Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-09
FIRST TRAIN D1sPATcHERs.
Fifty Years Ago This Month They
First Used the Telegraph.

From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
In the present month of November occurs
the fiftieth anniversary Of the first recorded
effort to dispatch trains by the Morse
invention. Albert H. Copeland. who was
the operator engaged, is now living In re-
tirement in Chenoa, Bloomington, Ill.
He modestly claims, therefore, to have been
the first dispatcher. His only known rival
for the honor is David H. Conklin, now
living in retirement in Decatur. ILL.,. and
who says that he moved trains by tele-
graph at about the same time.
While it may not be possible positively to
determine who is entitled to the honor. 1t Is
Interesting to contrast the present wonder
full system with the crude one of a half
century ago. When the telegraph was first
introduced the instruments were almost in
variably placed in the post offices. and the
postmaster, or assistant, usually ofhciated
as operator.
1t was SO in the case Of Mr.. Copeland.
He was assistant postmaster in Middlebury,
VT, In the fall of 1852, and one evening in
November Of that year the telegraph
brought the news that the northbound train
on the then Burlington and Rutland road
was stalled in the snow south Of Rutland.
The Information came merely as 7ssip ever
the wire. but Mr.. Copeland thought that 1t
would be Of value to the conductor Of the
south bound train. which usually met the
rorthbound at a station called Brand n.
BY an Interchange Of messages a new meet
ing point was arranged and the southbound
train was not delayed. The exchange of
messages later became regular thing be-
tween the conductors in case Of a delay,
and as soon as the officials recognized the
value Of the dispatching they relieved the
conductors OF the duty and appointed regu-
lar dispatchers. Mr.. Copeland remained in
the railroad service until his retirement
few years ago. having been for thirty years
agent for the Chicago and Alton In Chenoa.
Mr.. David H. Conklin began with the Chi
cago and Erie telegraph department on
January 3, 1851, as lineman, and later took
service as operator and dispatcher. Not I'M
til the latter part Of 1852 was any dispatch
ing attempted, and even then it was very
crude and only used in case Of delayed
trains. General Superintendent Mnot ct
the Erie was in charge when the system
was first attempted. 1t was gradually i'm
proved and worked more smoothly. The
Delaware, Lackawanna and Western was
the second road to adopt the system. and
the success met with resulted in applfca-
lions for Information from other roads. AS
fast as men could be given instruction rival
roads would take them away by offers of
higher salary, and the Erie and Lacka-
wanna proye3 to be a wonderful training
school for dspatchers. Many Of them later
became prominent off ials of weste n roads.
Mr.. Conklin recalls that he revolutioGiZed
the movement Of trains the Lackawanna
after he left the Erie. The telegraph sys-
and trains moved expeditiouSly where for
merry there was heavy loss, due TO slow
movement. Mr.. Conklin Is now seventy-two
years old. He served Decatur one term as
mayor, and talks entertafningly of the
early days on the rail.