1875 - Transportation

Transportation

A Russian railroad line reaches Sevastapol in the Crimea, spurring developing of the seaport.

The Pullman Company's contract with the Michigan Central Railroad expires, drawing room car designer Webster Wagner wins the contract to run his cars on the route, and he provides Commodore Vanderbilt with cars for through service between New York and Chicago (see 1867), but when he uses Pullman-designed equipment on Vanderbilt's Lake Shore and Michigan Southern line the Pullman Co. files suit for breach of contract (see 1882).

The New York Central lowers its tracks down New York's Fourth (Park) Avenue into a giant ditch after years of complaints about accidents. Completed after 3 years of excavation, the ditch will soon be covered over for most of its length south of 96th Street (see Grand Central, 1913).

The 24-year-old S.S. Pacific leaves Victoria, British Columbia, November 4 carrying a cargo of coal, potatoes, and gold; she collides with the S.S. Orpheus off Cape Flattery, Washington, killing 275 passengers and 20 crew members. Only two survive in the heavy seas.