Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-09-11
JOIN FOR FEAST.
Railway Men Of Three Cities
Have First Banquet at
the Tower.
HEAR EXCELLENT PROGRAM
William A. Mecse, of Moline, Tells
Something Of Pioneer Railroad
ing in County and State.

Heads of departments, with their
chief clerks and cashiers, representing
over 1900 railway men employed in
this locality, enjoyed a banquet at the
Watch Tower Saturday evening, the
first event of its kind held in the tri-
cities More than hundred were on
the invitation list and 90 sat down to
the tables and enjoyed an evening Of 500
liability. Following the banquet were
q number of toasts but those in charge
were necessarily disappointed in the
unavoidable absence of some who were
to talk on this occasion.
First Banquet.
Some time ago the idea was con-
Ceived among some of the railway men
that such an event as this would pro-
mote better feeling better acquaint-
ance and good fellowship among the
men representing one of the greatest
interests of the community. although
competitive in nature and distributed
over the three cities. Z. l.. Golf, of
this city. commercial agent of the Rock
Island. took the greater portion of the
responsibility for the success of the
undertaking, and at its close vote OF
thanks was extended To- Mr. Golf, and
committee of four was appointed to
see that this should not be the last
one, and if il is deemed advisable to
organize a club of railway men of the
class who were gathered there. On
this committee are p. l.. Hinrichs. com
mercial agent of the St. Paul in Dav
export; F. A. Riddell. agent of the Bur
lila fnI
dard, agent of the Davenport. Rock Isl
and d Northwestern in Rock Island
u. l.. Goff. commercial agent of the
Rock Island in Rock Island.
Hon. r.. W. Hurst, Toastmaster.
Hon. f. w. Hurst. one of the attor
neys of the Rock Island, acted as toast
master, and briefly addressed the as
sembly upon opening the program of
the evening. In announcing the oh
ject of the gathering. he commended
the spirit in which the men represent.
ing such varied interests and varied
departments had come together on a
common ground for sociability II was
suggested that while other lines of
business have their organizations in |
the three cities. the railvayAmen hadt
remained separate and apart except as
they met in other organizations. And
It was observed that they are repre-
senting an army of men employed here.
the number growing with each year.
Pioneer Railroads.
Pioneer Railroads" was the sub
ject given to William 4. Meese, of Mo-
line. who represents the legal depart
ment of the St. Paul. Upon investiga-
ting for the preparation of his adj
dress, Mr.. Meese says he found that
there is great field for research and
too many interesting things TO be GOV
cred, in the few minutes given to him.
but has become sufficiently interested
to encourage him TO labor further and
gather together data for an article in |
the future. His address was in part
as follows:
Edward Pease. who projected the |
Stockton and Darlington line of rail |
road in England in 1921. which was the |
first passenger line built. said, Let the !
country but make the railroads and the |
railroads will make the country a say !
ing most prophetic. as witnessed by the !
vast lines of iron rails that now stretch /,
across the continent. connecting pros
porous cities and villages, and running |
through country that but a few years |
ago was the home of the wild animal /
and Mid men. aud which today is the ,
garden spot granary and workshop of
thC world.
The first railroad constructed for |
freight traffic was also in England and |
was the Hetton railway. II was open
ed Nov. Is, 1922 George Stephenson
was the engineer and the five locomo-
tives on the line. were of his own de
sign and were a great curiosity to ali
the English people. who Christened
them iron horses. a name which still
Clings to our modern perfected ma
chino.
First Road Here.
In this country wooden rail track |
was in operation i'm 1925. and was used
for carrying dirt eXcayated from what
became the Delaware and Chesapeake |
canal below Philadelphia
I'm 1926 the New York legislature
chartered the Mohawk and Hudson |
railroad running from Albany TO Sche- |
nectady. il was opened for business in |
September. 1891.
"On Aug. so. 1880 the Tom Thumb, |
the first locomotive built in America, |
was put into use what is now the |
Baltimore & Ohio railroad. operating |
from Baltimore TO Ellicott Mills, a dis. |
lance of IA miles. This locomotive
weighed not TO exceed one ton, and in
race with street car. Baltimore
paper records the fact that IL 'outran
the street car
Bitter opposition was encountered in
the building and operation OF this road.
II was predicted tdat il would ruin the
dray business of Baltimore and pre-
Ncnt draNr,,nn frnm earning a EYali- /