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

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HISTORY OF THE FIRST LOCOMOTIVES IN AMERICA.
ful progress, or in operation in different sections of the
country, yet, as in England in its earliest day, for min-
ing purposes, only horse-power was used, and no attempt
had heen made to construct a locomotive, nor had one
been imported from abroad.
CHAPTEE XII.
EAILEOADS IN AMERICA.
The first railroad built in the United States was
three miles in length, extending from the granite-quar-
ries of Quincy, Massachusetts, to the Neponset Kiver.
This road was commenced in 1826, and completed in
1827. It was buUt with granite sleepers, seven and a
half feet long, laid eight feet apart. " The rails, five
feet apart, were of pine, a foot deep, covered with an
oak plate, and these with flat bars of iron.
The second railroad was commenced in January,
1827, and completed in May of the same year, extend-
ing from the coal-mines in Maiich Chunk, Pennsylvania,
to the Lehigh River, a distance of nine miles. From
the summit of the road, and within half a mile of the
mines, the descent by a plane was nine hundred and
eighty-two feet, inclined two hundred and twenty-five
feet to the river, and thence twenty-five feet in a shute
to the spot where the cars were discharged into the
boats. The cars descended by gravity with the loaded
wagons, and were drawn up again by mules. The
rails of the road were of timber, laid on wooden sleep-
ers, and strapped with flat iron bars.
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