The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-03-11
How ChicagO-New York Seized.
ule Was Shortened.
Worlds Fair Gave III. Walter
Webb the Idea.
OPENING OF PANAMA CANAL
Certain to Stimulate Travel to
West Coast.
Holland Tells of Reports of
Prosperity Coming In.

| New York. March 1.-THE Columbus
exposition which was held at Chicag go
| to commemorate the four hundredth
| anniversary of the discovery of Amer
| lea furnished the inspiration which led
to the operation of overnight trains
| between New York and Chicago. The
| late H. Walter Webb, who was at that
| time vice president of the New York
Central, had some difficulty in per-
suading the Vanderbilts that it was
feasible to operate train on a sche-
duIe which fixed the time for leaving
New York just at the close of business
hours, nd would bring the train into
Chicago the next morning an hour or
two before the opening of a business
day in that city.
The only justification which Vice
President Webb could at that time Of
fer for this plan was that the enormous
passenger traffic occasioned by the Col
umbian exhibition at Chicago would
be sure to bring enough patronage 10
a train of that kind to cause it to be
operated profitably.
There were several tests of the abil-
ity of locomotives to make and main
tain the speed necessary for a schedule
of that kind, and these tests were all
satisfactory. The train was put into
operation. The announcement of the
schedule was an event in the world OF
railroad management not only here, but
in Europe. Many railroad operators
were convinced that it would be i'm
possible to maintain day after day
train running at the speed necessary
to make the $50 miles between New
York and Chicago in Is hours.
1t was Major Webb's intention 10
continue the operation of this train at
ter the Worlds Fair was closed. Fin
ancially it was operated with much
success, although an excess fare Was
charged. 1t rarely failed to make
aT-i-
Gus accident.
Train Taken OF.
There came, however, protests from
other railroad trunk lines against the
continuance of this train in service
after the Worlds Fair was over. AT
that time none of the other trunk lines
felt itself competent to operate an IL
hour train between New York and Chi
cago. Because of these protests this
train was taken off when the Worlds
Fair closed. Yet it set an example
which was certain to be initiated with |
in the course of a few years. 1t had
demonstrated that railroad service
could be given between New York and
Chicago which would save business
dav.
What Major Webb did in the early |
nineties both the New York Central |
and Pennsylvania Railroad company |
are doing now. The overnight train on |
both these lines between New York ana |
and running also in the OPP |
posite direction, are as firmly estao-
Iished as any railroad train schedule
in the United States. It may be that
the improvements in equipments, IN
rails and locomotives since 1898 would
IN any event have led to the estab-
ishment of overnight trains between
New York and Chicago, yet it was the
Worlds Fair at Chicago which created
he first impulse for rapid travelling of
his kind.
Now information comes from Chicago
@ the effect that two of the great rail-
yay systems which operate train be-
ween Chicago and the Pacific coast
lave been stimulated by the prospec-
i've Panama-Pacific exposition, which
S to be held at San Francisco in 1915, | :
o initiate the example set by the trunk }
ines operating between New York and :
chicago For while it might have been ;
hat through cooperation and COM I
nunity of interest these transcontinen- :
al lines might some time have made T
UGH an agreement as would cause {
between the great lakes '
nd the Pacific coast conveniently, f
afely and yet very swiftly to be per- '
ected, yet it is undoubtedly true that s
he Immediate impulse is the certainty '
hat this Panama exposition is to be r
ery successful, comparing well IN
oubtedly with the Chicago expo v
ition of 1898 and the Centennial expo r
ition at Philadelphia in 1876. c
The First Hints.
Already there are abundant hints of
that the travel to the Pacific coast will :
g after the Panama canal is opened. I
has been now for some time impos-
ible to secure passage upon any of the u
teamers running between the Atlantic d
cast and the Isthmus of Panama, l.
Mess bookings are made at least three =
-eeks ahead. The tide of travel to the l
;thnus is now very heavy. Many per- =
pms are anxious to see the great cut =
efore the waters are let into the arti-
cial channel, and men of science the - y
-orld over are visiting the canal work =
Or the purpose of studying the engin- -
sring features.
There can be but one Interpretation 7
E this rush of travel to the isthmus i
shows that the American people have =
ecome greatly interested in this public y
ork unmatched in present or historic =