Dale County AlArchives News.....The Passenger Train Arrives (1885) 1984
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.

http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Christine Thacker http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00033.html#0008100 April 24, 2004, 4:23 pm

Southern Star
The History Corner  (Southern Star 1984/85)


             The Passenger Train Arrives
             By Creel Richardson

  On Sunday, August 2, 1885, Jack, one of Capt. John Cowling's Wagon
Train mules choked and died. He had been in service for 12 years, and had
traveled an estimated 55,000 miles to and from Eufaula. Responding to a
query about how the Wagon Train might get along without Jack, the Editor of the 
Star noted "that there is an ethereal fitness in things and Jack, like some 
other heroes, could not brook a successful rivalry or com-
petition. He therefore choked himself to death, and died".
  Less than two years later. Captain Rogers, Vice-President of the Central 
System, together with W.N. Reeves, J.W. Tullis and C.C. McCormick
came to Ozark with a letter from General Alexander, President of the
Central, stating that he intended to extend the railroad to Ozark.
  In June 1887, G.S. who traveled with the Wagon Train, notified the
Star that the engineers were in Eufaula and ready to survey the route from 
Clayton to "beautiful little Ozark."On June 28, the Chief Engineer was notified 
to be in Clayton and begin work on the extension the following Monday.
  In July Captain John Dowling received a notice from General Alexander that as 
soon as "preliminaries" could be completed work on the extension would begin. 
In some of his "exchanges" the Editor of the Star read that the Central 
authorities were in Wall Street trying to unload- probably bonds. Commented the 
Editor "We hope that they unload us a railroad from Clayton to Ozark".
  Meantime, as the Wagon Train continued its weekly trips to Eufaula, the
people of Ozark realized more than ever before the need for the railroad
to be completed. When it arrives, wrote the Editor of the Star,the "Wiregrass 
Region will hear the snort of the iron horse," and then Ozark
will arouse from its long slumber, and show the people a country much to be 
envied by some not so well favored.
  In November 1887 the "Eufaula Mail" noted that the Ozark Wagon Train had a 
sweet time, no doubt, in going home in the rain yesterday. But
never mind it will not be so for another year, for the railroad extension from 
Clayton to Ozark will be built the coming spring as if the contrac- tors were 
fighting fire." Yes, replied the Editor of the Star, the Ozark Wagon Train has 
been having sweet times for the past 16 years wagoning from Eufaula but they 
will make their exit from the Bluff City about the first of March to be 
superceded by the iron horse.
  Events proceeded rapidly during the fall of 1887 and the spring of 1888. 
Surveys were completed and contracts awarded in five mile sections. Mr. 
Patterson and his son and their work force camped near Ozark to do the five 
mile section from Ozark to Barnes X Roads. Captain Little and his 86 "sons of 
Italy" camped at the Cross Roads to prepare the section from there to the 
Barbour line.
  In Late November 1887 Captain Little brought his sons of Italy to town to 
view the village of Ozark with its approximately 800 citizens, its new
brick Courthouse, and other brick structures under way. In addition, they
probably saw the three hotels, the three livery stables and two planing
mills.
  Some of the Italians spoke broken English enough to be understood,
others could not speak a word of English. They were quite amusing in
their general appearance and conversation with each other and appeared
to be a quiet set of men intent on attending their own business.
  In the meantime, between 200 and 250 mules together with carts and other 
equipment, passed through Clayton enroute to the various camp sites along the 
way. By February 15, 1888, 14 cars of iron had arrived at Clayton for track 
laying which was scheduled tobegin soon. By February 22 most of the grading had 
been completed, and cross ties were being distributed. Track laying began at 
Clayton on April 24, and by late summer the tracks were ready for the passenger 
train.
  Under the caption of can it be true, in his issue of September 28, 1888, the 
Editor of the Star gave his readers the following description of the arrival of 
the first passenger train in the town of Ozark: "It strikes me that some one 
has said that nothing is stranger than truth. But never before were we more 
forcibly impressed with the truth of
this old saying then on last Sunday morning when we learned that the passenger 
train was actually in Ozark. Yes, the citizens of the quiet little town of 
Ozark were startled at midnight on Saturday night last by the arrival of the 
passenger train from Eufaula. Although midnight, many of our anxious citizens 
could not await the dawning of the day, but aroused by the blowing of the 
whistle, they arose and betook themselves forthwith to the depot, where to 
their great surprise, as well as delight, stood a passenger train. At the break 
of day, the crowd
increased and notwithstanding the fact that the Church bells rang for Sunday 
School, the number of people at the train continued to grow, and by three 
o'clock on Sunday evening, the men, women, girls, boys, babys were all at the 
train.
  As many of the crowd as could push their way into the coaches, seated
themselves, while the remainder contented themselves with an outward in-
spection of the wonderful object. The crowd did not vacate the cars until late 
in the evening when the train porter gave notice that the time for closing the 
cars had come, and that they would have to get out".
                           
          From the Newspaper files of Harold Stephens
       Scanned and Submitted by Christine G. Thacker.
       Permission to post any Southern Star article or pictures 
given            by Mr Joseph Adams, Owner, April 23, 2004.

Additional Comments:
 Not sure of date could be 1985?

This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/alfiles/

File size: 6.3 Kb