Stage-Coach and Railway Statistics
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It may not
be generally known that the person who projected and established
stage-coaches in America, and he who projected and established
rail-coaches in England, are of tin: same name; but such has
been ascertained to be the fact.
Levi Pease, who removed from Somers,
Ct., to Shrewsbury, Mass., about 1794, as may be known by
reference to the history of Shrewsbury, established the first
line of stages. It extended from Somers to Boston. It was
commenced and prosecuted under great disadvantages; but the
indomitable energy of the enterprising projector and proprietor
enabled him to succeed. His interest in the matter prompted him
to petition the legislature of Massachusetts for a turnpike
road, which was granted; and was the first charter of the kind
that was granted in that State.
His friends, deeming the scheme
somewhat visionary, endeavored to dissuade him from it ; but his
conceptions of the public wants rendered their opposition
unavailing. The fact of his having made several trips without a
single passenger was used as an argument against his
undertaking. But the argument was fully met, as was shown by the
result, by his expressed conviction that as soon as it should be
known that the conveyance could be depended on, it would be
patronized. Be died Jan. 28, 1824, aged 81.
By a Manchester (England) paper,
(copied from the Durham Chronicle,) which was sent to the writer
by an acquaintance in Darlington, it appears that Edward Pease,
a citizen of Darlington, and a member of the Society of Friends
is entitled to the credit and honor of designing, introducing,
and establishing, in despite of the most formidable
difficulties, the railway system, which has excited the wonder
and the imitation of the whole world.
Although not noticed by any public
demonstration, the Stockton and Darlington railway attained its
majority, and was opened to the public, on the 27th of
September, 1825. The line originally projected was to embrace
twenty-three miles; and how great a work, and how experimental
it was deemed, is truly inferred by the corporate Beal of the
company, "Periculum privatum, utilitas publica." But
for the means and judgment of its first promoters it would, in
all probability, never have been executed; for £100 was then
subscribed much more slowly than £1000 or £10,000 now, when the
importance and safety of such undertakings have been proved to
the world. This railway has been conducted in a great measure by
members of the Society of Friends ; and with them have sat at
the board, for several years, members of the Church of England,
Roman Catholics, Independents, &c.; yet it is said that they
never divided upon a question but once. The board has long
desisted from publishing accounts. "We are therefore unable to
give any statistics, but have our approximate notions of the
progress of this railway, which has set the example to the
world. The twenty-three miles have become eighty. It was
expected to convey 80,000 tons of coals to Darlington and other
towns, per annum, and a contingent of 10,000 tons for export at
Stockton. The 80,000 have been more than doubled, while the
10,000, we are told, has reached nearly 1,000,000. Goods were
little thought of, coaches not at all; but goods are said to be
over 100,000 tons per annum, and passengers about 400,000 per
annum.
The first railway coach was drawn by
steam at Darlington, on the 26th September, 1824. It was called
"The Experiment;" it was in shape like an omnibus ; and it is
believed, that, with one exception, all who rode in it on that
day, are yet living. It appears that by the subscription of Mr.
Pease, his perseverance, &c, who, for a limited period, when the
company's credit with their bankers failed, bore the whole
weight of its pecuniary expenditure on his shoulders, aided by a
few individuals, was this pioneer railway completed; and there
is one remarkable fact attending it from its commencement in
Parliament to its completion, that no director ever received one
shilling for his services till the shareholders had received
five per cent, or upwards.
A year or two since, Mr. Pease was
living at Darlington, aged 80 years or upwards, and in good
health and mental vigor.
This Edward Pease is a relative of
John Pease, a celebrated preacher, and of Joseph Pease, who was
for some time member of Parliament, and of Elizabeth Pease, who
is known as something of a philanthropist. They are all Friends
and all residents of Darlington.
Fred. S. Pease
Albany, May 1, 1848.
Source: The New England Historical & Genealogical Register,
Published Quarterly Under The Direction Of The New England
Historic, Genealogical Society, Rev. William Cogswell, D. D.,
Editor. Volume I., Boston, Samuel G. Drake, Publisher, 1847,
Coolidge & Wiley, Printers, 12 Water Street, Boston.
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