Railroads in Antebellum America
Worksheet Two

Valley Spirit, July 6, 1859, p. 5, c. 1 A Pic Nic. --On Saturday morning last the pupils, in the advanced classes, attached to the to the Female Seminary of the Rev.Mr. Reeves, of this place, were permitted through the kindness of Mr. Dull, the gentlemanly Superintendent of the Franklin Railroad, to take a jaunt, of about six miles, in a passenger car, over the finished portion of the road. The car was generously tendered for the occasion by Col. O. N. Lull of the Cumberland Valley Road, and the whole train under charge of that able and careful engineer Mr. Jacob Switzer . . . . The scholars, with Mr. Reeves and his assistant teachers, left the cars at Heagy's woods, a spot admirably adapted for rural enjoyment, where they spent the day very pleasantly in rambling through the groves, partaking of the good things provided for the occasion, games, speeches &c. In the evening they returned to town by a car specially sent out to convey them home, all expressing themselves highly delighted with their excursion, and no doubt much benefited by the agreeable recreation. We were much pleased with the lady-like deportment of the pupils under care of Mr. Reeves. There were no romps or tom boys in the crowd which speaks well for the discipline introduced in this [school]. . . . Valley Spirit, December 7, 1859, p. 5, c. 1 On a Strike. --The laboring hands employed on the Franklin Railroad have been on strike for several days in consequence of a reduction of then cents a day on their wages.-- They formerly received $1 a day and it is proposed to cut their wages down to 90 cents on account of the shortness of the days at this season of the year. The hands demand their old wages and refuse to go to work unless they receive it. We hope the matter may be speedily arranged and that no delay in opening the road may occur through a cause of this kind. Questions 1. In the space below, write a two-sentence summary of "A Pic Nic." 2. Before the railroad, how would the students have gotten to their destination? 3. What seems to be the author's point of view regarding appropriate behavior for young women? 4. In the space below, write a two-sentence summary of "On a Strike." 5. In the space below, write a one-sentence thesis statement for an essay on the effect of the development of railroads that draws from material in these two articles.