Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-10-15

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a picture and full description Of thi
first train of cars in America Sh,
was so proud Of this that 1t was will
a feeling Of positive sorrow that hat
to disillusionize her and break VI
this sweet dream. In reality, what ar,
the facts?
In the fall of 1880 Mr.. Miller o.
Charleston, went to New York and a.
a foundry there, at the foot of Beach
street, he had constructed an engine
after his own ideas. This was brought
to Charleston in October, and in sec.
! tions. 1t was put together in the ma
chine shop there. 1t was placed or
the Charleston and Augusta road, ant
while It looked like a large beer bot
tie on wheels, worked to perfection
A number Of tests, all satisfactory
were made of 1t, but the following
January, 1881, a great trial trip was
made, and has been so recorded ever
since. but bear in mind, It had been
running for months prior to this, just
as Longstreet had been running his
boat for an indefinite period prior to
his first socalled trial trip. In the
March following, a second engine was
made for this road, and along with the
first these two were doing regular
duty on this Charleston and Augusta
road
In August following, the third en-
gine was made at this same West
Point foundry and named the Dewitt
Clinton and placed on the Albany and
Schenectady railroad, and yet all these
years it has had the credit Of being
the first in America, just as Fulton got
the credit Of running the first steam
boat.
We have just reason to be proud OF
our three cities. Augusta invented
the cotton gin and steamboat; Savan-
nah with the aid Of Augusta) sent
out upon the broad Atlantic the first
ocean going steamer that ever plough
ed across its billows; while the Charles
the world constructed for locomotive
use, the longest in the world, and put
upon its tracks the two first engines
ever made in America, and yet in all
three instances more or less success
full attempts have been made to take
from us these honors. First, to give
Fulton the credit Of the steamboat;
second, the English to claim that the
Sirius and Great Western did what
the Savannah had accomplished twen-
ty years previously; third, the Albany
and Schenectady is illustrated every
where as having the honor Of the first
train Of cars ever run in America
With the wonderful convenience OF
present day travel, 1t seems but a lit
tie thing to step into the Pullman,
and almost before we are aware Of the
fact, the great mogul like thing OF
magic, sets us down in Charleston and
by the sea. There in that land OF
the magnolia and palm, where roses
and lilies in luxuriant growth blend
with the jessamines in loveliest effect
where azalias revel in wealth OF
blooms as they burst into myriads OF
marvellous hues-where oleanders sway
in graceful curves, while catching the
glints of the dazzling sun-where the
mocking bird MARBLES its thrilling song
as it dips to its nest in these rainbow
tints. In that sweet land Of sunshine
and song, where romance and love
fill the soul, one can scarcely
realize that but a few. years ago Mr..
Miller's little engine, the first in this
country and almost the first in the
world, steamed out on its way towards
its Augusta end-and then think Of the
great railroad world Of today!-Au-
GUSTAV, in Chronicle.