FAST TRAVELLING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7958, 8 February 1906, Page 3

FAST TRAVELLING.

A "speed mad miner," named Waller Scott, of Death Valley, Southern California, recently enriched the coffers of the Santa Fe railroad to the extent of £l,lOO in return for their enterprise* in landing hiui in Chicago from Los Angeles, in less than 46 hours, the time stipulated by the miner in bargaining for the run. The particulars of the trip are to band by the Oceanic Company's R.M.S. Ventura. The distance was 2,265 miles, and the titue occupied was 44 hours and 54 minutes, giving an average speed of over 50 miles an hour—an extraordinary performance, in view of the fact thai the train had to rise to an elevation of 7,208 feet from the Pacific Ocean, and descend into Chisago, which is but 593 feet above the level of the sea. At several stages of the run 85 to 90 miles an hour were made, and for a stretch of 239 miles the time was 239 minutes, exactly a mile a minute, but more wonderful still, an average speed of 54 miles an hour was maintained for a distance nf 1,360 miles. From the small ban,let of Cameron to tbe still smaller one of Surrey was 2 8 miles, and this was made in Imin 35seo, being at the rate of 10G miles an hour. Tbe world's record before had been held by the Pennsylvania railroad, which covered 2.5 miles at the rate of 102 miles an hour. This run has been compared with the previous run of the Santa Pe made in 1890, but tbe railroad men point unt that the comparison is not a fair one,j as the road bed has been greatly imbroved, gradei have bfeen reduced, curves straightened, light rails replaced by heavy and new ballast iut into place. Tbe Santa Pe management say that this Is in answer to those people who bold that American railway equipment is not so good as in some other countries. Tbe record made could only be attained by a railroad in possession of the best rolling, stock and appointments generally.