The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-04-29
M'KIHLEY STARTS.
CONTINUED from FIRST Page.1

,
and his assistants get their schedule
down to the point where they can take
into consideration the distance between
successive stopping places, and finally
they actually figure out what speed che
train viii have to make during every
minute Of the journey in order to ar
rive home on time
All this done the plans and speciflca-
fions. as they might be called, are turn
ed over to the officials Of some one reii-
road system. whose duty it is to pass
upon their feasibility. This revision is
no sinecure, for the people at the White
House might inadvertently have
planned to journey where railroad com
munication is lacking. Officials of in
Vulnerable other roads must be consult
ed personally and by correspondence. Tt
must be determined whether the desired
connections can be made at the various
Junction points. and. finally, investiga-
tion must be instituted to ascertain
whether the condition of the different
stretches Of rOadbed will permit the
making of the rates of speed cOntempla-
ted
That the presidents secretary, Mr. Geo.
y Cortelyou- who also serves as his tour
Isl manager, IS an adept At the work Is
attesteq py the 1act tnat ne arranged
the schedule of the northwestern trip.
embracing Is days, covering more than
3,e0V miles and trsaNefSlng nearly 80 d1I-
1erent railroad systems. accurately
that when the railroad officials came to
revise the preliminary draft made the
only change they found necessary was
Wnen the itinerary mas pFen dellnltely
arranged, the information which might be
of use to the members Of the presidential
party Is presented in a handsome little
ornamental booklet which gives the
names Of the members OF the party, the
population of each city to be visited. to-
Eether with the time OF arrival and de-
parture. the running time between stops,
tne program TO pc lolioWed Wnere the
party is TO leave the train temporarily.
route outlined in red
Ii may be noticed in this connection
that every minute Of the time is account
ed for before the party leaves Washing
ION. and only the most unexpected cir
other words the prominent citizen in
any Of the cities visited who desires to
the stop in his city must secure an ac-
ceptance of the invitation before the
chief executive leaves Washington or he
will have scant chances of playing host.
The details of the conduct of the pres
road officials The presidents secretary
advises them how many persons will com
guests are expected to join en- route and
how long they viii remain Beyond that
they need feel no responsibility while
the distinguished tourists are on board
One OF the phases of the preparations
requiring the greatest forethought is
found in the culinary plans To provide
all the delicacies prOcurable for the pres
1dent's table, and have them ready, fresh
and appetizing at just the moment de-
sired, even though the train has been
speeding for hours across a barren desert.
is. as may be imagined. a pretty severe
companies usually take special pride in
the quality of the repasts set before the
president, and frequently there is pro-
Vided at each meal a souvenir menu card
that is notable as a work OF art
The presidents train as constituted on
coast consists Of six vestibt5Ied FuIIman
near " the maximum weight which can be
drawn by a passenger LOCOMOTIVES on some
of the most tOrtuOus stretches of road
bed This special train for the first citi-
zen of America is simply composed of
al sleeping
ing room cars. grouped for the occasion.
and yet it is question whether il would
NOT conpare favorablv in comfort if not
IN magnincence. with the splendid palaces
on wheels built for the car of Russia
the late Queen Victoria or the khedive Of
From the moment the presidential sspe-
ton until it is safely back it is the rail-
road officials who must do the worrying
Try as they may by preparing in advance
for all Imaginable contingencies little
anxieties viii creep in. Prominent rail-
road officials who quite at home
bringing order out OF chaos after q bad
wreck admit that they grow nervous
Is IN their care Something Of this uneasi-
the most isolated trackwaiker.
On board the train are representatives
OF the railroad which furnishes the '-spe-
cial" and several officials of the line over
the rails of which the train is speeding.
OF day or night. these men are receiving
and sending kilograms. Sometimes ii IS
city by some other route than was
planned, in order to avoid crowds which
would seriously interfere with carrying
out the prearranged program. On certain
occasions the route of the presidents
knowledge after he retired for the night
in order that slumber Of the chief ex-
ecutive might not be broken by the sound
of changing bells and shrieking whistles
in towns where a smaller portion of the
q noisy welcome to the distinguished Wis
1tor even though he did not tarry within
If the railroad officials did not resort
to this innocent tricSery to Ourwit the
would never arrive anywhere on time.
and it is probable that his entire excur-
son Woui9 Pc turned INTO nightmare
These self same crowds constitute one
OF the factors Of the situation which help
20 trace wrinkles IN tne IOrenes1ds OF the
officials Thousands of eager citizens of
surround lne president $ car every time
the train stops Not only is it a gues-
han RshaSers at the time planned. but the
train must pick its way carefully through
{ne mass OF humanity Time and again,
100, enthuSlastlc ADMIRERS OF the presl-
dent VIII cling to the car after the train
ns.s s 9S n oIueE g grasp ms nan9
ana tnen the Special must pe slowed
down to drop them of. perhaps a mile or
The engineer Of the presidential train
has to meet all the difficulties which con-
rhOroughfare. and he has a vehicle which
can not be brought to sudden stop with
That. there have been Few accidents = dur, IN
ing the presidential journeys. President
mckinney makes 10 a rule TO make n
graceful acknowledgement to each engi-
neer behind whose iron steed he rides.
Whenever he dismounts from a train he
hands to the man in the cab the carna-
1ion from his lapel-his well known in
signum Of special favor.
President McFSiuiey's forthcoming trip
will be unique in one respect Never be-
fore has the government of the United
States been transferred to a railroad train
to such an extent as it win be during a
month and half of this spring. The
presidential special viii virtually con
stftute an improvised capitol on Wheels
Not only viii the chief executive be ac-
companied by his private secretary and
all the members OF his cabinet. but on
board Will also be a force of assistant
secretaries and stenOgrap pliers such as is