Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-11-17

In these days Of modern methods,
manners and ma3ns the would-be
traveller censults the "guide book"
and is soon il possession of all tho
necessary information about the RON.
Ing palace that will quickly bear im
from Maine to California Or other de-
sired points. Tracing his route over
one road or over several different rail
roads, it is all the same, the little
book tells him when lie ca. start, how
long h. must - It connecting
points aad 2racties.-y the exact hour
II his arrival. WHAT convenience
And yet, not 50 very many years ago,
it was unheard of The history of the
railroad time table was given in an
Interesting address recently delivered
% members of the American Associa'
tion of Local Freight Agents assem-
bled in the city Of Savannah Among
The speakers was y. G. Purse, presi-
dent OF the Board Of Trade Of that
:ity, and he treated the subject in
the following attractive manner:
1t was during the constructive
oeriod of the Central Railroad Of
Georgia in 1883 that point was
ceached when, because of the length
Of the line, great loss OF time was eX.
cerienced in the movement of trains
in opposite directions. Up to this
time trains had siding stations the
:: st train reac, ~. O. them had
! to wait until the train from an op.
| oosite direction pulled in. no matter
how many hours Ct delay resulted,
| such delays causing great annoyance
| and embarrassment to both passen.
F.. gers and shippers. as we'll as railroad
| companies.
The remedy, which seems simple
is We look back at it, was proposed
| ~ Thomas Purse. first superintend
eEt of the road, whose genius equatec
| he time table. but it was vigorously
| opposed by fellow officials who claim.
ID he wanted to make dangerous
| innovation in railroad operation At
! he risk ef both life and property.
Loring o. Reynolds, chief engineer
y the construction Of the Central
! sailrOad, characterized the suggestion
!; an attempt Ito run railroad on
raper, and seriously expressed ths
| apprehension that overwork and e.
:essive anxiety had unbalanced Mr..
2urse's intellect as such q .ggestion
,ould only have its birtl, IA an affect
ID mind. He carried the matter to
President Gordon. urging him to veto
he proposed attempt to run trains 'oA
PAPER but Gordon did moi share in
lis grave apprehension regarding the
anty of the s,perin and de-
+. lined to interfere.
Suffice it to say. the first practical
=, ,appiicaton Of the time table OF
= schedule book, as il was then desig-
ated was in every Wy successful.
nd thus belongs to the Central Rail-
| DAD the credit Of being the first vail
:, Dad in The world 10 operate it's
rains by an equated time table
In the summer Of the same sear
S29. Surt Purse made tour OF the
| Iorthern and eastern states 60 study
heir advance i'll railroad construction
md operation, and reported 81 lis
aeturn that his own r2ilraaG was i'll
tdvance of all others ia pro.,1 assive
lethodS of operation.
Shortly alter his return home ~
re fall OF 1890, SNVt. Purse intYo5Iuc
| ii bell cords on trains. and in tho
4inter If the sane year he iN:rD3ueed
toves tuto his coaches fer tie com
ort C., !5is pass 9aers, il >,Js IL
stances N adva9ca OF the elGri;'e nen,
i bel lines and stoves by otuef rail-
/ 'oadS.