Cayton's weekly. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1916-1921, 1918-02-16

wagons. instead Of using one large wagon
as heretofore, in one train, and hauling all
of these together with horses as in the
past to the coal landings.
The next improvement was the lifting
Of Hanges to the wheels and doing away
with Hanges on the rail. We have in these
improvements the embrio railroad and train.
The first iron track railroad established
bv authority of Parliament was, except
some few by canal companies for deliver
inc the products of some nearby coal prop
critics. the Surry Railway authorized in
1901. Cast-iron rails were, in 1908, dis
placed by the better and more durable and
practical wraught iron rail.
It will be seen and understood from this
sketch of the beginning and slow develop
ment that the railroad, which was operated
upon for nearly two centuries with horse
power. created a demand for other greater
and more rapid motive power. This de-
mand was confined to the golfers of Eng
land Additional motive power was the
great and almost universal question agi-
tating the minds of the interested ones of
this community Every improvement it
seemed possible to make in the railroads
or tramways had already been made. It ap-
peared to them that nothing more could
be accomplished in that direction. The i'm
provements made had increased the trac-
ton capacity of the railroads from single
wagon to train of wagons. If anything
more was to be accomplished it must be
in the direction of increased motive power
From whence was this power to come?
How was it to be obtained? Who could
successfully grasp and solve the problem?
This was the situation confronting them
It was the incentive for strenuous effort
1t was the golden opportunity to become
a benefactor of mankind. It would place
the name of the successful person high on
the scroll of fame and bring him wealth
and influence. Every known prospect was
searched. Every avenue of hope scanned
every clue Of a possibility scrutinized for
discovery of motive power applicable
to the required purpose. Only one course
practical. This source was found to be in
the known force of steam That steam
confined developed some force had been
known for more than two thousand years
What was the capacity of this force? could
it when confined be- utilized and applied
as a motive power? Some believed it could
others had no faith.
Fortunately there were some men who
dared to devote their time and talents in
an effort to find a solution of this prob
lem. Such is always the case when great
requirements are making demands. Some
one among the people, some one in the
multitude, rises, who. for some unknown
reason. has the right kind of training, the
right kind of experience, to fit him for
the emergency. He will certainly at some
time though perhaps not always at the
moment he is wanted by some but at the
propitious moment at the right time, come
forward and present the thing wanted
1t may be crude, complicated, but it has
correct elementary principles, the basis of
the completed thing. Other men take it
ND make improvements as experience in
dicates simplify it as they become more
familiar with it's complications make it
practical for the uses intended, and adapt
it to the conditions and varying circum-
stances of the situation; and then finally
it reaches the highest possible limit of per-
lection and capacity.
So it was in this case, a number of men
seeing the necessity and hearing the de-
mand and knowing the incentive, began
and carried on all the uestirations the