The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-08-25
Statistics and Description
of Locomotive Con-
StruCtl0n ina Decade.
GREAT IMPROVEMENTS MADE
Vastly Heavier and More Costly En-
gines Necessitated by Increase Of
Train LOad-MOst Important Period
in History Of Their Development.

Train LOad-MoSt Important Period
in History Of Their Development.
One Of the most interesting - the
recent publications Of the Census Office
is bulletin in which is contained q
historical sketch OF the manufacture Of
steam railway cars in this countT-. The
bulleIia traces car construction rom
the early days OF the past century.
v hen the first stage coaches were placed
upon hsnged wheels and run upon lTstai
tracks a such speeds that they could
not compete with the vehicle drawn over
rocky reads by horses, to the present
perfection OF car construction. onbin-
ing every possible convenience 10 trav-
elers except suitable ventilation fer
the cars. This subject is still awaiting
by q master mind whose abilities wiz
bring 10 him and his descendants a re
ward Of perpetual competence.
This ever-increasiag comfort OF
travel has been conducive to an unpTece-
danted passenger travel, which amount
ed in 1900, 70 a passenger mileage OF
!, COO, 600 600 miles. Had that distance
Travelled been equally divided among tie
entire population OF the country II
would have amounted to a journey OF
- for every inhabitant OF the
tates.
etch as prepared by the Census
d published in bulletin form is
s:
Railway Invented in England
-ailway was the inye.l5cn OF
al thai time leader the
the knowledge OF the 1s=suI
ere the power OF steam was first
and first applied 10 locomo-
use OF cars Tor transportation
aced as Tar back as the year
n Ralph Allen constructed q
which was clearly the fore
the freight car Of today.
rst passenger car was con-
1914 Il consisted simply OF
OF a scage-coaeh mounted on
frame with fa1gei wheels Il
al that the stage-coech should
ed as q model. FOR IN Il che
&c Of travel had been most
sveioped, and il was aIsJ
economy, for the stage own
me railroad promoters and
ed their displaced vehicles ITO
Jaehes.
the Stockton and Darlington
CT England was opened and
coal ears with one passenger
=-Tr-
patroniZed for q time. but
novelty wore or the faster
aches carried the passengers
lme to America II 1897.
ailway system which had its
England vas quickly adopted
nited States. IN 1927 crude
vas constructed between
-e---e5 and Boston for the purpose Of
Transporting granite for Bunker Hill
monument The Delaware and Hudson
Canal Company in 1929 opened a road
from Honesdale to Carbondale, Pa, a
distance Of sixteen miles, over which
the first locomotive was run in this
countr-
About the same tine the South Car
olina Railroad was begun The first
division Of the Baltimore and Ohio road
was opened IN 1890 Il was al first CD
Grated b. horsepower, but steam loco
motion was substituted IN 1882. As
early as 1916 we!l-defned system Of
railroads had been established IN New
England. and prior 10 1876 the PennsyI-
xanla and Reading was in operation
running 10 the coal fields OF Pennsyl-
yania. By means Of these and gubse-
U11GnTsrs
States were put IN close communica-
tion with the vast mineral supplies upon
which is based the industrial and com
mercial development OF the country.
N America the changes in car eon-
struction have been marked. The first
important notifications we're made
necessary by the speed developed in
The locomotive With increased speed.
the light. cast iron wheels first demand
&c attention. The shsp pc OF the tread
and h2nge was developed by knight.
Edgar and Winans developed the
chilled features, and Davis altered the
disposition Of the metal and introduced
into the cast iron wheel wrought iron
ring, thus 2eTfecting the chill and
strengthening the wheel
Great Speed Necessitated Stronger Cars.
The light. unsteady ears easily
adapted themselves TO the uneyenness
OF the road. but the new conditions Of
speed demanded a stronger rail-. more
stable car frame. a flexible truck. and
Improvement in brakes. Indeed. the de-
veloDHnent Of the locomotive has neces-
STATED a scientific development OF the
entire railway system.
Adaptation to circumstances has
changed the rail from the rude wooden
stringer with piece Of strap iron spik-
ed along the top, to the present refined
section Of steel, whose every dimension.
angle, and curve are exactly suited 70
the tremendous strain It has TO bear.
IN 1888 Ross Winans. Of Baltimore
built three long cars, each capable Of
seating sixty passengers. With these
originated the American passenger car
OF the present day. and 20 Winang is
due the adoption OF cars with longer
and more stable frames. having boyle
or swiyeling ur-wheeled trucks at
each end
Hot, Dirty, and Uncomfortable.
These cars were q marked improve
ment upon the old coach. yet they have