The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1908-07-23
nesatiue

tive .
Progress had begun to climb, and an
era pregnant with untold achievement
and glory was soon to loom to shed
its blessings over no single generation,
over no single people.
| introduce the era of steam car
riages, dimly forshadowed by the Oruc-
tor Amphipolis of Evans back in 1887,
and have no hesitation or doubt in
prOnouncing the name of that English
coal miner, who gave us this marvel
GUS instrument of magic accomplish
ment-George Stephenson. Oh Eter-
nifty! Oh Immortality! 1t is my
prayer that you have laid your golden
peace before the sublime soul of George
Stephenson. l would fall to bended
knee here, today, and consecrate my
life to his memory. 1t was back in
1929 that his little Rocket" proved
to the world the verify of its masters
prOphesy. He christened the road
"The Manchester & Liverpool Ry."
Stephenson was the founder. The
United States have been the chief
beneiciaries. Some sponge brain glad
iator, impelled by the sheer grace of
adolescence, might now tell you that
my opponents cause is vindicated.
He might assert that have by my
own statements vindicated it. That
l have praised the railways and their
founder, George Stephenson. That
George Stephenson was ScotchmaD,
living in England, and that ships alone
could have brought his ideas and inven-
tions across the water. What noble
thoughts for filibusterer. What a.
cute conceptions of cause and effect.
Why, friends,athere were parties in
the United States experimenting with
steam carriages entirely independent
of Stephenson, and long before 1880
our countrymen were engaged in plan
| ming an arrangement similar to Steph-
enson's. We did not import our rail-
ways or the ideas of our railways from
foreign countries. Our people fostered
their birth and shared their adversities.
l pay tribute to George Stephenson
because he was great man, because
he took a courageous stand before
prejudice and ignorance and with a
quick brain and resolute heart fought
like the great Hampden-on the side
of truth and principle.
| When the first messages of the new
invention crept out among our towns
great excitement prevailed and great
or activities followed. The legislature
of New York Immediately chartered
the Mohawk and Hudson Ry. Co., and
Maryland followed in quick succession
with the Baltimore & Ohio. Then
South Carolina dropped into line and
straightway the Delaware and Hud-
son Canal Co.-shipping proprietors,
by the way-forgot the serene majesty
of their principal equipment in mad
dash to England for three locomotives.
Peter Cooper constructed our first
locomotive in 1880. It was a private
venture and he used the completed
machine to replace relays of horses
that he had been compelled to employ.
In 1882 we find passenger line run
ming from Albany to Schenectady. As
the years passed development increased.
Between 1850 and 1885 over 125,379
miles of tracks were installed. The
first railway reached Chicago in 1853.
Illinois during the 23O years that had
elapsed since Americas settlement,
was graced with only 40 thousand
farms. When railways opened her
cOuntry,,in 1853, the number Of farms
jumped instantly to 25O thousand. In
other. words there was six times as
much accomplished in the short space
of decade as had been accomplished
during the previous 230 years. In 1888,
Chicago, by sheer dint Of courage and
thrift was able to pack east A sacks of
wheat and after so years her consign-
ments to outside markets had Preached
the 70 million bushef mark. In 1910
lGhicago had . population )of 5000 peo-
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