Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-04-28
THE NICKEL PLATES GIANT HAND.

Plate road to a newspaper reporter, "be-
fore we investigate any of our methods
let me describe the origin of the name.
"'Nickel Plate the popular soubri-
guet of the New York, Chicago e. st.
Louis railroad, has furnished the sub
ject for the weaving of many fairy
tale, each with more or less foundat ton
in fact, as suited the purpose of the
dreamy narrator of corner grocery le-
gend or the resourceful and visionary
space writer doing time on Sunday
blanket sheet. The most authentic in
formation places the origin of the name
Nickel Plate as title for the road in
the sanctum of the fertile Drained edi-
tor of a northern Ohio newspaper" said
Mr.. Horncr. THE circumstance was
the animated discussion inspired incl
dent TO the commendable rivalry of the
cities of Norwalk and Bellevue, in their
efforts to induce the projectors of the
road to construct the line through
either one or the other of those cities.
I'm its issue of April IA, 1851, the
Norwalk Chronicle, in speaking of the
road, it's glittering prospects and the
brilliant possibilities of trade opened
up for the cities through which it OPP
Grated, together with the gilt edged
character of it's financial backing, char
acterized the institution as the nickel
plated railroad, the term intended as
expressive of the bright and substan-
tial attributes of the enterprise.
This is believed to be the first use
4 .oJf 20 = he l.; al,
from that time on was frequently used
In the same connection in various pa
pers until, in abbreviated form, 'Nickle
Plate it has become the accepted and
popular soubriquet of this great trunk
line"
At this juncture in the conversation
the general passenger agent invited the
newspaper man to visit the sanctum of
the advertising manager, where the
mere mechanical accessories of the
printers art are chained into such strik-
ing and effective situations as will best
attract the eye of the tickle public.
Here the reporter was introduced to Mr.
A. j. Horner, who is in charge of the
advertising department, with the re-
quest that every facility be afforded
him in securing the information de-
sired.
Mr.. Horner, Jr., said it was the policy
of the general passenger agent to make
the words Nickel Plate" distinguish
ing feature of all advertising issued.
"You will find it emblazoned on every
class of paper sent out. The phrase was
first used in our advertising about 1881.
The prototype of our present trade
mark, if it may be so termed, was used,
] believe. on time table in effect No
ycmber 20, 1881.
''At that time the phrase was printed
in plain letters and no effort was made
toward distinctive trademark. Later
we adopted the present style of letters
so well known. We also arranged these
letters into perspective view, the frs:
being used in 1898.
"About three years ago this was fur
Their evolved until we secured the cut
now so largely used and which is re-
garded as our business escutcheon.
Our present aim is to display some
one of these characteristic cuts in
prominent position in all our advertis-
ing matter.
1.-THE Nickel Plate road depends large
~ on the newspapers for accomplishing
publicity" continued the advertect.
'We have become convinced that the
successful newspaper of to-day is the
most available medium through which