleepers, a total of 79S cars. The total
number of passengers carried was in
excess of $4,000, exclusive of persons
on the trains in the capacity of en-
ployes. In all that movement there was
not a wheel broken, a car or engine dis
abled or a piece of track broken up,
and all these passengers were safely
transported over stretches of desert,
mountain and valley, nearly 900 miles
in extent.
portation feat unparalleled in the whole
history of railroading. 1t speaks vol
umes for the management of the Off
ciaIs, and the care and wisdom of their
ieutenants, and of the engineers, con-
ductors and train crews. The achieve
ment breaks the single track worlds
record.
But in addition the Southern Pacific
Company transported about 1000 pas
sengers from the south, and in excess
of 1.5O0 from the north, so that near
to 10000 excursionists and regular
travel passengers with hundreds of tons
of luggage were safely carried by the
company with never a hitch nor an
accident.
In the same time the company ran
aIlits usual daily trains eastward, south
and north, and all it's local trains with
in the State carrying something in ex-
cess of 10000 people in and out of San
Francisco, so that the total transpor-
tation over a single track system in
side of a week exceeded ~, 900 human
beings, exclusive of train attaches.
The proof is therefore made that the
lines of the Southern Pacific Company
are equal to the carriage of an unlim-
tied number of passengers practically,
since the northern and southern lines
We're not at all taxed, the great bulk
of movement being over the Central
Pacific tracks between San Francisco
and from Ogden westward.
Railroad people are not much given
to boasting, but the Southern Pacific
officers have occasion and excuse to
boast now, and to point with especial
pride to the splendid equipment Of their
lines, with careful, clear-headed and
thoroughly competent men.