Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1915-06-24
Special Train
For Liberty Bell

The Southern Pacific Company has
handled many shipments of extraor-
binary value since the last spike was
driven in its transcontinental line in
1869, but none quite so valuable as
the Liberty Bell, which it will bring
into California and to the Panama
Pacific international Exposition at
San Francisco next month. Conse-
quently the most elaborate precau-
tions are being taken to insure the
safe transportation of the priceless
relic.
The bell will be handled on spec
ial train. 1t will be under guard
every moment from the time 1t leaves
Philadelphia until it is returned
there. 1t will be carried on special
gondola freight car, equipped with
al 1.-The safety appliances necessary to
enable it to be moved in passenger
train. The gondola will occupy the
same position as an observation car,
at the rear of the train, that the resi-
dents OF the cities and towns through
which it passes may view the bell.
There are six other cars-sleepers,
diner, etc.-these to be occupied by
the exposition dignitaries, Philadel-
phia officials and others making up
the escort committee of sixty or sew
enty persons.
The bell will leave Philadelphia on
July 7. Safety of transportation and
the population of the country ira
versed by the railroads determined
the routing. 1t will pass through
Chicago and Kansas City, and thence
be transported to Omaha, where it
will be taken in charge by the Union
Pacific. The latter road will carry
it through Denver and Salt Lake City
to Ogden, where the Oregon Short
Line will assume charge end take 1t
to Boise. From Boise it will go to
Portland, and after being on eXhibi-
tion there six hours the Southern Pa
cific becomes its guardian. This will
be on July Is. On that day the
Southern Pacific will begin its trans
portation to San Francisco Wit the
Shasta Route, the residents along
which will be given an opportunity
70 view the historical reminder of the
War of independence. The bell will
leave Portland at noon July Is. 1t
will reach Salem at p. m. of the
same day, be on exhibition until
1890, and will then be moved to Eu-
gene, arriving there at p m. The
people of Eugene will have Is min
utes in which to view it. Arriving at
Roseburg, it will be on display the
same length of time, arriving there
at S:15 p. m.
The axact time OF arrival in Ash
land has not been announced as yet,
but will be shortly after midnight.
Plans are being made for night Gel
ebration to greet the bell.
On Friday, July 16, the bell will
be in California. 1t will reach
Marysville at 1915 and be on exhibit
tion Is minutes. At p. m. it will
be in Sacramento, where it will re-
main for one hour and then be moved
to Oakland and San Francisco. July
II will be Liberty Bell day at the
exposition and people from every cor
ner of the state are expected to visit
the fair on that day.
Every precaution will be taken by
the Southern Pacific in transferring
the bell across the bay from Oakland
to San Francisco. A special barge
will deliver it to the San Francisco
freight slip, where a special freight
car and switch engine will be waiting
to take it to Third and Townsend
streets. Here it will be placed on
a truck and carried through the
streets of the city to the fair grounds.
The total mileage covered by the
Liberty Bells westward journey is
1924. The average speed per hour
will be 2S miles, the railroads hand
ling the movement having decided
that to haul it faster might endanger
its safety. The bell already has one
large crack in it. The itinerary for
the return movement has not yet been
danidad