The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1912-01-09
The Value Of the Demonstration
Train From an Educational
Viewpoint.

Train From an Educational
Viewpoint.
Advancement in rairoading has
been phenomenal The Santa Fc dem
onstration train, which was seen in
Amarillo some time ago, gives us an
excellent idea of the progress made
during the last thirty years. 1t show
ed the conveniences the laborsav-
ing devices, enlargement of rolling
stock, and improvements in appli-
ances that make for greater safety,
comfort and effectiveness. These are
experiments they represent the la
Dor and intelligence of many men,
each contributing and each building
upon the contributions of the 9th
ers.
Much of this country would be
useless if there were no railroads.
Only future history will reveal how
much an enormous territory owes to
the great Santa Fe system for it's
material development. But this rail
ways educational contribution, the
train under discussion, cannot be es-
timated as TO its far-reaching influ
ence for good. The company bore all
the expense and trouble of furnishing,
preparing, and exhibiting this train,
not with an eye single to profit,
but as matter of public spirit TO
help and to instruct. Not only does
the train instruct, but it gives great
er capacity for receiving knowledge;
seeing the Santa Fe's improvement
and policies typified in it, we begin
to understand the magnitude of this
railways public service and Influence
for good. The system spends thous-
ands of dollars each year for the
good of its employees and patrons,
and that the value of such things
is not appreciated always as it
should be does not deter the man
agement in their continued effort
The Santa F'e railway system
greatly enhances the value of its ter
ritory. The mines in mountains, the
grain fields, the cattle lands, the
cotton and sugar plantations, the dis
tant western fruit belt, all respond !
to its touch; many of them would |
be practically profitless were it not
for the connecting steel of the
Santa Fe all the way"
Broadly speaking, the demonstra- |
ton train was an education in ITSELF !
to the public. 1t undoubtedly caus-
ed much afterthought. 1t made us
think of the additions that have been
made to Stephenson's first invention;
of how insignificant even the loco
motive of thirty years ago looks be-
side the huge Mallet engine Of nine
teen hundred eleven. It caused us
to speculate as to how much the !
Santa Fe, and all leading railroads |
of the world, will improve in the |
future years
The education, the leading out of |
thought, in the examination of the |
demonstration train will finally cause |
further invention of useful appliances, |
by persons impressed with various.
features. Perhaps the ambition of .
many was aroused, when viewing this
unique thought stimulator.
The little locomotive of eighteen
is hardly large enough |
for a running comparison with the
Mallet monster ahead of it, in any |
feature, except its smokestack. This |
smokestack must have |
been a source of pride to the dinky .
machine; certainly the Mallet hasn't |
much to speak of in the way of a
stack. Possibly the styles change F.
in smokestacks, as they do from
hoopskirts to hobbleskirts; if so, we
are glad to know that the Santa Fe
sets the style. and glad of the OPP
portunity to learn what the latest
is.
1t was educative to note the diff
ference in cost, weight, size, capacity, |
and fitting. between the old and the
new types of everything represented
by this train and locomotives. The
coaches have many convenences, of
he modern type, and are made of
steel for safety and durability. The
nAdarr, frninht 81