The history of the first locomotives in America. From original ...

FIRST TEtrCK-ENGIKE. 315
" Mr. David Matthew was the machinist who put up this truckmachine.
I regard it as the greatest point that an American
engineer, in the face of English practice, should have devised a
plan, which at the time was considered very radical, of introdu-
cing a truck to support the end of the frame and guide the motion
of the engine, and which, after thirty-seven years of experience, is
now adopted on every engine of nearly fifty thousand miles of railroad
in America."
During tlie past forty years, wMle railroads were
stretcMng forth their iron arms over vast sections of
our country, and indeed of the civilized world, and
even through the wild and thinly-populated domains
of the savage, where exist vast forests and hitherto
pathless deserts of sand, locomotives, those absolute
essentials to the ec6nomy and success of these enter-
prises, were in like manner making giant strides in the
way of improvement, from the " Rocket " of Stephenson
in England, and the "Best Friend, of Charleston," in
this country, to the perfection which characterizes the
first-class locomotive of the present day. When we
compare the performances of these and their readiaess
at all hours, and under all circumstances, to brave the
torrents, the winds, and the snows of the most terrific
tempest, we cannot but call to mind an advertisement
in a Philadelphia paper in 1832. This we will extract
just as it appeared. It will, no doubt, draw a smile
upon the faces of our present locomotive engiaeers. It
reads thus
:
"Notice to the PtrBLic.—The engine, with a train of cars,
wUl be run daily, commencing this day, when the weather is fair
when the weather is not fair, the horses will draw the cars. Pas-
sengers are requested to be punctual at the hour of starting."
When we contemplate the rapid march made, upon
this continent alone, in railroad and locomotive ina-
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