Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 January 1915 — GOT ALONG WITHOUT RAIL [ARTICLE]

GOT ALONG WITHOUT RAIL

Evidently Passengers' Time on This Railroad Counted for Little With the Management. On a dilapidated narrow-gauge railroad a traveler was struck with the general air of hopelessness of the entire country. Run-down farms, fences falling to pieces, and houses unpainted and dismal were seen as mile after mile was reeled off. Finally a countryman got on, and the two fell into conversation. "Country around here looks fearfully dilapidated,’* remarked the traveler. “Yaas, but jest wait an’ ye’ll see sumpin’ wuss,” replied the countryman. The train stopped. They looked out and saw a rail missing ahead. The entire train crew clam~bered out, crowbars in hand, proceeded leisurely to the rear of the train, and in due time loosened a rail and carried it forward. It was spiked into position and the train proceeded. “Somebody steal a rail?" asked the traveler. “Yaas, abaout twenty years ago, I reckon. Evah since they haint nobody bought a new one. When the train comes back they've gotter stop an* tear up a rail behind ’em. Aint that the dilapidatenenest thing ye ever see, stranger?"