This Month's Humorous Tidbit
from the
Hudson Mohawk Industrial Gateway
An excerpt from a letter by Martin Van Buren, then Governor of
New York, to the President of the United States:
"The canal system of this country is being threatened by a new
form of transportation known as 'railroads'.... As you may well
know, Mr. President, 'railroad' carriages are pulled at the
enormous speed of 15 miles per hour by 'engines' which, in
addition to endangering the life and limb of passengers, roar
and snort their way through the countryside, setting fire to
crops, scaring the livestock and frightening women and children.
The Almighty certainly never intended that people should travel
at such breakneck speed."
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