The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-11
STEAM AND ELECTRICITY,
Evolution in Railroad Building and
Management

We speak of the present era as one OF
steam and electricity.
Some years since We enjoyed hearing
that grand old divine. Dr. Lowe Pierce.
father of the stiu grander Bishop George
T. Pierce. tell of riding horseback from
Georgia TO Philadelphia TO attend a
General Conference of the Methodist
Church.
Later. Colonel q. G. Langdon. Of Ala
bama. spoke Of merchandising at Green's
boro of that state before the era of rlil-
roads He said Doe bought goods ln PhiIa-
delphia. purchased new wagons and Ine
teams with which to transport the goods
20 Alabama. After delivering the goods
be sold the teams az handsome profit.
- delegate 90 a conference BOO Phuade'-
phia would now board a vesthule train
ON the S0uther1. go 90 bed I'm Georsia
ara wake I'm Washington next morning
and dine the same day in Philadelphia.
The merchant in Alabama to-day tele-
graphs FOR his goods and receives them
in fhirtv-eix hours We learn from john
SONS Universal Cyclopedia that the adop-
ton of the report of the chief engineer.
Uorafio Allen. recommending the use OF
steam as locomotive power by the
Board of Directors of the South Caro-
lima Railroad Company. which was placed
on record January A. lNn. was the
first act of "a corporate body either In
tho United States or elsewhere adopting
the locomotive engine as the tractiVe
power on "a railway for general passen-
ger and freight transport II CON
tinues: accordingly in pursuance OF
that resolution. in March. lNn T.. l..
Miller. on the part Of the South Caro-
lima Railroad Company contracted with
the West Point Foundry Company for q
locomotive engine.
"This was the first locomotive engine
built fOP railway service I'm the Uni ed
States and was first put upon the road
November .. $780,
~ viii thus bc seen that South Carolina
Ted the van in the early history OF rail-
road construction. Tds was known ass
tho Charleston and Augusta Railway. d.
WAS built entirely upon trestle and Che
little open ears had seats along tho sides
like those OF the street car.
Beginning with the wooden stringor
ana hat iron. which Were used forty years
ago. there has been gradual develop
ment through the little iron rail ON the
crosstie 20 the present heavy steel tie
rail with the hsh-bar joint and the bed
ball1stcd with crushed stone.
We have recently travelled over the
Southern Railway from Birmingham TO-
smoothncss of tho track and the even
gliding of the wheels over 80 even when
moving at the rate of lftv miles am hour.
The Improvement in the comfort and
convenience of travel has kept pace with
the development of the bed and track.
The traveller now. instead of being
cramped into a straisht-back seat in
crowded coach. enters parlor car whore
Doc is ass comfortable ass at home with
every want supplied. even 10 the most
abundant and dainty dishes served az
his seat
Only those who experienced the incon-
vcniencc of travel forty years ago. when
the battle had 90 hc fought in dctail"-
tickets purchased and trunks checked
dozen times between New Orleans and
New York-can fully appreciate tine Won
dcrr Improvement chat has been
wrought by the consolidation of many
short lines into great companies and the
cooperation of these companies in dis
patching passengers and freight with the
least possible inconvenience or delay.
The passenger enters "a sleeper at New
York and quietly reads rests. eats.
smokes and sleeps until. before ne real
lies it. he arrives without change or
other Inconvenience I'm New Orleans or
Chicago. Farmer and Horticul-
turst.