The Washington herald., 1910-03-13

OF the period. At night, boards would
be laid across two seats for the mat
tress and bedding. Still, it was a sleep
ing car, and one Of the mechanical won
ders of the generation. Mr.. Pullman had
been a cabinet maker at Albion, n Y.
and while a young man moved build
ings, large and small, when the State
began to widen the Erie Canal His
business In Chicago was to raise houses.
City's Grade Is Raised.
THE ground on which the city was
built being low and fiat. the grade was
ultimately elevated about seven feet, I
think. It happened. therefore. that one
had 10 do a lot of walking up and down
stairs in almost every street, old houses
being on one grade and new houses on
another Mr.. Pullman, I recollect, raised
the Fremont Hotel without interfering
with the cooking or the coming and go
| ing Of the guests. When I left his pal
ace car company. in 1872 although the
! so-called palaces were rather shabby
and few. compared with the. present
equipment, I came to the Chicago and
! Northwestern Railway as general super
| Intendent 1 was general manager four
years later. and then vice president. Since
1887 have been president"
What did the railways get for haul
ing freight in the early days of your
service?" I asked.
"Our charges were 2 80 cents per ton
per mile. Now the average is 4-5 OF
cent, which includes coarse freight at
lower rate and high-class freight at a
rate that Is dearer. The reduction OF
the transportation charges in this coun-
try. the meaning of the reduction to
the American people in the settling of
vast areas that were inaccessible except
by hard and perilous Journeys in horse
and OK vehicles, and the physical work
of building our present system Of ma
tional railways is one OF the most stu
pendous achievements In human history.
It should be remembered that the work
was performed by individuals who took
the initiative and supplied the money.
Added to Nations Value.
It have often wondered what would
have happened if the government had
undertaken forty years ago to do what
man has attempted and carried through
successfully. Just reflect upon the work
for moment Railroads were built, of
course, in the expectation that they
would be profitable to the owners; but
the men who had land and the men who
bought land, most Of whom were poor,
have made infinitely more than any one
else. The construction of the roads, in
the first place, was a hazardous and ire
mendous project. Since then. without gov
eminent aid, order or direction, the roads
have been entirely rebuilt at a cost that
would have terrified the business giants
OF Boston. New York, and Philadelphia
a generation ago. Light vehicles and
engines have given place to cars that
viii carry fifty tons of merchandise
apiece, and TO locomotives that seem to
be the finality in power and weight of
everything on wheels. Meanwhile, of
course, heavier rails were laid and
stronger bridges thrown across gullies
and streams. Yet throughout the era or
reconstruction the roads have kept up
with the country's growing traffic and
business Of no kind has suffered through
irregular or inadequate facilities for
transportation.
"A group Of Dutch engineers who Wis
tied Chicago expressed a wish to see our
terminals. I told them swe were In a bad
tangle because our tracks were being
elevated thirteen feet. from the center OF |
the city. practically to the suburbs. When
they returned to my Office they said they
were amazed to find the work going on !