THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
69 
MODERN RAILWAY TRAVEL . 
Changes That Have Taken Place Since the Nurserymen Attended 
the First Convention of the American Association—Eastern 
Members Occupied an Entire Coach on the Wabash Last 
Month—Unrivaled Service—From Denver to Chi¬ 
cago on the Rock Island Railway. 
From the moment the nurserymen left their homes last 
month to attend the convention of the American Association, 
they were reminded of the great changes that had taken place 
since the first convention of the Association. While the hotel 
service of Chicago leaves nothing to be desired, it is the rail¬ 
way service to and from the convention city that calls for 
special mention. A quarter of a century ago the luxury of 
modern travel was scarcely dreamed of. 
Notwithstanding the advantages afforded by first class pas¬ 
sage, all the railroads made a special rate, as is their custom, for 
the nurserymen. The eastern mem¬ 
bers occupied an entire coach on the 
Wabash railroad from Buffalo to Chi¬ 
cago, leaving Buffalo on the evening of 
June nth. The management of each 
of the many main lines running into 
Chicago claims superior advantages for 
its line, and it is probable that each is 
justified in so doing. Certain it is that 
General Agent R. F. Kelley, of the 
passenger department of the Wabash 
railroad, deserves particular mention 
for the highly satisfactory manner in 
which he provided for the nurserymen 
who selected his road for the conven¬ 
tion trip. Every facility for the enjoy¬ 
ment of the trip was afforded. The 
line is a direct one from Buffalo and 
the Falls, via Detroit, to Chicago. The 
Continental Limited is a fast through 
train, comprising palace coaches and 
Pullman sleepers. Meals are served in 
diners. The Wabash furnishes snug, 
richly appointed apartments (into 
which the traveler can lock himself or herself), brilliantly 
lighted by the Pintsch gas system, supplied with lavatory 
and closet, having an electric bell for summoning an attend¬ 
ant, and a well-stocked buffet—all at reasonable prices. 
The dining cars of the Wabash are favorably known to 
travelers the country over, and are in all their appointments 
and fittings strictly in line with the unrivaled excellence of 
the sleeping, parlor and chair car service. These cars are 
attached to all day trains on the principal lines. 
A knowledge of the advantages afforded by the Wabash 
railroad will prove of value, inasmuch as this line runs direct to 
Niagara Falls with connections at Chicago.and St. Louis from 
all points west, and at Albany, New York and Boston with ab 
points east. It will be a favorite line- for. nurserymen who 
attend the convention next year at the Falls. 
Another great railway line, with unrivaled service, is the 
famous Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific, familiarly known a 
the Rock Island. This company runs solid through vestibuled 
trains from Chicago to Denver, Colorado Springs and Pueblo ( 
connecting with the Denver and Rio Grande and the Rio 
Grande Western for points west of Denver, including Grand 
Junction, Salt Lake City, Ogden and San Francisco. The 
Rocky Mountain Limited is a favorite train between Denver, 
Omaha, Kansas City and Chicago. The service on this train 
cannot be surpassed. The Rock Island affords the grandest 
scenic trip on the American continent, by limited trains 
through the Colorado Rockies and the Sierra Nevada by day¬ 
light in both directions, with the finest equipment, buffet, 
library and dining cars, and close connection to and from Los 
Angeles and Southern California with the famous “owl train ” 
of the Southern Pacific. The general passenger agent, John 
Sebastian of Chicago, is noted for his untiring efforts in behalf 
of the traveling public. The Rock Island station in Chicago 
is the only station in that city on the elevated loop over which 
all elevated trains pass. 
A trip to Niagara Falls and the Pan-American Exposition 
next June over either or both of these roads will be long 
remembered by reason of its thorough 
enjoyment. The facilties offered are a 
special inducement to attend the con¬ 
vention of 1901. 
THEODORE J. SMITH. 
Theodore J. Smith. 
Theodore J. Smith, who was elected 
president of the American Association 
of Nurserymen at its recent meeting 
in Chicago, was born in Geneva, N. Y., 
on June 28th, 1862. He received a 
common school education in that city, 
and afterwards entered Hobart College, 
from which institution he was gradu¬ 
ated in 1884. After a short course in 
law he entered actively into the nursery 
business with William and Thomas 
Smith, his uncle and father, who were 
pioneer nurserymen, having established 
the old Geneva nursery in 1846. In 
1892 the Wm. T. Smith Company was 
incorporated and Mr. Smith as from 
that time been its secretary and treas¬ 
urer, and while devoting most of his time to the nursery busi¬ 
ness, he has also been interested in several other business 
corporations, and is now president of the Geneva Optical 
Company, and until quite recently of the Baltimore Retort 
Co., and a director in several other institutions and business 
corporations. 
Mr. Smith has served his city for several years, first as a 
member of the Board of Water Commissioners and afterwards 
on the Board of Public Works. 
The W. & T. Smith Company, of which Mr. Smith is the 
active manager, has been for many years one of the leading 
nurseries in the country and enjoys a very extensive patronage 
and an enviable reputation. 
President Smith thinks the immediate future of the nursery 
business is very promising, and that the next meeting of the 
Association which is to be held in Niagara Falls will be one 
of the largest in point of numbers and interest, especially on 
account of the Pan-American Exposition to be held at the 
same time in Buffalo, a few miles distant. 
