The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-05-17
WHEN THE PRESIDENT TRAVELS.


WHEN THE PRESIDENT TRAVELS.
In the Saturday Evening Post Mr..
Henry L. West tells about the manner
in which our Presidents do their trav-
cling. Few monarchs in Europe have
greater care exercised with respect to
their Journeys. 1t is not in the nature
of toadying to greatness, but because
the death of our President. irrespective
of his personality, would be a great
national calamity First of all, says
Mr.. West, the percentage of possibility
of accident sis reduced to minimum
in the selection of cars for the Presi-
dents train. New coaches, which have
lust left the shop are preferred. Axles,A
wheels, springs, journals, brakes, coup
lings-in fact. all of the important
factors IN the makeup of a train-are
carefully examined and tested before
being allowed to depart with their pre-
cious human freight. The engine Sc
lected 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 the best
Judgment iii time of emergency. In no
alone the responsibilities of his import
ant position On the opposite side of
the cab sits man less grimy, perhaps,
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 sr:ooth-faced, dark-eyed man who
is n the rear car sniling and convers-
ing with his friends, and in whom all
the greatness Of the Republic is per-
sonified. They Feel their heavy respon
sibility. and they give sigh of relief
when the end of their division Is reach
ed"
AS the train glides from division to
division. says Mr.. West, quiet men,
who seem to know no one except the
conductors and other train men, slip
into some vacant seat In a sleeping car
or sit and smoke in the combination
car. just 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 others
high in authority. Suppose said Mr..
West to one Of these officials while rid
Ing on Presidential train, that some
evil-disposed person should displace q
rail for the purpose of killing the Presi-
dent ?''12a@-
ANY attempt to wreck this train
with designs upon the life of the Presi-
dent" was the emphatic reply, would
have to 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 on the main
track, and is now just ahead eff the
Presidential train. If any body has dis
placed a rail. or set fire to bridge, or
opened a. switch, the engine ahead will
feel the blow. 1t is our picket line
Between the passing of that engine
over the track and the coming of the
Presidential train there is not time
enough for anybody to displace rail-"
When asked If the track was kept
clear of other trains inaerder to.prevent
collisions, the official responded: "Oh,
no. We can guard against collisions.
We cannot. however, prevent the
breaking down of some old freight car.
1t would 9ba Just our luck, IL freight
were moving, to have car jump the
track. or something else happen to
blockade the track and delay this train.
We could not afford to have the Presi-s
dent kept waiting In the woods for
four or five hours. Theesafest: way is.
the best way, so at present all our
trains are on sfdings.'' : - l"tl g; sess
Furthermore an engine follows the
Presidential train in order to have
power at hand in case anything went
wrong with the Presidential locomotive.
And, usually, the railroads keep a man
at every bridge, switch and tunnel I'M
til the Presidential train has passed.
So the line Is virtually picketed from
end to end, and the possibility of ae~
cident is reduced to the minimum.
Mr.. West tells us. however, that the
Presidential train bears at least one au-
tocrat before whom everybody must
bow. 1t Is the chef who presides over
the private dining car. and his import
ance is illustrated by two incidents
which Mr.. West recounts as follows:
On the way to the Nashville exposi-
iton the chef cooked mess Of trout
with such perfect skill that he was
summoned to the Executives presence
for deserved commentator. When the
message was conveyed to the chef, the
answer was as unexpected as 1t was
said. surveying his little kingdom of
pots and pans. he can find me here
And there. 1t might be added. the chef
remained.
The other incident occurred at Chat
tanooga. The train was to start at Q
o'clock on Monday morning, the Presi-
dent desiring to avoid Sunday travel
but the night was SO unbearably hot
that the President sanctioned the NOV
ing of the train at 10 o'clock Sunday
night to a suburb about eight miles
from the city. Everybody was on board
except the chef. That Independent and
indispensable gentleman appeared at
2 o'clock in the morning. according to
the original schedule time. Imagine
his surprise when he found an engine
and coach In waiting for him. He rode
in solitary dignity out to the suburb,
and was then transferred to the Presi-
dents car. Tt Is the first time I ever
knew of special train being run for
cook said the superintendent Of this
road with disgust in his voice, as he