Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1899-09-15
ANNAPOLIS. MD. FRIDAY SEPTEMBER Is. 1899.
WITH THE STAR OF EMPIRE.
WESTWARD FROM CHIcA-
GO TO OMAHA.
Over The Great Chicago & North Western
Railroad Scenes And Incidents
Along The Route.

hallroaQ scenes ana 1nClQ6nIS
Along The Route.
Special Correspondence of the Evening Capital.
Paraphrasing the familiar colloquy OF
the Governors of two Carolinas, il would
nor be uniting for this column to re-
mark by way of passing that Its long
time between letters" All things come
to him who waits, and with "all things"
the delayed correspondence of one OF the
newspapaper fraternity OF on holiday.
Vacation days, looked forth to with
eager anticipation and enjoyed with keen
relish. are about ended for the average
bread-winner, but for some they are just
about to begin. 1t would not do for all
to take vacation At once, there would be
nobody at home to sew on Johnnie but
tons, or darn Susie's stockings, or make
the baby frock. So of we 60 in Sec
tons. and this column rejoices in being
in the tail end of the procession, and not
with the hilarious band wagon that went
along in the burden and heat of the mid
summer day.
You dropped us--or we dropped our
selves, in the correspondence Of recent
issue. at Chicago, the bustling, hustling
Worlds Fair City. adjacent to which
Dame Nature has scattered her gifts in
such prodigal profusion. especially along
the line OF the famous Chicago North
Western Railway. Arriving at Chicago
via 3. & o., en- route for Denver. one
proceeds to the station of the Chicago
x Northwestern. the pioneer line West
and Northwest OF Chicago. Here one
finds the most urbane officials. ready
and willing to give all information de-
sired.
To facilitate matters, a corps OF uni
formed attendants has been provided at
the Chicago Passenger Station OF the
Western line, to render both in
coming and outgoing passengers all nee
essary assistance. These attendants
wear blue uniforms and bright red caps,
and one or more OF them IS to be found
on the platform on the arrival OF every
train, to assist persons in feeble health,
help with hand baggage. and direc, The
way TO street cars, cabs. omnibuses or
coupes. Their service is entirely free.
and no "tips" are necessary. We re.
ceived the most polite attention from one
OF these attendants. or "usherS" as they
are called, and on inquiry found him 10
be Frederck G.. Follett, usher No. 4.
whose polite service won favor with US,
and was drawing card for the road.
Most Colorado passengers leave Chi
cago on the Colorado Special at 10
a. M, which arrives in Denver al ass
D. m. next day. This tain has through
drawing sleeping cars. buffet, smok-
ing ana library cars. and free reclining
chair cars TO Denver, and dining cars.
meals Ia carte. There is everything
provided that makes travelling easy and
comfortable on the trains of the Chicago
< Northwestern. which is in standard
ofexcs Hence in railway construction, ,oper-
ation and equipment. The service is the
best. and is thoroughly appreciated by
the average tourist. The Chicago &
North Western Railway is the greatest
railroad system of the West, reaching
with lis 1897 miles OF road Including
IFS miles OF side track in Chicago) ard
by traffic arrangements with other rail.
ways. 1880 stations located on Al 600
miles OF railroad.
This is one ninth of the entire railroad
mileage of the world, and one-fourth Of
the railroad mileage of the United States.
The Chicago & Northwestern has along
| It's line more manufactures than any
other Western railroad, and it offers large
inducements. and, with its eye ever open
to D, ogress. it invites Eastern manuiac-
turcrs contemplating moving, or estab-
fishing branch manufactures in the West
to ascertain the advantages to be gained
along its route before locating elsewhere.
Push, progress, persistence and pre.es-
tablishcd success are synonymous with
the Chicago & Northwestern. Itreaches
with its own rails the famous water pow
ers, iron ore ranges. coal fields. hard and
soft lumber districts located in Northern
Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan. Minnesota,
Iowa and South Dakota. AS the present
consultations and numerous construc-
tons under various corporate names and
during series of years. The earliest
built portion OF the road was incorporated
in the State of Illinois in 1886, and was
constructed from Chicago to Galena.
The Galena & Chicago Union Railroad
Company was incorporated January 10th.
1886, and was provided with saving
clause in its charter whereby the con-
templated road might be made q "good
turnpike" instead Of railroad. Whether
hesitating over which it should be. or
simply waiting for the "Star of Empire,
it exhibited no especial vitality for some
time, and ten years after its organization,
found the directors of the Company seri-
ously discussing the policy Of turning
their attention backward from the wilds
of Illinois. and first building their road
eastward TO meet the Michigan Central
Railroad, which was then halting at New
Buffalo, Ind. They, however. did de.
eide to venture westward, and the first
ten miles of road. Chicago to Harlem.
was completed December 3oth, I84S. Al
this time the superior advantages of 7
rail became apparent and the "strap rail
with which the road had been laid. was
taken up, and the iron T rail put down.
This again. with the further march of inn
provement. has given place to the eighty
pound per yard steel rail, with which the
line is now laid. The history of the
road is replete with interest. and its suc-
cess has been phenomenal. 1t has well
won its claim to the title of Creates
Railroad System of the West"
Continued in our next issue.