The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-09-16

for the display. As the Camden and Am
boy Railroad, now the P. r. r., running
from this city to Philadelphia by way of
Bordentown, was the primitive line in
this section, Mr.. Roberts was able to get
parts of the rails that had been used.
Among these was what is known as the
strap rail, which was used when horses
were employed to pull the cars. This rail-
consisted of a fiat piece Of steel placed
upon timber. These rails weighed 81
pounds to tho yard. and were replaced by
the "T' rail when the locomotive was
invented. The ct" rail was somewhat
similar to that now generally used, but had
only one wearing edge. Some of the rails
were rolled in Trenton, but those made
first were too light. The first "T' rail
on the Camden and Amboy line was de-
signed by r. L. Stevens, the president,
and was placed in position November 70,
1881.
Amobg other relics obtained by Mr.. Rob
erts for the Worlds Fair exhibit was a
wheel from the old John Bull" engine
which was manufactured in England and
sent to this country. This wheel was at
the White Hill shops of the Camden and
Amboy Company. It was manufactured
of wood.
He also went to Perth Amboy. where
he procured one of the cars of the orig
inal John Bull' train. Besides this he
searched for the John Bull' engine bill
Of lading. and also obtained other inter
esting papers which would have been
discarded after the Pennsylvania Railroad
! Company purchased the Camden and Am
boy. He has these in his possession. and
included among them is a bill Of lading
for passengers, dated December. 1884. re-
pa1lino IN the minds ~ The ol1ar gntotf-
tants the time when the name and des
~tinetion OF the passenger. as well MS the
city from which he started. were recorded
and the paper given to the conductor, as is
now done in the shipment of freight. the
papers are all written in ink and are we'll
preserved.
Among the letters is one from Francis
B. Ogden, American consul at the court
Of st. James in 1881. 10 President Stevens,
Of the Camden and Amboy line, relative
to the shipment Of the first rails. In the
letter it is stated that Ericsson. who IN
vented the Monitor, had given his new en-
gine a trial and. found it to be working
with satisfaction. 1t was further stated
that the outlook there was gloomy. as the
few were making an effort 10 suppress the
many.
Included in the photographs shown by
H'F N1TN"'R - pAh fAfH FFAA1 a VI
original track with the stone ties at
Jamesburg and the modern railroad. The
old tracks were laid In 1882, but were COW
cred up in 1853 and So remained until 1896,
when they were found aud photographed.
Mr.. Roberts had several stacks of old
papers. each with a history, and is so syS-
tematic in his work that he can immedl-
ately produce any desired paper. Besides
the xhibit In the State House here, ne
also collected parts OF rails for the Smith
sonian Institution ut Washington and has
gained a wide reputation for his knowledge
on the subject. OF the display in the Statc
House, Francis F. Lee. the historian, has
stated that 1t Is one of the most instruc-
tive ever collected.
Following the nomination and election OF
Benjamin Harrison to the Presidency. Mr..
Roberts was accorded considerable atten-
ton because of his resemblance to the
chief executive of the nation. He is about
the same size as was the President, and