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

~~~-~~~~~~~-~~-~~~~
Some interesting details concerning the
running of the presidents train and the
precautions necessary to avoid mishap
ere contributed to the Saturday Even
ing Post, OF Philadelphia. by Henry
LitchfieId 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 nas 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 plainsrSs to the outside.
being painted the standard color of the
road and Distinguished by an inconspic-
uous number, but within they are
planned for every comfort and furnished
with every convenience The chef of the
car always accompanies it, for the pres
idents meals are served privately, no
matter how We'll appointed the accom-
panying dining car may be. The larder
isaflIed by the chef, who is given carte
blanche, and the president rarely trou-
bfes n1t1seIfs about the menu Mr. Nc
KinIeg asks tyAplain. wellTeeeked food
The Important position which the chef
occupies was well Illustrated by an Incl
dent on the trip of the president to
Chattanooga The train was to start at
2 o'clock on Monday morning, the presl-
dent desiring to avoid Sunday travel but
the night was so lInasarably hot that
the president sanctioned the moving or
the train at 10 'clacBs Sunday night to
a suburb about eight p,i1es from the city
Everybody was on board except the chef.
That independent and Indispensable gem
tleman appeared at the station at 2
O'clock in the morning. according to the
original schedule time. Imagine his sur
prise when henfoRald an enginesand coacn
in waiting for him. He rode in solitary
dignity out to the suburb and was then
transferred to the presidents car. sit 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 a national calamity, but
| the road guilty of the negligence which
made the mishap possible would never
recover from public cerrsure. First OF
all, the percentage of possibility of acct
| dent is reduced to a 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
depart with their precious human freight.
The engine selected is the best in the
service and is run by the most reliable
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
portant position: On the opposite side
CT the cab sits a 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 other as the train rolls swiftly
along. Their eyes are on the long line
Of steel rails that stretches away into
the 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 personitied.
They feel their heavy responsibility, and
they give a sigh of relief when the end
Of their division is reached.
AS the train glides beside rivers,
through valleys, and over mountains,
new faces appear Quiet men, who seem
to know no enc except the conductors
and other railway employees, slip into
some vacant seat i'll a steering car or
sit and smoke in the combination car
:ust behind the engine. They chat with
each other, occasionally glancing at their
watches. and are always alert. They are
the division superintendent, masters OF
TRANSPORTATION or men holding other re-
sponsible positions.
ANY attempt to wreck the train, with
dc sign upon the life of the president"
said one of these officials whom Mr.. West
once met while travelling in the pres1-
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 a bridge,
or opened switch the engine ahead VIII
feel the blow. It is eur 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 aheadsis on the look
out for danger. Three miles behind the
presidents train is another engine, fol-
lowing steadily so as to be available in
case of any mishap. This is another
detail of precaution. 1t 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-tracked 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 day or two to get back
] to the usual routine