Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-01-26
PUZZLE ANSNEREDINEW POSTAL ORDER|
SAN FRANCISCO TRAIN PASSES
FIFTEEN TRAINS ON SEVEN
DAY TRIP TO NEW YORK.

1Ni y nIFvhi " NEW rShNs
Three Correct Solutions Received to
Railroad Puzzle Published on Janu-
airy 15-one Correct Solution From
ottumwa-Other Puzzles Asker For.
The railroad puzzle has been solved.
Fifteen trains would be met in the run
from San Francisco to New York City.
This is the correct answer to the puz-
zle published in the Courier January
is, and for which solutions were ask
ed.
A bushel basketful of answers lie in
the railroad editors desk. The an
swers range from seven trains to TWEEN
ty-six. The statements cover from
one-quarter page letter paper to two
full sheets foolscap size. Some are
type written and show evidence of
great care and much thought in the
working out. Others have been scrib-
bled down in haste.
Some state that the answer is not to
be used for publication others are will
initials only. Some of the answers are
by railroad men, some by women and
some by boys. Strange to say the
women are as nearly correct in their
answers as many Of the railroad men.
1t was good puzzle and has excited
great deal of interest.
Those who have given correct an
swers, there are only four of these,
however, may we'll feel proud of the
fact that they have correctly solved.
the problem. 1t is a noticeable fact
that all but one of the four correct So
lutions come from outside towns.
Wants Another Puzzle.
Among the letters received in an
swer to the puzzle is one asking that
the present puzzle be followed by
others. This suggestion will be acted
upon and anyone knowing a good rail-
road puzzle is invited to write it out
in the clearest and most concise form
possible and forward it to the Courier,
care of the railroad editor. If thought
advisable it will be published in prop
er turn and solutions will be asked for
The Puzzle.
The present puzzle is as follows:
Suppose the running time for a
passenger train between New York
and San Francisco to be exactly sew
en- days and the return time the same.
One train leaves each Of the cities ex-
actly at, noon each day. Board train
at San Francisco and count the num-
Der of trains of the same class, met
by that one on. the trip, to New York.
1t is admitted that one train is met
J at the San, Francisco depot on its ar
/ rival from New York"
Correct Solution From Belknap.
! The three correct answers in the
/ order of their. receipt are as fol-
| lows:
"Belknap, Iowa, Jan. Is, 1904.
Courier, Ottumwa, Iowa:
"Gentlemen-Here is the railroad
puzzle figured out:
1 81 leave San Francisco on January
Is at IL noon for New York. 1 meet
train No. 1 that left New York on
January at San Francisco, meet train
No. 2 that left New York on January
i enroute, meet train No. 8 that left
/ New York January 10 enroute, meet
train No. 4 that left New York jan
uary II enroute. meet train No. that
left New York January IL enroute
meet train No. 8 that left New York
January IS enroute meet train No.
that left: New York January IA en-
route, meet train No. s that left New
/ York January Is enroute, meet trair
No. 8 that left New York January II
enroute, meet train No. 10 that lief
New York January II enroute meet
| train No. IL that left New York Jan.
uary IS enroute, meet train No. IL tina
/ left New York: January 10 enroute
meet train No. IS that left New Yorl
January 20 enroute, meet train No. l.
3; that left New York January 81 en-
! route, meet train No. Is at New Yorl
on January %.
81 meet fifteen trains on my way tt
New York.
aVo,Irs tr,,ly, Thomas Pilav
Operator c., R. I. & p"
4 An Answer From Hilton.
s'Hilton, Ia. January 16, 1904.
Railroad Editor Courier:
Dear Sir-I submit the followin!
solution of the railroad puzzle in a re
cent issue of the Courier: We boart
the San Francisco train on Januar,
8 as the New York train is pulling ir
, This train pulling in left New Yorl
January 1. Its arrival at the time w
:. are starting shows that at the time w
, start eight trains are coming towar
us. When we have been on the roa
one day the ninth train starts fror
New York, on the second day out tn
tenth train leaves and SO on till tn
sixth day we are out, the fourteent
: train leaves New York City. Whe
'' we have been on the road seven day
we arrive at New York just as tn
lllleeHlu Train is pulllllS Jul. SOIlSS
quently We meet and pass fifteen train
/, during our seven days journey.
Yours truly, r. r."
: Correct Solution From North English
), North English, Jan. 20.
Railroad Editor Courier:
: Dear Sir-My answer to your rail
k road puzzle is fifteen. That is, on
will: meet train every twelve hour
: and one will be in New York whe
n the San Francisco train arrives. TIL
1, will make fifteen trains met and pass
ed during the seven days trip.
o. Yours tuly,
4, Anthony Ryan"
Ottumwan Answers Puzzle.
"Ottumwa, January Is.
t''Railroad Editor Courier:
Dear Sir-I have solved the raj
I'll road puzzle which was published
- the Courier and the following is N
= answer: Coming toward the tra1
V from San Francisco, train that
: one day at noon where the San Fral
10 cisco train will be the next day
~ noon, will be met by it within ha
a day. Therefore the train from So
ID Francisco will meet two trains eat
y day. or on the trip it will meet fou
=, teen trains. Since one train is m
l. at the San Francisco depot on it's a