line completed is that of the Cincinnati, Richmond & Muncie from Richmond to North Judson, Ind., 150 miles.

showing the new work by years since 1887 is given:

Year 1887 1888 1889

1890

1891
1892
1893

The Chicago Rock Island & Pacific has built 360 miles on three lines in Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico; the Choctaw, Oklahoma & Gulf has built 310 miles on four lines in Oklahoma, Indian Territory, Texas and Arkansas; the Chicago & Northwestern, 223 miles in Illinois, 1894 Wisconsin and Iowa, not including 28 miles built by the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha in Wisconsin; the Cincinnati, Richmond & Muncie, 150 miles in Indiana; the Burlington, 155 miles in Wyoming, Montana and South Dakota; the Northern Pacific, 134 miles in Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana and Washington; the Oregon Short Line, 128 miles in Idaho,

The track laid in 1901 added to the mileage for the United States at the close of 1900, as reported by Poor's Manual, makes the total mileage of the country at the close of 1901 approximately 199,370 miles.

Thirteen lines in Canada report additions aggregating 362 miles and 12 lines in Mexico have added 439 miles.

Utah and Nevada; the St. Louis & San Francisco, 123 miles in Texas and Indian Territory; the El Paso & Southwestern, 121 miles in Arizona and New Mexico; the Minneapolis St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie, 110 miles in Wisconsin, North Dakota and South Dakota, and the El Paso & Northeastern, 108 miles in New Mexico. This makes a total of nearly 1,800 miles built by 11 companies, and if the new mileage of 12 other companies which have laid 50 miles or more each is

added we get a total of 2,580 miles, or more than one-half the aggregate for the entire country, built by 23 companies.

In order that the new mileage of 1901 may be compared with the construction of previous years, the following table

Poems of the Rail.

The Railway Age has been unearthing some railroad poetry that will stand reproduction. For instance, the following is taken from the Texas and Pacific Quarterly:

THE SLEEPING CAR TUMBLER.

Have you loitered in the smoking room of
Keeping tab upon the water tank as you
a palace sleeping car,
smoke your last cigar?

Have you observed the tumbler? Has
it occurred to you

The many different uses that people put it to?

Here's a fellow with a colic, his face is He puts a spoonful in the glass; a thoupale and drawn, sand miles from home. Pours paregoric in it and bids his pain At sixty miles or more an hour he makes begone.

Next comes a bilious drummer, who at the tumbler halts,

his own seafoam.

And twenty-seven other men, at various stages try

And fills the vessel blithely with a slug of To send themselves to Dreamland with Epsom salts.

He's followed by a person with a customary whim

a thimbleful of rye.

And just as many other chaps you may count them if you watch

That a seidlitz powder nightly is just Will use that willing tumbler for a thimthe thing for him.

And on his heels comes someone who fancies something hot,

bleful of Scotch.

You may talk of golden beakers; you may boast of pewter mugs;

AN ENGINE INVADES A GERMAN STATION

On Dec. 6, 1901, while approaching the terminal at Frankfort-on-Main, the engineer of the Orient Express lost control of his brakes, with the result that the train stopped inside the waiting room. Fortunately no one was injured.

And takes a swig of Radway to touch the chilly spot.

One takes a morphine tablet, which the tumbler has to drown;

And another drinks a bumper to help a blue pill down.

One mixes up a gargle, and one a lemon squash;

You may chortle over tankards, and rave of silver jugs;

But there's not a drinking vessel in restaurant or bar

That's in it with the tumbler of a palace sleeping car.

Of course, these lines will be best ap

Another gives his mouth a bath, and then preciated by those who travel at the back

his teeth a wash.

One fills his fountain pen thereat;

end of the train, but for those who are always found at the head end, the following from Train Dispatcher Brown,

Takes a bottle from his pocket-a mix- of the N. Y., N. H. & H., will hit the

another, then and there,

THE GALLANTRY OF HOOLIHAN.

For fifteen years Dan Hoolihan had run the "Cannon Ball,"

For when it came to making time he always led them all.

And never yet in all those years had he

once set his feet

Upon the dreaded carpet in the Superintendent's suite.

Whatever he had found to do he did with all his might,

And I own things look agin me- -that is, upon their face

But you see that blasted engin' her petticoat come down,

(Here Danny's honest features contracted in a frown)

And I leave it now to you, sir-you'n me both bein' human

Could I have went and told that thing to any bloomin' woman?"

And as well as being faithful he was The Kincaid Locomotive Stoker. painfully polite. Requests have been received for inforBut ruthless fate o'ertook him, without mation concerning the Kincaid Locomoa warning word,

tive Stoker, an advertisement of which For Danny's engine failed him once, right is published in this MAGAZINE. The ediat the Edgemoor yard.

tor has never seen one. He knows noth

For twenty minutes there he stayed, and ing of the merits or practicability of the

sweated, fumed and raged

The while his ever willing hands in its repair engaged,

Three times the lady agent who thereat was employed

machine, but he knows that if it will do the work that its manufacturers claim it will do, it will be a blessing to the overworked fireman.

There is a great demand by railroad officials for more economical firing, and

Had plied him with sharp queries, which for smokeless firing. The manufacturDanny much annoyed. ers claim that this machine will accom

"The train dispatcher says," she said, plish these results. If these claims are "to tell him right away.

What earthly thing's the reason for the 'Cannon Ball's' delay."

But Danny toiled on earnestly, and no reply made he,

well founded, then railway companies should "put up or shut up;" the companies should equip their locomotives with these stokers or else stop this demand for "one-shovel" "smokeless" firing. They can not refuse to buy them because of

Except, "You go and tell him nothin's expense, for, if what the manufacturers the matter-see?"

say is true, the machine will soon pay

And so he patched his engine up and took for itself in the coal saved.

his train along,

If this machine is practicable-if it

And the lady never really knew exactly will do the work as well as the manufac

what was wrong.

But next day, at headquarters, to Danny's great chagrin,

The Superintendent sent promptly called him in.

turers say it will, and if the railway companies will buy them, then the fireman will have his burden lightened-not as much as the brakeman did when air a boy and brakes took the place of hand brakes, for the fireman will still have to shovel the

"Dan," said the "old man," sternly, "in coal into the machine, but the back

all my life as yet

I've never known a discipline to cause me such regret.

Your record is a good one, but stubbornness, 'tis plain,

breaking features will be partly eliminated. The following written statement has been received from the manufacturers:

"There is a remarkable unanimity of opinion among master mechanics and Won't go, and, so for thirty days you'll superintendents of motive power as to

not take out a train.

One month you are suspended, and now
I'd like to know

the necessity of the mechanical stoker to lighten the labor of the fireman. They realize, evidently, that there is a well defined limit to human capabilities and human endurance; that mortal brawn and skill cannot unaided, overcome all of the obstacles lying "Well, sir," said Danny, humbly. "I'm in the paths of railway economy. Sev

Why insubordination a man like you should show?"

sorry 'bout this case,

eral of the leading companies have

Showing Stoker from left and rear. In this illustration is shown the Stoker as attached to furnace of locomotive; the hopper for coal; plunger trough below; engines and the steam pipe extending to union connecting it with blower c: heater pipe at left of furnace door. Also the valves at left of Stoker, convenient for the fireman to regulate the operation of machine.