Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1898-04-28
a; :$:;$ A" CHICAGO. NEW ORKP BOSTON.
THE NICKEL PLATES GIANT HAND.

&iate road to a newspaper reporter, "be-
dcre we investigate any of our methods
lrt me describe the origin of the name.
nickel Plate the popular soubri-
.qUet OF the New York, Chicago &c St.
Louis railroad, has furnished the sub
rect for the weaving of many II fairy
tale, each with more or less foundation
in fact, rs suited the purpose of the
dreamy narrator Of corner grocery le-
;gend or the resourceful and visionary
space writer doing time on a Sunday
blanket sheet. The most authentic in
formation places the origin of the name
Nickel PlGte' az a title for the road in
the sanctum of the fertile Drained edi-
tor OF a northern Oilio newspaper" said
Mr.. Horncr. THE circumstance was
the animated discussion inspired Incl
dent TO the ccrmeadable rivalry of the
cities of &orwalk and Bellevue. in their
efforts 70 induce the projectors of the
road TO construct the line through
either one or the other Of those cities.
ain its issue of April IA, 1881, the
Norwall Chronicle, in speaking of the
road, its 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 its financial backing, char
acterized the institution as the nickel
plated railroad, the term intended as
expressive of the bright and substan-
lial attributes of the enterprise.
-"This is believed to be the first use
of the term as applied to the road, which
from that time ON was frequently used
iiE the same connection in various pa
g,ers until, in abbreviated form, 'Nickle
Plate 1t has become the accepted and
popular soubriquet of this great trunk
line"
At this juucture 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 1854.
Tho prototype Of our present trade
mark, il it may be so termed, was used,
Z believe. on time table in effect No
vember IS, 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
Sc we'll known. We also arranged these
letters into perspective view, the frs.
1being used in 1898.
about three years ago this was fur
7ther 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
Que of these characteristic cuts in a
prominent position in all our advertis-
ing matter.
Tho Nickel Plate road depends large,
~ on the newspapers for accomplishing
publicity" continued the advertect
-t'Wc have become convinced that the
successful newspaper of to-day is the
DOst available medium through which