davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-01-10
The First Electric Railroad.

The First Electric Railroad.
The first regular electric line to be
established was at Lichterfelde, Ger
many, e Berlin. II was only a nile
and a half In length and opened for
traffic in May 1881. The trains car
ried twenty-six passengers, at a maxi
mum speed Of thirty miles an hour.
The first electric car to be operated
regularly in the United States vas in
stalled by Deft OIL the Hamden branch
Of the Baltimore Union Passenger
Railway in August, 1886. That
was barely twenty years ago. So
great as the skepticism of the public
and railway men generally that the con
tract under which the road was built
withheld payment one year so that it
might be determined whether the cars
would rum. mo one but a knave or
a fool would undertake such a thing"
said a well known scientist at the
time. Scientists sometimes have trouble
keeping up with the procession. About
the same time small cars were oper-
ated by Van Derpoele at South Bend,
Ind, followed by other small roads in
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-01-10

.ojd to cities and villages along the
route for lighting purposes; electricity
for power is sold to farmers. Trains
Of elegant cars run into Chicago at n
.peed which would have seemed I'm.
possible a few years ago. Passengers,
wave good bye to steam trans on
,araileling railroad. which they pass
easily. A parlor and dining car 10 one
OF the luxuries which the suburbaDites
enjoy going to and from the cry. and
tne railroad seems a seritabie gold
mine, for It's owners. ks.
"a rho horse car has long since dtsap-
resr.d. VIII the iron horse. the great
steam locomotive. be supplanted also9
Tuis question occurs TO all who Gao
ace the significance OF passing events.
probably not for many years TO come.
a. far as heavy freight train" RS con
c.rued. because steam Is especially ap-
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-01-10

natural. over an invention which
threatens to relegate them to a sausage
factory"
That was less than twenty years
ago. Today the New York Central
Railroad Company is expanding $780,
100000 in the electrification Of the first
tnlrty-tive miles of its system, and the
the boneyard, IL not to the sausage
factory"
They have lone marvellous things
since the increasing knowledge OF
electricity opened up a new world Of
achievement. and we have scarcely
crossed the threshold. In 1880 the cleo
trio car was a dream; in 1890. an ex-
pertinent; in 1900. a great and wonder
full fact which is revolutionizing pas
senger transportation and will enable
human beings to move from place TO
place twice as fast as they do at pres
ent.
Born in Old Vermont.
When in 1884 Thomas Davenport, Of
Brandon. VT, ran a toy motor mounted
on wheels on a small circular railway,
the modern electric railroad with its
possible speed of over one hundred
miles an hour was born.
In 1888 Robert Davidson, OF Aber-
deem, Scotland, built an electric loco
motive which actually reached a speed
Of four miles an hour on the Edin-
burgh-G Glasgow railway. Nine years
later Professor Moses q. Farmer op-
Grated an experimental car which car
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-01-10

Q machine TO . live circuit by mis-
take aud was greatly sstonished 10 SEQ
n begin TO rotate. This reversibiiity
Of function was publicly demonstrated
for the irst time at the Vienna expo
sition In 1873.
Not until 1879 was the first electric
railway put in operstion. taking the
current from a dynsuo. using q mod
eru motor sRd carrying passengers
InIs novelty wss 10 operation ct the
Berlin exposition and was q mile spa
t~wo-thIrds. in length. The train con
sisted ~ a small locomotive aud three
smsiI ears. capable ~ carrying TWEEN
" people. 1t reached q speed Of eight
niles nj hour.
About this time stephen ID. Field
and Thomas Edison in the United
States began experimenting. In 1880
Edison was operating at Menlo Par;
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-01-10

plicable to the hauling OF freight. But
the action Of the New York Central In
electrifying tbirty-fve miles of It's rond
leading out OF New York, and the
popular agitation for similar improve
ment In chicago and elsewhere. would
seem 10 point to a time not far distant
when electric railroads will connect
distant cities and greatly shorten the
hours Of travel.
Chico go TO New York In Ter Hours.
In fact such a railway already is
being built between Chicago and New
York by the Chicago-New York EIec-
trio Air Line Railroad COMPANY, Of
Chicago. This company, headed by a
group Of practical railroad men, pro
poses to run limited trains, making not
more than three stops, through to New
iork or Chicago, IN ten hours. The
thought fairly takes ones breath away
n first, but the project considered
soberly seems practical enough, and
certainly is 50 consummation devoutly
to be wished" The work OF grading
began Sept. | near LaPorte, Ind.
As the Jew road will be an air line.
with few curves. the route surveyed
Is $50 miles shorter than the Penpsyl-
vania short Line, and go miles
shorter than the Lake Shore and
New York Central, each Of which run,
trains covering the distance In eighteen
hours. Taking into consideration th.
shorter route Of the Air Line, this Is
equivalent to a fo~urteen-hour service.
With low grades, a straight track ana
no grade crossings, the seventy-iv
miles an our average necessary to a
ten-hour service ought easily to be
maintained. Even on the first class
steam roads Of today ninety miles an
hour Is not uncommon for short dis
tances.
The Scientific American of Feb. 10,
1905, speaking editorially of the New
iork Central experiment, says, 1.-The
success Of this installation, OF which
there can be no doubt whatever, marks
the first step in the gradual substi-
tuition of the electric for the steam
locomotive in the operation Of long dis
AZ CaplCSS uhlHS. Lie SufCdkO-
New York project may be regarded the
second step.
Mr.. Sprague himself says that speed
is "a matter of finance" what then
will determine the future?" he asks.
"Chiefy the financial factor, as ii must
the future of any other great industrial
problem. When savings in operation
and the increased return for traffic
will more than pay a fair dividend OF
money invested for electrical equip
mont, win trunk lines be operated by
electricity"
Professor Charles p. SteinmetZ. N
of the greatest authorities on cleo
tr'city, is quoted as saying, There Is
no limit to the speed that may he de-
veloped in electric traction-that is.
there is no limit up to $50 or 200 miles
an hour. Higher speed than that the
car wheels could not stand. They
would fly to pieces from centrifugal
force. Not only can a speed of 120
miles an hour he maintained on a
train equipped with electricity, but in
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-01-10

to the charge, and in every case he
denies the truth of the charge but
always adds the words AT Prince
tou."
OF course this is a quibble, but it
is meant to deceive the members of
the legislature. Senator Gamble's
son did not go TO Princeton until the
fall OF 1905. The real charge is
that the young man was attending
the Jacob Tome Institute Mt Park
Deposit, Maryland from September,
1902 until the spring of 1905 and
that ut the same time he was On the
public payroll from September, 1902
until January 1905. II is not
charged that the young man was on
the pay roll while at Princeton. The
senator might as we'll deny that he
was not on the pay roll while in the
primary department Of the Yankton
schools. Why doesn't the senator
answer the charge as made! 1t is
very clear what has been charged.
The dates have been given, and the
official records have been produced.
Can Mr.. Gamble continue to ignore
this matter, aud to seek by quib.
bling, which is falsehood in effect,
to deceive the members of the leg.
islature.-Argus Leader.
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-01-10

In the United States alone.
This change was not accomplished
without opposition, encouragement
and financial difficulties. Mr.. Sprague
hin self, who was so potent a factor in
working this change. has told the story
OF his first important contract. In the
spring of 1887, the Union Passenger
Railway company of Richmond, Va.
engaged him to build an electric rail-
way. The first car was run out one
night while the skeptica! people slept,
to make ure ii could climb the hills.
1t started out In a blaze Of glory and
ANONYMOUSLY was towed back again
by -four big mules. But Sprague per-
sisted until on Feb. 2, 1888, In a
drizzling rain, the road opened for
business.
From that time forward the future
OF electric ~railroading was assured and
events moved rapidly. City after CITY
adopted the new motive power; horse
cars became things OF the past; In.
terurban roads began ( o gridiron the
country everywhere. and In each In
stance a commercial success was
scored. Electric interurban lines have
been money makers from the start.
The greatest development has been
In the east; but the west Is not far
behind. The Aurora, Elgin and Chi
cago Electric railway (the third-raiI
system) which has been in operation
several years. Ia famous From ono
central power station over two hun
dred miles Of road are operated. or will
be as soon as the line I BeivIdere is
completed. Electricity at wholesale il
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-01-10
Story Of the Wonderful De-
velopment' in Electric
Traction Duringzths
Past Twenty
Years.
PASSING OF STEAM TRACTION
Gradual Elimination or Distance
Through the Development or
the Electric Locomotive
Chicago to New
York in Ten
Hoars.

During the summer of 1887, there
appeared in the New York sun the
following facetiouS news item:
They tried an electric ear on
Fourth venue yesterday. 1t created
an amount of surprise and cOnsterna-
ton from Third st. to One Hundred
and Seventeenth st. that was some
thing like that caused by the first
steamboat IN the Hudson. Small boys
yelled "aynamlte!' and "ratsr' and
nade similar a~ppreciative remarks un-
Ill they were hoarse. Newly-appointed
policemen debated arresting 1t, but
went no further. The car horses
which were net on the other track
kicked without exception, as was
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-01-10
Don't Ouibble senator.

Senator Gamble has written a
letter to the chairman Of the repub-
lican committee, and has sent a copy
of il to some members Of the legis-
lature. In this letter, a copy Of
which has reached the editor OF the
Argus Leader. Senator Gamble
absolutely denies that his son was
on the pay roll .of the government
while he was attending school AT
Princeton" Several times in the
very long letter, the senator referred
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-01-10

Governor Crawford's message to
the legislature is a lengthy, skill
fully worded and, from his stand
point, a strong document. 1t
breathes reform throughout and il
his recommendations are all carried
into effect, striking changes will
c in all branches of the admin
istration Of affairs of the state. The
message commences ny jollying the
members of the Legislature in an
apparent spirit OF f~rankness and
mention ie made of the fact that
''land values have steadily increased
and 80 has the rain fall" Much is
found to be approved of as regards
the educational, penal and charit-
able institutions and the state iinan-
ces are in good condition. The
report of the commissioner Of school
and public lands is approved and
some OF his recommendations endorsed.
The revision OF the school law is
passed up TO the legislature, and its
attention called to the necessity Of a
state printing plant. A thinly dis.
guised fling at Governor Elrod is
contained in the comments on the
expenditure of the Governors con.
tingent fund, while direct attention
ia called to the Office of clerk OF
supreme court in the shape of a rap
at Frank Crane. A public account
ing for campaign funds is demanded
and considerable space given to
railway freight and passenger rates
and assessment laws. Increased
appropriations for state officers to
cover the expense of travel is asked
for and a new state capitol is given
a boost. The Legislature is informed
that 1t is it's duty to arrange a levy
for a Irvine plant in the penitentiary.
Attention is called to the need of
further legislation in a number of
cases and the message winds up
with the wish that the Legislature
may have a pleasant and profitable
session and make a fine record for
itself. Altogether it is a message
worthy Of careful perusal. bearing
in mind the fact that the "pfoof of
the pudding is the eating"
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-01-10

ried two passengers at Dover. New
Hampshire.
Then the United States congress be-
came interested. BY special grants
Professor Page OF Smithsonian insti-
tute was aided In the construction of
several forms Of motors. One of them
was used as a locomotive and, driven
by a battery OF one hundred Grove
elements, was tried April 30, 1851, on
a railroad running from Washington
to Bladensburg. A speed of nineteen
miles an hour was developed, so great
that 1t destroyed the batteries.
Numerous other experiments fol-
lowed, all commercial failures because
the motors were crude and the source
OF power a primary battery. The de.
velopment Of the wonderful modern
dynamo was necessary before electric
railroading could become a commercial
success. The first great step was In
1850. when an Italian named pacipot-
Il invented a continuous current dy-
namo. Three years later the first
practical commercial machine for con
tinuous current operation was made
by Gramme.
Still the modern electric car was I'M.
possible. The "reversibility OF fupc.
tion" had vet to be discovered. invol.
wing electrical transmission Of energy
through two machines, one driven nv
power and generating electricity: the
other reversing the operation. receiv.
ing electricity and developing me,
cnanical power.
Like many other important discov-
cries. this Is said to have been the re-.
SUIT OF accident. A workman coupled
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-01-10

BY the time Frank Crane has
digested that portion of the govern
or's message relating to the fees OF
his office, he will realize what a mis-
take he made in not becoming a
"reformer'' at the same hour as did
Robert j. Gamble. Reform, like
charity, covers a multitude of sins.
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-01-10

Robert J.. Gamble a sure win
ner" is a heading recently noticed
in . leading insurgent organ, OF
course, il is q pre-caucus prophesy,
but conceding il correct, that the
charges against Gamble will b.
ignored and the program Of the new
machine carried out, what does
Gamble winf He wins six years Of
Office at SCOOP pei year, with per-
quisites, which may or may not
include the higher education Of his
con 81 public expense. But what
de- be Loser He loses his required
disabling in The senate; the conf
dence 81 President Roosevelt, who
has no time for . CRATER, not even .
potty one; she respect Of The plain
PEOPLE 81 sOuth Dakota, who.are akin
y President Roosevelt as regards to
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-01-10

nc AaSNyS IFiutCimeHts
Thanks to the recent activity on
the part Of Senator CANDLES friends
of last summer, the people of this
state and Of the country at large are
being enlightened as to the main.
spring of the opposition to his
reelection in the pre-convention
campaign.
There is nothing new in the
graft charges that are being cir.
culated SO industriously just now
The facts as recently published were
known prior to the state convention
also other facts that may never be
given to the general public.
Everybody didn't know, but MIR.
CANDLES congressional colleagues
must have been wise to the situa-
ton, and all Of them opposed him.
Many others knew the facts, the
News among them.
But, while the knowledge and dis
approval of such practices were
sufficient to determine their own
course of action, it was a different
proposition to 60 out and blacken a
decidedly dignifsd public reputation
when it was believed its owners
retirement could be accomplished
by more tasteful methods. Then he
would be free to redeem his error
without living in the shadow of it.
Many Of those who are now max
ing much of Mr.. Candles delin-
quencies knew of them prior to the
state convention, yet they supported
him, and with such knowledge in
their possession deliberately placed
Mr.. Gamble and the republican
party in the predicament that now
confronts them, With such persons
the News has no sympathy. MIR.
CANDLES acts were As wrong last
June as now-they r no more
wrong now than then.
These persons created the situa-
ton both by their support of Mr..
Gamble last spring and by their
exposure of him now, 1t is up to
them to solve it, and they are all
powerful to do so.
As for the News, it absolved itself
OF the senatorial proposition last
June.
If those who gave Mr.. Gamble
the endorsement Of the republican
state convention at the time want to
make it good, under existing cir
cumstances. it is up to them. Ii
they want to claim that they were
deceived, and decided to elect some
other person to represent South
Dakota in the senate of the United
States, it is theirs to do it. They
have the votes-and an internal
Discipline such as this state has
never known heretofore.
The following counties voted
against the endorsement of MIR.
Gamble in the state convention;
Brown, Bruel, Butte, Clark, Custer,
Davidson, Day, Douglas, Edmunds,
Fall River, Grant, Hamlin, Hughes,
Lawrence, Lyman, McCook, Mar
shall, Meade, Stanley and Walworth-
Aberdeen News.
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-01-10
PRESS COMMENTS ON SENATOR
GAMBLE

Comment by II. L.. Loucks.
Though neither a republican or
democrat | take an interest as a
citizen of South Dakota in the pres
ent senatorial contest. l think it
will be conceded that when the
republican state convention endorsed
Senator Gamble for selection, they
did 10 under the impression that his
record in congress vas clear.
If later Developments prove to the
contrary, then the party would be
absolved from any obligations TO
support him.
The charge Of graft has been
made, accompanied by the official
record over the signature of a
responsible citizen, and will stand
until refuted. A few years ago,
representatives in congress could,
and did, such things with impunity.
The man who had the temerity to
complain was denounced as a muck
raker," and ga public Office became
a private snap" Public officials
became so bold and reckless that the
situation became intolerable. Presi-
dent Roosevelt with high ideals of
duty, took notice, began to investi-
gate, and became chief muck raker
the public concience was aroused
and rallied to his support. Result,
the Mitchells, Burtons, Clarks,
Baileys, Platts and Depews must go,
and if Senator Gamble is guilty he
too must follow, Under the cir
cumstances, should Senator Gamble
be reelected the next legislature
will be anti-republican.
As to his successor, had the last
republican state convention been a
normal one, Z. w. Martin would be
the logical candidate as the only
other candidate voted for and /
think is now entitled to the support
Of the minority faction. However
the lines between the factions were
so closely drawn, on questions of
public policy, that the majority fac
ton or progressive republicans
would be justified in insisting on the
election Of one Of their own faction.
II will be conceded hal Governor
is their ideal candidate.
True, he is placed in a delicate posi-
ton. He can no longer in justice to
himself or his party support Senator
Gamble until he clears his record.
Should the Legislature elect
Governor Crawford it would be his
plan and duty to accept.
Next to Governor Crawford, if the
progressive republicans wish to
hard work, indomnitable
courage, enthusiastic zeal, and
unusual generosity of time and
means, han II. o. Richards, Of
Huron, easily stands at the head.
Next in point of effective service for
the party m Representative
elect Philo Hall With three such
able representatives of progressive
republicanism to choose from there
need be no worry over the selection
Of United States senator who would
be a credit to their party and the
state. 1t is up to the reform repub-
leans to demonstrate that they are
real reformers.
III. l.. Loucks.
ArtesiGn, S. d.
-- n-- c---k-- |
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-01-10

In his message, Governor says
eve are coming to realize that pub
lie funds are trust funds and public
officers are trustees" The Gamble
part OF the eve" is most certainly
looming" to realize it since tie
exposure OF the higher education of
his son with public funds.
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-01-10

Governor Crawford desired the
legislature TO establish a state print
ing plant, Why, cannot a place be
found at the pie counter for Bas-
ford without going TO all this
Give him the superin.
tendency Of the reform school,
governor, and be done with it.
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-01-10
Thursday, January 10. 1897.

The governor wants public
accounting Of funds expended for
campaign purposes, cut be should
stop to think that not every candi-
date has a Dick Richards to stand
the blunt.
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-01-10

There 10 serious talk Of Thomas
Thorson az the successor to Senator
Gamble. Then there is talk Of Ericsson,
Of Elk Point. without throwing any
boquets the wrong way, We believe
that when II becomes certain--as il GER
tainly will-that Gamble ID ont Of IL,
Coz I. Crawford will be chosen senator.
-Groton Independent.
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-01-10

Windsor, Canada; Appleton, Wis; Port
Huron. Mich; Scranton, Pa, and
Montgomery, Ala. In the autumn OF
1884 Frank l.. Sprague. whose name
is inseparably connected with electric
traction, began TO attract attention
with his motors.
Twenty Years OF Achievement.
At the beginning of 1887 there were
In the whole world less than sixty
miles Of electric railroad track, and
only about one hundred motors and
motor cars. In 1905 there were nearly
thirty thousand miles OF electric track
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-01-10

my opinion it is an entirely feasible
scheme from the commercial point of
view."
AT any rate, the world seems on
the eve OF great things, and nc scien-
fist dares say today as was said TWEEN
ty years ago, "a man Is a knave or a
fool" The attitude OF the American
public Is n Of faith and expectancy.
best expressed by a recent remark Of
an old lady In her last sickness:
II don't want to die" she said. 81
want to see what they are going to
do"
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-01-10
Action Again Postponed.

Washington. Jan. THE house com
mittee on merchant marine and fisher
les has failed to reach a decision on
the compromise ship subsidy bill and
postponed . vote on the measure until
Jan. Is.