Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1905-09-28
RAILROAD
BEGINNING

In 1855, while we we're publishing
The JOhnstown Tribune, there was plac-
ed in our hands copy Of the Green's
burg, Pa, Gazette, dated March 25,
1926. In the copy Of the Gazette re-
ferred 10 prominence was given to a
discussion Of the new method Of trans
porting al kinds Of freight and also
passengers by railroad. with OF without
steam power. First there is presented
a woodcut illustration Of section Of
n railroad, with a view Of locomotive,
having in tow three transportation
wagons, T" copied from a communication
in the Baltimore American, together
with an explanation Of the method Of
operating the road with the aid Of the
locomotive. The following Is the ex-
PLANTATION Of the diagram:
Believing that a diagram Of a rail
way, together with the steam and other
wagons upon it, would tend to render
the subject more easily understood I
have caused one to be engraved. II
will be observed, in referring TO this
diagram. that the steam engine has six
wheels, four Of which. the two foremost
and two hindmost, have groves to ft
tho rail like those Of the wagons in
tended 10 carry merchandise and rest
upon the smooth rail, and that tho two
middle ones, which are cog wheels play
into the cogs Of the rails, which are
somewhat nearer 20 the surface Of the
earth than the smooth edge. The four
wheels which run upon the smooth sur.
face support the whole weight OF tho
steam engine OF course tho middle
or cog wheels are not pressed upon,
and being put into motion by the ma.
chnory Of the engine serve TO propel
the wagons In the same manner as the
wheels Of the steamboats, act. BY the |
locomotive engine fifty tons Of goods
may bo conveyed. by ton-horse. power |
engine, on level road. at the rate Of
six miles an hour. and lighter weights
at proportioncd increase Of speed.
Carriages at the rate Of twelve to
fourteen miles per hour For canals II
Is neeesnry 10 have a dead level, but
not 10 for railroads; an engine viii
work goods over an elevation Of ono
eighth Of an inch 10 a yard. Where the
ascent or descent Is rapid, and cannot
bo eounteraeted by cutting on embank
ments, recourse must be had to perma.
nent engines and inclined planes just
ns recourse is had TO locks for canals,
but here again the railroad system has
tho advantage; the inclined plane
causes no delay, while locking creates
a great deal"
Notwithstanding the favorable opin-
ion Of the writer In tho American the
editor Of tho Gazette was skoptical.
He commented on the cut and the ex.
PLANTATION as follows. We have pre-.
pared und placed on the first page Of
our paper an engraving representing a
locomotive engine, having In tow three
transportation wagons, accompanied
by an explanation from another paper.
u would be impossible, we think, con
sidering tho kind Of country through
which our road passes, 10 bring tho
steam wagon into successful operation
between the East aud West. II re.
quires too many stationary engines to
proPcl the wagons over our numerous
hills II would ho necessary to have
bali dozen IN sight Of this town, for
We are situated on Hill, and sur
rounded by them on all sides"
II Is only eighty years since these
remarkable opinions were expressed by
the editor OF the Gazette. The "steam