Glimpses of Irish Industries (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1889 Excerpt: ... CHAPTER II. RAILWAY AUTOCRACY. A Pilot of Civilization.--Public Incredulity.--Damaging Opposition.--Double and Single Lines.--Scale of Railways in United Kingdom.--Ornamental Officialism.--Neglect of Public Interest.--Attitude of Liberals.--Want of Unity in Management.--Excessive Charges.--Excursion Trains.--A Mistaken Policy.--A Successful Innovation.--Irish Railways.--Their Condition.--Universal Dissatisfaction.--Scale of Charges.--Development of Industries Restricted.--Report of Commissioners.--Example of Belgium. Columbus and his crew, drawing near the shores of the New World, on the morning of the 12 th of October, 1492, was a spectacle of minor importance compared with the memorable pageant of September 15 th, 1830. On that day, George Stephenson opened the first great trunk line in England. The historic trip, made at the rate of 36 miles an hour, carrying 130 passengers, was performed on the first passenger line opened in this country. Guiding his locomotive at the head of the line running between Liverpool and Manchester, Stephenson was a greater hero than the Duke of Wellington, who graced the occasion with his presence. Never in modern times had England passed through a sadder or a more anxious period, than during that when the first railway was built. It was the period of reaction which followed the Napoleonic wars. The suffering of the poorer classes was severe, popular discontent great, the patience of the nation worn out; half the counties of England nightly illuminated by the glare of incendiary fires. A fierce political agitation was raging; the cry for Parliamentary reform was loud, and against this cry the prime minister had set his face like a flint. A greater man than Wellington appeared that day, not clothed in military attire, decorate...