Semaphore Magazine

amount of coal funneled through the town up to River Bend amounted to almost nothing. In fact, the total volume of business in those days at Mount Holly totaled only about $4000 a month, and it was hardly enough to keep one man busy.

Three for the job By contrast, Agent Calvert now has two assistants in the agency and handles in the neighborhoods of a half a million dollar volume every month. Much of this business is due to the vast amount of coal which passes through Mount Holly on its way to River Bend six miles away. Since Mount Holly is the closest station to the big plant, billings for this freight are handled through Calvert's agency. But coal is not all that is credited to Mount Holly. The textile mills and the chemical plant are important railroad customers, too, and they account for a substantial part. Agent Calvert is optimistic about the future of Mount Holly and expects to live long enough to see it grow into a sizable town. The odds are better than even that he will too.

[photo of two Mount Holly assistants] ASSISTANTS at the Mount Holly agency are D. V. Sadler, seated at left, and T. A. Jones.

QUIZ ON RAILROADING Test your knowledge of railroads and railroading. The answers are below. If you answer 5 of the following questions correctly, you are good; if you answer 6 or 7, you are very good; if you answer 8 or 9, you are way above average; if you answer all 10, you are a whiz.

1. In what state is the Lucin Cut-Off --Utah, Louisiana, or Missouri? 2. What is a Class Two Railroad--a privately-owned logging or mining railroad, a railroad which does not operate passenger trains, or a railroad with annual revenues between $100,000 and $1,000,000? 3. What metal is most commonly used in the wheels of railway passenger cars--wrought steel, chilled iron, or cast steel? 4. By what name are the "feelers" of a clearance car known--tell tales, cat's whiskers, or roundels? 5. How much did the railroads receive in 1953 for hauling the average ton of freight one mile--about 1 1/2, 2 1/2, or 3 1/2 cents? 6. When was the Rail Diesel Car first placed in service on an American railroad--before, during or since World War II? 7. Is the Pocahontas region (referred to in railroad statistical reports) in the Eastern, Southern, or Western district? 8. Approximately how many passenger and freight trains are operated daily on the American railroads--15,000, 20,000 or 25,000? 9. Did railway taxes in 1953 amount to more or less than one billion dollars? 10. Where is the Cascade Tunnel--in Washington State, Colorado, or Massachusetts?

Answers

1. Utah. 2. A railroad with annual revenues between $100,000 and $1,000,000. 3. Wrought steel. 4. Cat's whiskers. 5. About 1 1/2 cents--1.478 cents to be exact. 6. Since World War II (in May, 1950, to be exact.) 7. Southern District. 8. About 25,000. 9. More than $1 billion--$1,185,000,000 to be exact. 10. Washington state.

MAY, 1954 9

P & N MODEL is being examined by Vernon Smith, son of C. G. Smith, whose trains were the first to be received by the Hall of History.

Tar Heel Railroad ...models tell the story of railroads in North Carolina

ONE hundred and fourteen years ago the first steam engine chugged into Raleigh over the lines of the Raleigh and Gaston Railroad. The coming of the railroads to North Carolina played an important part in the transformation of what was then known as the "Rip Van Winkle" state into what is considered today as one of the most progressive states in the South. Transportation was at one time one of the Tar Heel State's greatest drawbacks, but the coming of the railroads quickly opened up the state to development from the coast to the mountains. In March of this year, the N. C. State Department of Archives and History took official recognition of the role which the railroads have played in the development of the state. With Secretary of State That Eure driving the traditional golden spike, North Carolina's newest

GOLDEN SPIKE is driven by Thad Eure, N. C. Secretary of State, in opening-day ceremonies.

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railroad began operations on March 19 in the Hall of History at Raleigh. The newest railroad is a model exhibit designed to tell the story of railroading in the Tar Hell State, and it was formally dedicated and opened on that date.

Traditional golden spike

Carl Goerch, associate publisher of the State magazine, delivered the dedicatory address on "Railroading in North Carolina." Following the driving of the half-inch golden spike, a demonsration of the trains was presented by members of the Raleigh Model Railroad Club who installed the exhibit. The Hall of History Railroad originated with the donation of the extensive model railroad collection of the late Cyrill G. Smith, of Charlotte, by members of his family. Mr. Smith, a former railroad man, constructed several models of locomotives, passenger cars and freight cars of the type used in North Carolina during the early decades of the twentieth century. He was founder and president of the public Warehousing operations served by the Piedmont & Nothern. For this reason, he was very interested in P & N equipment and constructed several models of P & N electric locomotives and passenger cars. These models are an important part of the collection now in the Hall of History. The Seaboard Air Line Railroad lent two models for the exhibit -one of which is a model of the pioneer engine "Raleigh" operated by the Raleigh and Gaston Railroad. The other is a modern diesel engine with streamlined passenger equipment. The rolling stock of the Hall of History Railroad consists of models of trains of the early 1840's the post-Civil War period, the early 1900's, and the present day.

The contrast of speed

The models are scaled not only size but aslo in speed. The "Raleigh" is geared to travel at a much slower pace than fast diesels. Thus while the former appears to be moving along at 15 m. p. h., the latter seems to making 60 or 70. All the trains are 0 gauge or quarter inch scale with the rails laid one-and-one quarter inches apart. An outside third rail is used for the 20-volt alternating current which powers the exhibit.

THE MODEL IS A DRAMATIC PRESENTATION OF RAILROADING IN THE TAR HEEL STATE

MAY, 1954 11

[column 1]

and Weldon began operations in 1840, it was the longest in the world at that time -161 miles in length.

"The selection of Weldon instead of Raleigh as the terminus of the Wilmington railroad caused the citizens of the Capital City to take action. The Raleigh and Gaston Railroad was organized to connect with the Petersburg railroad at the town of Gaston which, like Weldon, was located on the Roanoke River in Halifax County. The Raleigh and Gaston Railroad was finally completed in March, 1840, and a three-day celebration was held in June to inaugurate its opening as well as the completion of the new Capitol.

North Carolina Railroad

"During the 1840's other sections of the state began agitating for railroads. Governors John Motley Morehead and William A. Graham urged the state to take the initiative in building railroads, but all attempts failed until 1849 when the legislature chartered the North Carolina Railroad Company to construct a railroad from Goldsboro via Raleigh, Greensboro, Salisbury, and Concord to Charlotte. This 233-mile line was formally opened in January, 1856, and Piedmont North Carolina at last had an outlet to the markets of the world. Villages, factories, and towns sprang up along its route, and that region soon became one of the most prosperous in the state. Following the Civil War the Railroad was extended to the mountain regions of North Carolina and produced the same beneficial effects in that area.

"It is difficult to overestimate the effect of the railroads on the Old North State. The cost of transporting the farmer's goods to market was cut drastically, sometimes by more than half. For example, in 1840, farmers adjacent to the Raleigh and Gaston line were able to sell their wheat for $1.12 1/2 a bushel, while those elsewhere who depended upon wagons for shipment to market

[column 2]

got only 75c per bushel. The freight rate on a 100-pound shipment from Raleigh to Petersburg was soon reduced from $1.50 to 70c. Thus the farmer could now dispose of his surplus produce at a profit, and in addition, the price of the goods that he purchased was reduced, so that he could enjoy a higher standard of living.

"The development of commerce and industry led to the building of towns and cities. Land values throughout the state increased. Cheaper passenger rates enabled the citizens of the state to travel more widely, and more frequent mail service kept them in closer touch with developments away from home. Railroads brought greater contact between various regions of the state and led to an increase of state unity, pride, and patriotism. Instead of leaving North Carolina, as so many persons had done during the 1830's, many of her citizens now decided that there were ample opportunities for them at home."

THE CHAMP AT BAT [drawing of person holding baseball bat with "SERVICE" on it under a train branded "American Railroads"]

MAY, 1954 13

[column 1] Forestry experience

In the depths of the depression Civil Engineer Torrence joined the U. S. Forest Service, in which capacity he supervised the work of 200 engineers working in North Carolina and Tennesse on various forestry projects. When he completed this assignment he did some free lance engineering work before joining the P & N in 1940.

His work with the P & N has been largely in connection with the planning and development of the railroad's Thrift Road industrial area in Charlotte and other land development. He spends a good bit of his time at his drawing table in the general offices working over maps and blueprints, but he is most likely to be found in the great outdoors where he has lived most of his life.

Mr. Torrence lives with his wife at 1815 Bay Street in Charlotte

[Black and white photograph of a man croutching down with a rag shining a bell]

LOCOMOTIVE BELLS have found their way into many churches the length and breadth of the land. This P & N bell, being shined up by Blacksmith B. L. Bolt, is no exception. It was recently removed from one of the old electrics and will soon be presented to a church. It is one of the last of the P & N bells which became available as a result of diselization.

[column 2] Forest Products Industry And Rails Go Hand-in-Hand

The forest products industry and the railroad industry are economic partners in the truest sense of the term. They have literally grown up together in America, each complementing the other, each contributing to the prosperity of the other.

Many pioneer railroads in the United States were built especially to serve the lumber industry. And today many railroads depend for a substatial part of their tonnage upon lumber mills, pulp and paper mills, woodworking plants and other industries which draw their raw materials from the forests.

Railroads work for the lumber industry in two ways—they transport logs from forests to mills, and they transport lumber from mills to markets. The same i true with respect to the paper industry. Railroads haul large quantities of pulpwood and pulp from points of production to the paper mills. They haul paper and paper products from the mills to wholesale distributors, printing and publishing houses, newspaper offices and other users.

2.3 million carloads

Some idea of how extensive this traffic is may be gained from the fact that in 1953 the Class I railroads of the United States transported 2,342,000 carloads of logs, poles, lumber, pulpwood, pulp, crossties, shingles, lath, and other wood products—not including large quantities of manufactured items which are made from wood. For instance, the foregoing figures do not include thousands of carloads of paper, paper bags, furniture, boxes, crates, cartons, barrels, wallboard, and numerous other products which draw their raw materials from the forests.

See LUMBER—Page 18

MAY, 1954 15

Along the Line NEWS ABOUT THE FOLKS WHO KEEP WHO KEEP THE TRAINS ROLLING [Black and white sketches of 4 people surround the title, a woman in a dress next to a cabinet, a man in overalls holding a wrencha and waving, a man in a suit sitting at a desk talking on the phone, a man in overalls transporting a box on a dolly]

[column 1]

GENERAL OFFICES

Blanche Fote accompanied friends to Myrtle Beach for the week-end of April 30. C. N. "Pop" Sherrill's son, Clarence Jr., with Mrs. Sherrill and their threeyear-old daughter, Dorothy, paid the General Offices a short visit on Easter Monday before returning to their home in Savannah, Ga.

Jimmy Bennett, now in the army and stationed at Fort Jackson, S. C., was a visitor to the General Offices during April.

Herman Crook and Joe Bentley, employees in the Interline Section of the accounting department, spent a few days in Washington the first week in April.

Baxter Little, Jr., joined the crowd on the golf links in Augusta, Ga., for the Master's tournament the week-end of April 10.

Ruth Belk, former secretary to the president, was a welcomed visitor to the offices on May 3. She and her husband now make their home at Myrtle Beach.

Wm. J. Brewer and Miss Barbara Barrier were married in a quiet ceremony at Chesterfield, S. C., on April 30. Barbara is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. R. Barrier of Greensboro, and a senior at Pfeiffer College, from which she will graduate in June. Mr. Brewer is a clerk in the car record department. Auditor of Receipts D. J. Caldwell has returned to his office following a recent illness.

Margaret Cowan spent a few days with Mr. and Mrs. John J. Sutherland in Washington, D. C., the latter party of April. Mrs. Sutherland is the former Mary Elizabeth Harper who was formerly

[column 2]

a sternographer in the accounting department.

Mr. and Mrs. Boyce Coble and Mr. and Mrs. Baxter Little spent the week-end of May 7 fishing at Windy Hill, S. C.

J. D. Cannon and his family enjoyed a few days during Easter week-end vacationing at Daytona Beach, Fla.

S. C. DIVISION [Black and white photograph of a bride and groom cutting a wedding cake surrounded by 5 attendants in dresses holding flowers]

Mr. and Mrs. William H. Mitchell, daughter and son-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. M. Carlton Watt, of Anderson S. C., are pictured above with the bridal attendants at the cake cutting following the wedding on April 17, at Grace Episcopal Church, Anderson, S. C.

Miss Martha Beatrice Adams, daughter of Conductor and Mrs. W. R. Adams, of Greenville, died April 27 in a Greenville hospital. Funeral services were held at the Mackey Mortuary conducted by her pastor, the Rev. Eugene W. Lawrence, the Rev. C. Edward Davis, and the Rev. John Wrenn. Miss Adams was a native of Greenville and was in the 10th grade at Greenville Senior High School. She was a member of the White

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