The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-06-09
HOW The PRESI-
DENT TRAVELS.
Elaborate Precautions to insure His Safety.

|
| Some interesting details concerning the
running of the presidents train and the
! precautions necessary to avoid mishap
I are contributed to the Saturday Even
/ ing Post, of Philadelphia by Henry
| Iitchfield West. These details are the
! more interesting because in this country
! the railroad officials cannot paraiyze the
| business of their roads, closing all the
stations and withdrawing all tie trains,
! as was done in England whenever the
! queen travelled. They must assure abso-
lutte safety to the president without in
! conveniencing the travelling public.
1t goes without saying. in these days
of competition and advertising. that the
| president does not lack for opportunity
| to accept the courtesy Of railroads. In
| fact. Mr.. West says, the rivalry for his
| favor begins as soon as his proposed tour
| is limited at in the newspapers. When
! the route mas been selected, the private
| car Of the president of the road is placed
| at the disposal Of the president of the
! United States. These private cars are
| generally very plain IS Co the outside,
, being painted the standard color of the
! road and Distinguished by an inconspic-
! uous number but within they are
| plduilSQ LOT every COInIOTC ana 1uTnlSn6Q
| with every convenience. The chef of the
! car always accompanies it, for the pres
| idents meals are served privately. no
! matter how well appointed the accom-
| panyihg dining car may be. The Harder
! is4flled by the chef, who is given carte
! blanche. and the president rarely trou-
| bfes himself about the menu Mr.. Nc
Iinley asks opty>plain, wellFeeeked food
! The important position which the chef
! 4ipeS ~JEyas illustrated bXya
! dent on the trip Of the president to
! Chattanooga. The train was to start at
z. o'clock On Monday morning, the presI-
! dent desiring TO. avoid Sunday travel, but
! the night was so unhearabIy hot that
| the president sanctioned the moving or
the train at 10 o'clockg Sunday night to
suburb about eight miles from the city.
! Everybody was on board except the chef
| That independent and indispensable gen
! tleman appeared at the station at 2
O'clock in the morning, according to the
| original schedule time. Imagine his sur
| prise when he found an engine and coacn
| in waiting for him. He rode in solitary
dignity out to the suburb and was then
| transferred to the presidents car. st is
| the first time l ever knew of a Speciaa
! train being run for a cook" said the
superintendent of the road. with disgust
| in his voice, as he gave orders to have
! the engine and coach sent back to the
city
In the preparation for a. presidential
trip, the one overwhelming, overshadow-
| ing consideration is the safe conveyance
of the president to his destination and
! his unframed return Not only would
! an accident be q national calamity, but
! the road guilty of the negligence which
| made the mishap possible would never
/ recover from public cerlsure. First OF
| all. the percentage of possibility of acct-
dent is reduced to minimum in the
! selection OF cars for the presidents train.
! New coaches, which have just left the
| shop, are preferred. AXles, wheels.
springs, journals. brakes, couplings-in
fact, all of the important factors in the
makeup Of a train-are carefully exam
| ined and tested before being allowed to
I depart with their precious human freight.
| The engine selected is the best in the
| service and is run by the most reliable
I engineer in each division of the road,
! the man upon whom the company can
rely for the exercise Of caution and Of
| Inc best Judgment in time Of emergency.
In no case however, is he allowed to
bear alone the responsibilities of his i'm
portane position. On the opposite side
| q the cab sits man less grimy per-
haps, and without overalls. He is the
road foreman of the division. Neither
the engineer nor the road foreman speaks
TO the OlIGI DIS Ii4c Tam AbAl9 >" LILY
along. Their eyes are on the long line
Of steel rails that stretches away into
tne distance but they are thinking Of
the smooth-faced, drak-eyed man VINO is
in the rear car, smiling and COnVersing
with his friends, and in whom ali the
greatness of the republic is personiGed.
They feel their heavy responsibility, and
they give a sigh of relief when the end
Of their division is reached.
Ae.. pltGPS beside rivers.
Through valleys, and over mountains,
new faces aprcar Quiet men, who seem
to know no enc except the conductors
and other railway employees, slip into
some vacant seat i'll sleeping car or
sit and smoke in the combination car
gust behind the engine. They chat with
each other, occasionally glancing at their
watches and are always alert. They are
the division superintendents, masters Of
TRANSFORMATION O. men holding other re-
sponsible positions.
Amy attempt to wreck the train, with
design upon the life of the president
said one of these officials whom Mr.. west
once met while travelling in the p-esl-
Dental train, would have be carried into
execution in less than five minutes. Just
before We left the last station an engine,
with two men in the cab. slipped out upon
| the main track and is now just ahead
| Of the presidents train. IF anybody has
| displaced a rail. or set fire to bridge,
| or opened a switch, the engine ahead VIII
| feel the blow 1t is or picket line. Be
tween the passing Of that engine over
the track and the coming of the presi-
dents train there is not time enough
for any one to diplaee a rail. The track
! is not only clear at the present time but
it has been for the past twelve hours.
Not wheel of a freight train has turned
all day"
The pilot engine ahead is on the look
| out for danger. Three miles behind the
| presidents train is another engine, fol-
| loving steadily so as to be available in
case of any mishap. This is another
detail of precaution. It is easy enough.
| however, to arrange these minor mat
tiers of right of way, a clear track and
steady progress. The fun comes when
! after the presidents train has passed,
| the side-tTacl1ed trains are brought upon
the main line. The schedule has all been
disarranged, trains are ordered to meet
| and pass at unaccustomed stations, and
there is general confusion all along the
! road. 1t takes a day or two to get back
| to the usual routine.