The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-06-28
RAILROAD NEWS.
History of Old and New Modes
of Rail Travel.
First Locomotive Road Is Built
in England.
SCHOOL OF TRAVEL
Most Interesting in All Educa-
tiOnal Matters.
n4V.n~ Tkor,,c 0f GounVol Interest,
SCHOOL OF TRAVEL
Other Items Of General Interest
in Traffic World.

At the recent banquet rendered the
delegates to the convention OF the
Transcontinental Passenger association
in Salt Lake City, the Hon. w W.
Ritter responded to the toast, me
First Spike 1t follows in part:
The first railroad on which locomo-
tives were used was built IN England
in 1924 and 1926, so the first spike was
driven some time during the year lSz4
The road was about 80 miles long. The
celebrated Robert Stephenson was the
engineer. The rails weighed % pounds
per yard; the spikes weighed about
ounces. On down grade, 10 miles per
hour could be attained. man on
horseback preceded the train to clear
the track.
Now, I consider at the driving of this
first spike, a new era dawned upon
the world, and this and subsequently
driven spikes, together with similar in
ventions. gave an impulse to the ad-
vancement of the world along all lines
that make for higher manhood, greater
freedom, broader education and ma
terial comfort of the children of men.
And in evidence of this, permit me to
cite you a few, and only a very few,
of the great achievements of this age
the age embraced within the time since
the first spike was driven.
Commencing with the railroad 70
which the subject of spikes relates,
they have grown from that very small
beginning of 80 miles in 1925, to 100000
miles in the United States alone. and
over 100000 miles in the world at large,
which would make 16 belt-lines around
the earth at the equator; and from that
little 4-Ounce spike, the number has in
crea sed to 5000 million now in use.
And as an adjunct to this railroad
mileage there has come the modern
steel coach comfortably seating on
nh re ~, re
the little trap seating six persons in
side and Is on top, as did the first
coach: there has come the sleeping car
instead of the old car resembling a
stage coach on a railroad track, as we'll
as the air brake, automatic coupler,
and electric light. We have also the
dining car, instead of carrying a lunch
in your pocket or 20 minutes for din
ner at some station where dyspepsia
was served, and called food. There has
come the freight car of 12O, 900 pounds
capacity, instead Of 5000 pounds, the
capacity of the earliest freight cars.
And We have also the 100-pound steel
rail, instead of the 2S-pound iron rail
as at first. And we have also the mod
ern depot, or central station with an
architectural design superior to the
palaces OF kings, at the driving of the
first spike.
And in the way of other transporta.
ton we have also the electrical car IL
place of the old omnibus. There ha.
come the elevated road and the sub
way the one above and the other be.
low the surface of the earth Also III,
submarine tube, by which passenger.
are carried under rivers and cities
avoiding vexatious transfers. There ha.
come also the ocean steamer. with its
10000 ton capacity, and making a pas
sage to European shores in FIVE t.
seven days, instead of the old saflins
shin with IFS ma of civ
have also the flying machine, which
bids fair to revOlutiOnize some forms
of travel and transportation. And rot
least Of all, the automobile has como
with posi- Utilities in the future not cas-
lily guessed at now.
Now. just a word, specifically, Il
our guests, the knights of the spike, 81
to speak. Yours, gentlemen, is a no
bic occupation. It is educative and in
structive. in degree not properly sap.
preciated- You provide the means BY
which we travel in comfort, surround
ed by books, magazines and the lux
uries of home. and from the car win
dows we study physical geography
agriculture, horticulture and growth O
commerce. and YOU give US Opportunit,
to exchange views with people from
other lands and learn of their progress
form Of government and methods o
life.
freely assert that no school is a.
conducive to a liberal education as TIL
school of travel. Did you ever see
man that was ignorant and dull O.
who was narrow in his views, that hat
Travelled much; and did you ever SCI
a man whose education was properl7
rounded out who had Travelled little
Did you ever see such enjoyment any
where equal to the travelling drum
mer's jokes and the lively conversation
of Travelled people? To illustrate, wbel
you go back and visit the old home
are not the narrow experiences of you
old friends and schoolmates who hav4
Travelled little. burdensome? Are no
their jokes fiat as dishwater as com
pared to those you crack with you
fellow craftsmen, and do you not sigh
if your visit is long, for the scream o
the locomotive, the hurly burly of dc
parting and arriving trains and tn
lively instructive scenes of your occu
/