Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1905-07-06
FAST TRAIN RESUMED
TWENTIETH CENTURY LIMITED
ON i8.HOUR SCHEDULE.
Famous New York Central-Lake Shore
Train Now Making Regular Trips Be-
tween New York and Chicago in 3
Hours-Accident Not Due to Speed.

The famous New York CentralLake
Shore Twentieth Century Limited
train, which was wrecked by running
into an open switch at Mentor, Ohio,
has been restored to the position OF
the fastest long distance train in the
world. After an extended conference
with his staff, President W. III. New
man issued an order which places the
Century" on its former eignteen-hour
schedule between Chicago and New
York.
This action was taken after a most
rigid and searching investigation into
the facts, which resulted in the unani-
nous conclusion that speed was in no
way a factor contributing to the disas-
ter at Mentor. For this reason, and
this alone, President Newman ordered
the restoration Of the old schedule.
Had there been the slightest doubt
in the mind of a single operating Off
cial of any Of the New York Central
lines upon this point the twin Cen
tury" fiers would still run between
Chicago and New York On a twenty
hour schedule. In determining the
issue, safety, and safety alone, was
the paramount consideration.
In arriving at his decision in the
matter President Newman did not rest
content with the Judgment and opin-
ions Of his operating staff nor upon the
evidence of the investigation that was
conducted and concluded by w. II.
Marshall and staff Of the Lake Shore
and by the detectives employed by the
railroads. Commissioner Morris of the
Railroad Commission Of the State Of
Ohio and W. o. Jackson, chief inspec
tor of RAILROADS and telegraphs Of the
State Of Ohio, went to the scene Of tho
wreck, and upon their official report
President Newman in a large measure
based his action in restoring the Cen
fury" to It's former running time.
Inspector Jackson's report is sweep
ing and conclusive upon the most i'm
portant points in connection with the
wreck. He declared that there was
no doubt that the switch was opened
maliciously and Intentionally, but was
unable to determine whether it was
locked or open. He further states:
II do not think that the speed Of the
train had anything to do with the
wreck or with the number of persons
killed. The number killed was due to
the fact that the dinner was just fin
81, h. no. fn,
to the smoker. Fast trains are no more
liable to accident than others, for they
make fewer stops, and many accom-
mediation trains run as fast between
stations as the Twentieth Century
Limited"
Commissioner Morris statement IS
equally strong upon the point Of speed
not being a contributing factor, and
upon these official statements Presi-
dent Newman feels that he can rely
to show to the public, first, that the
only thing for the management to do
after the wreck was to return to the
former schedule until the facts were
determined, and that the only logical
thing to do now is to revert again to
the eighteen-hour schedule.
Had, however, the conclusion re-
garding the cause of the wreck been
different. and had the State Commits
sion and Inspector decided that speed
was factor, President Newman
stood ready not only to continue the
Century" oN twenty-hour schedule,
but also to go over his entire train SER
vice list and revise it wherever the
speed Of trains came into logical con-
fiict with his action in the matter Of
the Century,"