. Magazine of western history . ious to that date,with a view to the use of horse-power,and the work of construction was in prog-ress. By the time of its completion, in1834, the rapid developments in the useof locomotive steam-engines had so fullydemonstrated their superiority as a mo-tive power, that they were introduced up-on the road and the use of horses grad-ually discontinued. While, for the reasons stated, the locationwas not as bold as would now be consid-ered advisable, yet it was judiciously andskillfully made, and the work substantiallyexecuted. It must be remembered thatat the time
. Magazine of western history . ious to that date,with a view to the use of horse-power,and the work of construction was in prog-ress. By the time of its completion, in1834, the rapid developments in the useof locomotive steam-engines had so fullydemonstrated their superiority as a mo-tive power, that they were introduced up-on the road and the use of horses grad-ually discontinued. While, for the reasons stated, the locationwas not as bold as would now be consid-ered advisable, yet it was judiciously andskillfully made, and the work substantiallyexecuted. It must be remembered thatat the time this road was constructedrailroad science was in its infancy, andthat the condition of the leading railroadsof the present day is the result of a con-tinued series of trials and experiments,extending over a period of more thanfifty years. It is believed that there arebut few contemporary roads that couldcompare with the Philadelphia & Col-umbia railroad, in either design or execu-tion. During the year 1830, the work on the. / -i/;-,,.. THE RAILROAD MEN OF AMERICA. 71 road being nearly at a stand for want ofappropriations, Major Wilson, with theconsent of the canal commissioners, trans-ferred the larger portion of his corps toNew Jersey and made the location of theCamden & Amboy railroad. In thewinter of 1832 his health became so im-paired that, in the hope of derivingbenefit from a southern climate, he pro-ceeded to Florida and Cuba, but died inthe harbor of Matanzas, on board of thevessel upon which he had embarked,homeward bound, in the hope of being able to spend his last days with his a man of fine ability, indefatigableindustry and sterling integrity. MajorWilsons reputation was widely extended,while his amiable disposition and courte-ous and aflfable bearing won him the es-teem of all who knew him. The workupon the railroad above described, whichwas well advanced at the time of his death—^on February 27, 1833—was completedin the following year, according to
Size: 1501px × 1665px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, bookidmagazineofwe, bookyear1884
