The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-08-08
WILL OBSERVE
CENTENNIAL.0F
US. RAILROAD
American Railway Associa-
ton Begin Work on Cele.
bratiOn Plans
PASS RESOL TON S
Will Show How Railway
Transportation Has
Developed
PASS RESOLUT TON S

Chicago, Aug. S.-Plans to cele-
brate the centennial of the American
railroad here with an exhibition
showing its evolution and effect on
the nations growth have been begun
by the American Railway Association.
Committees have been appointed co
gather data as to an appropriate date
for the celebration, and to determine
the extent of the miniature worlds
fair which is being considered in
this connection.
Three railway organizations have
adopted resolutions urging the appro-
pirate observation Of hundred years
of railroad Observation-Disclosures
Railway Engineering Association,
American Railway Development Assoc
citation and the Mechanical Division OF
the American Railway Association.
AS no city has convention hall
; large enough to hold all the exhibits.
according to v. r. Hawthorne, secre-
tary of Division 5, American Railway
Association, he proposes the erection
of temporary structure to accom-
modate the rs or more railroad bodies
which would hold conventions here
under the plans. Another suggestion
is to hold central exposition in Chi
cago with a number of smaller cele.
brations held simultaneously in other
cities, making Chicago the center Of
a great railroad centennial wheel.
American railroads will participate
in 1925 in the English celebration of
the opening of the first railway IN
the world, conducted by the Inter-
national Railway Congress, but it is
the desire Of the American Railway
Association also to commemorate the
American centennial, which comes in
1928.
The trackage of the American
roads, according to the Interstate
Commerce Commission, is 376,992
miles, not including switches and ter
minal lines. According to these same
figures, there are now in operation
approximately 10000 locomotives, g.
100000 freight cars and $4,000 pas
senger cars.
although there were railways in
the United States prior to 1928, they
were not common carriers" says the
Chicago Association of Commerce, in
tercsted in the plans for commemor-
alton. when Charles Carroll of Car
rollton, one of the signers Of the
Declaration of Independence, drove
the first spike at Ellicott's Mills, Nd.
for the first seven miles of railway
between Vinegar Hill and Baltimore,
he helped to establish the Baltimore
& Ohio, which began operating rr Tins
in 1880.
"In 1928, Horatio Allen went to
England and contracted for four
steam locomotives to be built by
George Stephenson. America, was the
first steam locomotive to be seen in
the western hemisphere It was
placed on. blocks at New York in
January, 1929, and was exhibited to
an awe-struck public for three
months.
"But the 'Stourbridge Lion was the
first locomotive actually to run, on
metal rails. 1t was used by the Della
ware & Hudson, which at that time
was primarily a canal company"
7 The railroad centennial will show
how railway transportation has made
possible the development of the
United States, according to Mr.. Haw-
thorne. Starting with less than 100
years ago, he said, railway transport
tation has reached point where an
estimated expenditure of $3.50, O00,.
600 is necessary this year to provide
the railroad facilities to enable the
general business of the country to
proceed without interruption.