St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1904-04-02
WHEN KING EDWARD TRAVELS
All Through His journey the Eyes
of Railway officials Are
UpOn His Train.

Royalty on the railroad presents to
the busy American some very amusing
aspects. Every time King Edward goes
4 from one part of England to another
the mercantile community Of Great
Britain loses something like $4,000.
This is due to the fact that English
railway officials use most extraordl-
nary methods in safeguarding royal
trains, says a London report.
Even in performing so simple jour
ney as going from Windsor to London
"a distance of about Is miles traffic
is suspended for hours when the king
travels that way.
On longer journeys the loss to bust
ness houses along the line Of royal
route is something enormous. When
the king last journeyed from Scotland
to London it was estimated that the
direct loss to tradesmen was something
like $4,000 on account Of the tying up
of traffic and delay to perishable goods.
When King Edward travels along a
certain line all passenger and freight
traf6c-even including the fast express
services suspended. Most elaborate
precautions of every description are
taken to insure royal safety. For in
stance, for every Is minutes before the
departure Of the royal train from any
station all trains are held up, and or
binary traffic is not resumed for Is
minutes after the train has left.
Along some sections of the route
royal trains are preceded by pilot en-
gines, which go ahead to test the line
in case anything should be wrong. All
throughout the journey the kings train
is under the eyes of railway officials.
The ordinary block system of signal
ing is suspended, as being too dangerous
for monarchs. Railways officials do not
seem to consider this reflection on
their own methods for safeguarding the
public. They know, however, that if
any of the royal party should be injured
when travelling on any special line that
that particular line would "see its fin
ish, so far as the British travelling pub
lie is concerned.
Each portion of the line on which the
king travels is guarded from section to
section by railroad men with flags. They
direct the movement of the train There
are two signalmen to every quarter of
mile. For instance, in signaling the
train from Folkestone to London up
ward Of 1888 men are required.
When his majesty is about to travel
the railway station is cleared of all Or
binary passengers, and only favored
few are allowed on the platform. Just
before the royal carriage drives up
roll Of crimson velvet carpet is carefully
laid along the platform between the
kings carriage and the train.
Usually the kings carriage is pre-
coded by a few outr;ders-men on horse
back who clear the way-and not infre-
quently by small body Of cavalry, the
horse guards being the favored regi-
ment, as the king himself is colonel
In that regiment.
Railway officials line the platform,
and make a low bow as his majesty
passes by en- route to his carriage.
Usually, the president of the road-or
managing director" as he is termed in
England-accompanies the king; though
of course, in separate carriage. 1t
would not do for mere railroad presi-
dent in England to ride in the same COM
partment with the king himself.
The B1ucher Hussars.