The Washington herald., 1915-11-29
HISTORY BUILDERS.
The Man Who Invented the Flanse
Rail.

By DIR. e. 8. EDWARDS.
year or two before the death OF
Abram s. Hewitt, / was chatting with
| him about the anthracite coal strike IN
| Eastern Pennsylvania and IN some way
J which did not understand the trouble
| brought to Mr.. Hewttrs mind fact
associated with Robert L Stevens. With
! that almost unique and often fascinating
manner with which Mr.. Hewitt some
times shifted instantly from one line OF
| thought to another. he told me briefly
what he regarded as a supreme achieve
ment OF Robert L. Stevens.
Mr.. Hewitt was at that time about 50
years of age. There was something
about his personality and physique which
called to mind my meeting with Charles
Francis Adams In 1s16-perhaps because
Mr.. Hewitt and Mr.. Adams were both
conspicuous among the supporters OF
Samuel ]. Tlden to the Presidency.
There was something about the express
sion OF Mr. Hewitt's eyes. large. occa-
sionally with q dreamy look as though
he saw visions which he could not inter-
pret In words, which was also suggestive
OF Mr.. Adams. He spoke In q low tone
Of voice. not with any OF the trembling
or querulousness OF age. but with dis
tinctness of enunciation. In that re-
spect too, he resembled Mr.. Adams.
heard II said that the development Of the
American railroad and what has been
accomplished IN the past fifty years are
chiefly due to Sir Henry Bessemer. with
whom it is my good fortune to have cor
dial personal relations and whose cheap
process OF manufacturing made the steel
rail possible. and to George Westins-
house, whose airbrake brought about
economies as well as safety Of travel
hn
Of this opinion. but I do think that
third should be added to the list. He Is
Robert l. Stevens. Few people know
nowadays that Mr.. Stevens designed the
aange rail. That rail was OF greater In
fuence. in my opinion, in developing
American railroads than any other sin
gle mechanical or scientific influence.
can just remember when rails were
nothing but thin pieces OF scrap iron.
They were screwed to wooden beams. II
would have been impossible for any bus
the highest q trains TO make use OF
track Of that kind, and. As II was, tho
iron would frequently break and thereby
make trouble.
stevens, who was instrumental IN
building the railroad from Camden across
New Jersey to Amboy. opposite Staten
Island. whitfield out. while on voyage
10 England various models. one NJ
which he selected as a suitable base for
a Trail so that II would be possible for
the rail to he continuous, as We row
know Il. His model really represented a
ffanEe, ard II was not long before every
railroad in tho United States adopted u.
BY the way. of course. you are familiar
with the spike which holds the rail- to
the sleeper or tie a hooS-shaped spike
This was also invented by Mr.. Stevens.
II 1 were to write a history OF American
railroads think I should give Mr.. Stew
ems the first place. especially in view OF
the fact that he made the improvements
Just as the railroad was coming into use
in the United States
Copyright, le5. by z. ]. Edwards. An tights
sUed.)
Tomorrow DR.. Edwards VIII tell Of A
Visit with Charles Francis Adams"