Thursday, January 8, 2015
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
WHEELS THAT WON THE WEST®: An Overview Of The Star Wagon Company
WHEELS THAT WON THE WEST®: An Overview Of The Star Wagon Company: Living in an age where visual arts have enjoyed so much progress can make it tempting to take the work of graphic design for granted. Mode...
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Lex Anteinternet: Lex Anteinternet: The best-laid schemes o' mice an...
Lex Anteinternet: Lex Anteinternet: The best-laid schemes o' mice an...: Lex Anteinternet: The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men: Lex Antein... : I've been bumping up this thread from time to time: ...And now, today I've read a prediction that the price may go under $20 bbl, which would be truly astounding with huge economic consequences in the region. That figure is truly hard to imagine.
Lex Anteinternet: The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men: Lex Antein...
Lex Anteinternet: The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men: Lex Antein...: I've been bumping up this thread from time to time: Lex Anteinternet: Lex Anteinternet: Lex Anteinternet: $40/barrel? : A couple of we...And now the local price is $42/bbl.
We're clearly going to go below $40/bbl. Amazing.
Home - BLM GLO Records
Home - BLM GLO Records
Neat site with access, in a somewhat complicated fashion, to Department of the Interior records, including land patents.
Neat site with access, in a somewhat complicated fashion, to Department of the Interior records, including land patents.
Wyoming Railroad Map, 1915
The Wyoming State Library has published a series of historic maps of the state, including railroad maps. I'd been hoping to find one for 1915 (book research, which I've been turning to again, which probably makes this blog a bit more like it originally was, and a bit more dull for the few people who actually stop in here), and low and behold, they had one.
1915 Wyoming Railroad Map.
Interesting map, it shows some things that I'd wondered about.
It shows, for one thing, that Casper was served by the Burlington Northern, which I new, and the Chicago and North Western, which I sort of knew, but it was celled the Great North Western in its later years. It served Casper up until probably about 25 years ago or so. There's hardly any remnant of it here now, and its old rail line here was converted to a trail through the town. The old depot is a nice looking office building, but I don't know if that building dates back to 1915. I doubt it. I don't think that the Burlington Northern one isn't that old either.
A really interesting aspect of this is that it shows two parallel lines actually running from where the railroads met in Douglas. I knew that there were two depots in Douglas, and I knew there were remnants of the North West line east of town, but I didn't realize that the two lines actually ran astride each other, more or less (within a few miles of each other), from Douglas to Powder River, where they joined. The depot at Powder River is no longer there.
1915 Wyoming Railroad Map.
Interesting map, it shows some things that I'd wondered about.
It shows, for one thing, that Casper was served by the Burlington Northern, which I new, and the Chicago and North Western, which I sort of knew, but it was celled the Great North Western in its later years. It served Casper up until probably about 25 years ago or so. There's hardly any remnant of it here now, and its old rail line here was converted to a trail through the town. The old depot is a nice looking office building, but I don't know if that building dates back to 1915. I doubt it. I don't think that the Burlington Northern one isn't that old either.
Former Chicago and North Western depot in Casper.
Burlington Northern Depot in Casper.
A really interesting aspect of this is that it shows two parallel lines actually running from where the railroads met in Douglas. I knew that there were two depots in Douglas, and I knew there were remnants of the North West line east of town, but I didn't realize that the two lines actually ran astride each other, more or less (within a few miles of each other), from Douglas to Powder River, where they joined. The depot at Powder River is no longer there.
Former depot for one of the railroads in Douglas, now used as a railroad interpretive center.
The other depot in Douglas, now a restaurant called "The Depot".
After that, interestingly, the Chicago and North Western ran to Shoshoni, while the Burlington Northern did not. Now, a local short line runs to Shoshoni and links in somewhere with the BN, but I don't know where. Not in Powder River, that's for sure. The BN still runs north through the Wind River Canyon, however, taking a turn at Shoshoni, which did not at that time, still passing through Lysite as it then did. No rail line runs from Shoshoni to Riverton, and on to Hudson and Lander like this map shows. And as with one of the Douglas depots, the old Riverton line is now a restaurant, although I've apparently failed to photograph that one (note to self, I suppose). It's pretty amazing to think, really, that Fremont County's rail service has really declined pretty significantly in the past century, with Lander no longer being a terminus.
Rail facilties in Lysite, which are probably nearly as old as the map being discussed here.
Going the other way, the results are even more surprising. Orin Junction is still there, and is still a railroad junction, but just for the Burlington Northern. The railroad still runs east to Lusk, but that's a Burlington Northern line today, apparently running on the old path of the Chicago and North Western. Going south east, that line is still there up to Harville, but from the there what's indicated as a Colorado & "South 'N" line is now a Union Pacific line.
I honestly don't know, and really should, how far south that UP line runs, which shows that this is one of those areas of my state's history and present that I don't know that much about. It's funny how something like this can really surprise you, and make you realize that you don't know aas much as you think. I know that the BN runs as far south as Chugwater today, and further south than that, but I don't know if it runs into Cheyenne like it once did (or rather the Colorado did). The main line of the UP runs through southern Wyoming and there's a huge yard in Cheyenne, so presumably there's a junction there somewhere.
The former Union Pacific depot in Cheyenne, now, of course, a restaurant and a museum.
This map in fact answered a question for me which I had, which is that if you wanted to travel from Casper to Cheyenne on a timely basis, what route would the train take. Well, now I know. In 1915, you'd take either of the railroads serving Casper east to Orin Junction, and then take the BN south to Hartville. From there, you'd take the Colorado south to Cheyenne. From there, the extensive UP lines opened up the path west, south and east.
It's also interesting to see some lines that I knew once existed, but which are now defunct, shown here on the map. The Saratoga & Encampment, for example, is shown. I didn't know it was that told, but I should have. The Colorado & Eastern running from Laramie up to the Snowies is also shown. I knew that some railroad had done that, and that the lines are still there (a shortline serving skiers was attempted a few years ago, but no longer runs), but I didn't know what line that was.
Very interesting stuff.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Postscript
Out of curiosity, I took a look at the map for 1930, the last one they had up. The rail lines were the same in 1930 as they were in 1915.
That shouldn't, I suppose, surprise me really. For one thing, all the basic service lines appear to have been in by 1915 (or earlier, I'll have to see if there's an earlier rail map). And the last 1930 map was a "travel" map, not specifically a rail line map, like the 1915 one was, so perhaps it may have omitted any newer lines, although I doubt it. Of interest, that travel map for 1930 only showed rail lines, not roads, so the presumption was obvious that if you were going to be doing much traveling, it was going to be by rail.
Postscript II
Another thing that occurs to me from looking at this map is the extent of rail service, particularly passenger service, but all rail service in general, at a time when the state's population was less than half of what it present is. Very extensive. Quite a remarkable change, compared to now, when some of these lines and many of the smaller railroads no longer exist here at all.
Of course, that no doubt reflects the massive changes in transportation we've seen, the improvement of roads, and of course the huge improvement in automobiles over this period.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Postscript
Out of curiosity, I took a look at the map for 1930, the last one they had up. The rail lines were the same in 1930 as they were in 1915.
That shouldn't, I suppose, surprise me really. For one thing, all the basic service lines appear to have been in by 1915 (or earlier, I'll have to see if there's an earlier rail map). And the last 1930 map was a "travel" map, not specifically a rail line map, like the 1915 one was, so perhaps it may have omitted any newer lines, although I doubt it. Of interest, that travel map for 1930 only showed rail lines, not roads, so the presumption was obvious that if you were going to be doing much traveling, it was going to be by rail.
Postscript II
Another thing that occurs to me from looking at this map is the extent of rail service, particularly passenger service, but all rail service in general, at a time when the state's population was less than half of what it present is. Very extensive. Quite a remarkable change, compared to now, when some of these lines and many of the smaller railroads no longer exist here at all.
Of course, that no doubt reflects the massive changes in transportation we've seen, the improvement of roads, and of course the huge improvement in automobiles over this period.
Monday, January 5, 2015
Sunday, January 4, 2015
Movies In History: Unbroken
This has been an unusual year for me, movie wise, as I've actually been to three, at the theatre, within a year. I'll often go years without seeing one actually at the theater. It occurs to me that I still need to add one here that I have not, that being The Monuments Men.
Last night we saw Unbroken.
This film is making the rounds right now and has been well received. I can see why, the film is simply excellent. The story is now fairly familiar to everyone, it follows the story of Louis Silvie "Louie" Zamperini, who was a B-24 bombardier in the Pacific during World War Two and whom went down in the Pacific in the course of his service. The movie is about the ordeal that follows, both on the sea, and as a Prisoner of War.
I won't try to detail that here, but I will note instead that to the extent that I know that story (I have yet to read the book), the film follows it pretty closely and does a good job of it.
In terms of material and cultural details, the film also does a superb job. The CGI generated aircraft are done excellently, and appear very real indeed. The bombing run early in the film stands in my mind as the single most frightening example of that in film, because it appears so accurate in every fashion. The film'ss one material error that I caught appeared in regards to a Japanese Zero fighter plane, which is shown rolling over with its drop tank on, which is unlikely unless the tank stuck (which is a possibility). Otherwise, all the details, uniforms, etc., are absolutely correct.
In cultural details, the film actually diminishes slightly the extreme cruelty of the Japanese as guards and general and fairly significantly diminishes the actual cruelty of Japanese guard Mutsuhiro Watanabe, but the reason for that are probably justifiable as that would have caused that to be such a feature of the film as to be absolutely overwhelming.
All in all, this is an excellent film.
Last night we saw Unbroken.
This film is making the rounds right now and has been well received. I can see why, the film is simply excellent. The story is now fairly familiar to everyone, it follows the story of Louis Silvie "Louie" Zamperini, who was a B-24 bombardier in the Pacific during World War Two and whom went down in the Pacific in the course of his service. The movie is about the ordeal that follows, both on the sea, and as a Prisoner of War.
I won't try to detail that here, but I will note instead that to the extent that I know that story (I have yet to read the book), the film follows it pretty closely and does a good job of it.
In terms of material and cultural details, the film also does a superb job. The CGI generated aircraft are done excellently, and appear very real indeed. The bombing run early in the film stands in my mind as the single most frightening example of that in film, because it appears so accurate in every fashion. The film'ss one material error that I caught appeared in regards to a Japanese Zero fighter plane, which is shown rolling over with its drop tank on, which is unlikely unless the tank stuck (which is a possibility). Otherwise, all the details, uniforms, etc., are absolutely correct.
In cultural details, the film actually diminishes slightly the extreme cruelty of the Japanese as guards and general and fairly significantly diminishes the actual cruelty of Japanese guard Mutsuhiro Watanabe, but the reason for that are probably justifiable as that would have caused that to be such a feature of the film as to be absolutely overwhelming.
All in all, this is an excellent film.
){kind=link}
Saturday, January 3, 2015
Friday, January 2, 2015
100 Years of Law
100 Years of Law
The ABA Journal looks back on 100 years of publication.
Quite a long time, a distinction it shares, although its a year younger, with The New Republic, which turned 100 last year.
The ABA Journal looks back on 100 years of publication.
Quite a long time, a distinction it shares, although its a year younger, with The New Republic, which turned 100 last year.
Old Picture of the Day: Prospectors
Old Picture of the Day: Prospectors: Today's picture shows a couple of prospectors with their donkeys all packed up, ready for the gold rush. The picture was taken in ...
New Year's Resolutions for Other People
Yeah, I know its rude. But if you are in the public eye, I guess you are open for public content. So here's some resolutions for folks who might miss these obvious ones.
So, here goes:
Congress. Let's just assume that your audience is intelligent and can follow an intelligent argument. I bet it can. And after assuming that, whether you are in the left or the right, conduct your public debates that way. If you can't do that, you ought to not be there.
Congressional Judiciary Committees: Avoid appointments to the bench from Harvard or Yale for the entire year. Not a single one. Don't we have enough of them already? There are lawyers from other places.
For that matter, how about not appointing any sitting or retired judges to appellate benches. Branch out. You'll be glad you did.
And put a retirement age on the Federal Bench. These are public jobs for the American public, not jobs for life for one single benighted generation. Appointments for life no longer make any sense.
Country Music. If you aren't actually from the country, please sit this one out or admit you are a "pop artist". It's different.
And cut out the sap, too, will you?
ISIL Open your minds up, at least a bit. And get a calendar and see what century this is.
Kim Jong-un. Kim, you are on your way to being remembered as a complete clown. You could be remembered as a hero. Take the bold move, open the borders, and announce that you intend to peacefully reunite North Korea with the South by letting the Republic of Korea take over.
You could go into comfortable retirement in Switzerland within a year, and be a hero for life. The way you are going, you are going to be remembered as one of the all time biggest doofuses ever.
People with the last name Bush or Clinton. Enough already, the country can function fine without you as President. Sit this one out, and the next several as well, and surprise people by not running for President.
Barack Obama. Go outside and see where you live. You are not a law school professor anymore. Yapping at people doesn't equate with action, and getting mad and assigning things to the class you can't deal with isn't going to work either. Quit studying Wilson. Study Roosevelt, Truman, Reagan, Bush I or Clinton and see how to get some things done.
New York: Hello New York and things New Yorkish. We still love you, but you aren't "Number One" anymore, and you haven't been for a really long time. Just because you pass a bill or collectively think something doesn't make it the up and coming thing, it probably is viewed by the rest of us as stale and a little moldy, which is how we also view New York. You are going to have to get over yourself. Your resolution is to have a little humility this year. Think of yourself as, oh. . . Labrador.
The People's Republic of China. You can only pretend to be a "people's republic" while ignoring democracy so long. Read the history of your own country, and realize that China's always only a second away from a revolution, and take the next step to open the politics of the country up. Your excuse for not doing so is long gone. And stop acting like a 19th Century colonial power too.
Pop-Tarts You know who you are, you collection of women famous only for being famous, or for your appearance alone. Stop acting like your for sale on the street and have a little big of dignity. Spend their year dressing modestly and really shock people. Read a book. Go outdoors with some outdoorsy close on. Just be something, for goodness sake.
Television. Hello television, you are stupid. Get an education and quit broadcasting crap.
This is particularly the case regarding anything billed "Entertainment", or that appears on "TLC". Enough already. But it applies to the rests of television as well. Time for some remedial classes.
So, here goes:
Congress. Let's just assume that your audience is intelligent and can follow an intelligent argument. I bet it can. And after assuming that, whether you are in the left or the right, conduct your public debates that way. If you can't do that, you ought to not be there.
Congressional Judiciary Committees: Avoid appointments to the bench from Harvard or Yale for the entire year. Not a single one. Don't we have enough of them already? There are lawyers from other places.
For that matter, how about not appointing any sitting or retired judges to appellate benches. Branch out. You'll be glad you did.
And put a retirement age on the Federal Bench. These are public jobs for the American public, not jobs for life for one single benighted generation. Appointments for life no longer make any sense.
Country Music. If you aren't actually from the country, please sit this one out or admit you are a "pop artist". It's different.
And cut out the sap, too, will you?
ISIL Open your minds up, at least a bit. And get a calendar and see what century this is.
Kim Jong-un. Kim, you are on your way to being remembered as a complete clown. You could be remembered as a hero. Take the bold move, open the borders, and announce that you intend to peacefully reunite North Korea with the South by letting the Republic of Korea take over.
You could go into comfortable retirement in Switzerland within a year, and be a hero for life. The way you are going, you are going to be remembered as one of the all time biggest doofuses ever.
People with the last name Bush or Clinton. Enough already, the country can function fine without you as President. Sit this one out, and the next several as well, and surprise people by not running for President.
Barack Obama. Go outside and see where you live. You are not a law school professor anymore. Yapping at people doesn't equate with action, and getting mad and assigning things to the class you can't deal with isn't going to work either. Quit studying Wilson. Study Roosevelt, Truman, Reagan, Bush I or Clinton and see how to get some things done.
New York: Hello New York and things New Yorkish. We still love you, but you aren't "Number One" anymore, and you haven't been for a really long time. Just because you pass a bill or collectively think something doesn't make it the up and coming thing, it probably is viewed by the rest of us as stale and a little moldy, which is how we also view New York. You are going to have to get over yourself. Your resolution is to have a little humility this year. Think of yourself as, oh. . . Labrador.
The People's Republic of China. You can only pretend to be a "people's republic" while ignoring democracy so long. Read the history of your own country, and realize that China's always only a second away from a revolution, and take the next step to open the politics of the country up. Your excuse for not doing so is long gone. And stop acting like a 19th Century colonial power too.
Pop-Tarts You know who you are, you collection of women famous only for being famous, or for your appearance alone. Stop acting like your for sale on the street and have a little big of dignity. Spend their year dressing modestly and really shock people. Read a book. Go outdoors with some outdoorsy close on. Just be something, for goodness sake.
Television. Hello television, you are stupid. Get an education and quit broadcasting crap.
This is particularly the case regarding anything billed "Entertainment", or that appears on "TLC". Enough already. But it applies to the rests of television as well. Time for some remedial classes.
Thursday, January 1, 2015
The Wyoming Tribune: January 1, 1915
ArchivalWare
And some grim news from the Wyoming Tribune.
I had yesterday's up, in 1914, for the Tribune, but seem to have wiped it out somehow. It had the interesting headline that the Japanese were not going to "invade" Europe, which strikes me as an odd concern for the era.
And some grim news from the Wyoming Tribune.
I had yesterday's up, in 1914, for the Tribune, but seem to have wiped it out somehow. It had the interesting headline that the Japanese were not going to "invade" Europe, which strikes me as an odd concern for the era.
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)