The mirror., 1919-06-19
The Iron Horse"

According to statements read from time TO time
in newspapers and magazines the railroads are con-
stanily increasing their of identification. In
all of the big cities there is more less agitation
for passage of laws doing with the steam loco
motive inside the city limits altogether And in
of the largest cities, notably New York. the steam
locomotive is forbidden to operate One western
railroad has between foar and five hundred miles of
it's system operated entirely by electricity, and 9th
putting in electrical equipment wherever suf
fcient waterpower is available So it wont be many
years hence when the great iron horse" will be
strange sight his predecessor and companion of
more recent years. the flesh and blood horse. is
the streets of the cities today.
To the rising generation this is it should be
and stands for progress. but to those of who be-
long to yesterday and live with memories the
passing of the steam locomotive is like taking some
thing out of our lives and leaving void that the un-
slightly electric locomotive cannot fill
Some years ago in the Chicago, Milwaukee and
st. Paul depot in Minneapolis one of the
electric locomotives that to be used the noun
tain divisions of that road standing in the depot shed
exhibition. Looking at it from the outside there
wasn't much to see and the only description can
think of that would fit it would be that of box
cars coupled together and set upon high driving
wheels. There no life emlnating from it, it
contained life within ITSELF it's life is transmitted
to it-from powerhouse. As curiosity and some-
thing new it was worth looking at but 1t excited no
admiration nor would it cause to feel the thrills
that experienced when gazing upon the iron
horse.'
Aside from the graceful sailing ships of the
the onl7 mechanical contrivance of mans
A. & l-o:xo
ton to even himself is the great Iron horse" As
it stands in the station quivering with suppressed
energy. polished until it's black surface, relieved
here and there with bit of BRASS glisens and shines
like mirror, with steam hissing it's air pump work
ing fast now slow, resembling the breathing of
some huge monster at repose. it is indeed thing
alive. And as it speeds its way across the country
belchng forth dense cloud of smoke, it's plume of
steam trailing from the dome. the deep tone of it's
siren sounding warning of it's approach the musi-
cal cang of the bell passes crossing a small
station, fascinates other mechanical contriv-
ance ever has.
There is halo of romance surrounding this
great machine of mans invention that refuses to
shine forth from any other power-driven land vehi-
Gle. 1t isn't the long train of shining heavy Pull
mans that causes one to pause and watch, but the
fiery steed' snorting and putting it whisks its
heavy load rapidly by that induces wonder and de-
light. 1T is sight that may he hundred
times yet is always interesting it being
seen for the first time.
With the displacement of the iron horse" by
the electric locomotive large part of the
of railroads will pass The electric car cannot re-
place it. for it not inspiring enough. While from
economical and practical point it is superior to
the steam locomotive, yet after seen it will
be the source of interest and admiration tina
the steam locomotive has been. 1t is like the knight
of old in shining armor and plumed- helmet com
pared with the khaki-cad soldier of today the for
was inspiring sight of beauty and romance
while the latter better suited to these prosaic days
of usefulness and practcabty