 This is the story of the birth certificate of a railroad. Not the story of the Santa Fe as we know it today, but simply the notation on the back of its birth certificate. Its infant smiles and tears, its struggle to survive. Now, in just a moment we'll tell you about it. But first, here's Gain Whitman. This year, winter sports have grown increasingly more popular. More popular too are all the new models of outdoor sportswear, which carry the tag that reads, Fabrics Treated with DuPont Zeeland. There's good reason for this wide use of Zeeland durable water repellent. Outdoor enthusiasts know that garments made of fabric treated with Zeeland give continuing satisfaction because they afford protection against snow and rain, even after many washings or cleaning. Zeeland, it's one of the DuPont company's better things for better living through chemistry. Music And now Ralph Bellamy as Cyrus Holiday and Louise All-Britain as Mary in the Prairie Burner on the DuPont's Cavalcade of America. It's the year 1866, just outside the frontier town in Kansas. The prairie, like a golden russet carpet, stretches unbroken on each side of the rough wagon trail. The only sound to disturb the peacefulness of the morning is the sound of a stagecoach traveling up from the south. Uh-oh, did I say peaceful? Say, that was a rifle shot. Yes, there's a band of cowboys stopping the coach. Get their hand away from your shooting arm, darling. We ain't aiming for trouble with you less than you asked for. What's the idea of stopping my coach? We got a little something to say to one of your passengers. You, Holiday? Yes, what concern have you with me, sir? Just this, Mr. Railroad Builder. We're warning you. Keep your blasted prairie burners away from our grazing lands, understand? No, I'm afraid I don't understand. You see, mister, we just don't favor railroads in these parts, right, boys? That's right. Oh, you don't, hey? No, and we don't favor railroad builders, neither. So we're giving you the way around. And you'd better pay up some money. Now, you listen to me, my friend. I'm leaving for the east. But I'll be back to build a railroad across the desert from the peak of the Santa Fe, and you and all the cattlemen in Kansas won't stop me. Harris, Holiday, back home in the east, found that the problems of building a railroad were not confined solely to the west. In the year 1867, we find him seated at the dinner table, glowering down at the plate before him. Mary, his wife, gently suggest? Eat your bluefish, dear. Bluefish. Yes, that's what they all are. Bluefish. They have as much imagination, as much vision as this broiled bluefish. Why, who, Cyrus? Guilford, this crowd, that's who. I think a railroad from Topeka, Kansas to Santa Fe is impractical and they won't give me a sense worth of backing. Why is the very idea? Well, we'll use our own money. That's what we'll do. You know how much money it takes to build a railroad. No, no, but we have about $20,000 in the bank. Mary, it takes lots more than $20,000 to build a railroad, lots more, dear. It takes hundreds of thousands, maybe millions. Oh, my. Really, Cyrus? Sure, $20,000 will build no more than maybe 10 or 12 miles of rail, dear. Well, then it's built a 12-mile railroad. You had to be throwing money away. No, it wouldn't. Your charter with the government gives you deed to land on each side of the railroad, doesn't it? Yes, if I build a railroad, but... Well, then why not build 12 miles of road and sell the land and make some money and build 12 miles more and then take that money and don't... Whoa, whoa, there! I suppose you think that's ridiculous, too. Dear, I can't build a railroad with $20,000. Well, you can start one with that, can't you? It just won't work. I just don't see why not? Well, because... Well... Well? Because... What? Yes. Why not? Why Jupiter? Why not? That's what I asked you. My heavens, I'll do it. Do you hear, Mary? I'll do it. You mean we'll do it, don't you, dear? Because I'm going with you this time. What? You mean to Kansas? Uh-huh. To Kansas. Oh, no. Oh, no, my pet. Oh, yes. Oh, yes, my darling. Mary, I will not hear another word about it. Ah, yes, darling. And that's final. Yes, darling. Now, do eat your bluefish, Cyrus. It's really quite good, dear. This is Topeka. Just one muddy street and two lines of quabbert houses. I shouldn't have allowed you to come. This is no place for... For a decent respectable woman. Yes, darling. You'd better inquire about Mayor Wyndham's whereabouts. Yes, I understand the building. New City Hall, since I was here last. But none of those buildings look like it. If you please, sir. Whoa! Can you direct us to the City Hall? Sir, that noble edifice across the road to the new City Hall. Oh, thanks above, that shack. Yes, sir. The railroad man, Wendy, has been expecting it, you know? He's under the Mayor. We call him Wendy, and the county's got heaps of talking talent. I see. Yes, I'm the railroad man. The Mayor has been expecting. Thank you kindly, sir, for your assistance. Careful of the mud, ma'am, when you cross the road, six inches before you hit bottom, Maracan. Thank you. Yes, I'd better carry her across to the board, Mary. Oh, how nice, dear. Up you go. Oh, careful, dear, don't flinch. Do you think for a moment that I'd let such a precious burden fall on the Kansas mud? Mr. Railroad Man. Yes, my friend. Here it comes. That's right, sir, right across the desert to Santa Fe. What's so funny about that, my good man? Now, now, Cyrus, don't get into a fuss wedding. At least carry me out of this mud first. Let him laugh, the confounded. Mr. Yes? Cyrus, please. No, please. I fear you've met with a mishap. Just a little fall in the mud. Oh, may I present my wife, Mayor, Mrs. Holliday? How do you do, sir? May I help you up, Madam? Thank you. Upon my word indeed, a double delight awaits the proud citizens of Topeka, for grace and prosperity, beauty and grace. Indeed, my dear Madam, indeed. Oh, thank you, sir. This way to the city hall, folks. Yes, sir, you may count me as your most willing servant. Indeed, sir, your most willing servant. Here you are. And her, please. Sit down, folks, do so now. Thank you, Mayor. Now, Mr. Holliday, sir, if I can be of any assistance in my official capacity as Mayor of Topeka, you have but to speak, sir. Thank you. However, in truth, sir, I think it best to warn you, there may be a bit of trouble. Trouble? Now, now, nothing to be concerned about, I assure you, Madam, nothing at all, just Sam Coulter and some of his boys. Sam Coulter, do you know him, sir? Yes, I met the gentleman on my last trip here. Sam Coulter, sir, can't abide the sight, smell, sound or thought of a railroad. In fact, sir, a railroad man to Sam is lower than, excuse me, ma'am, a sheepherder. Huh? Oh, goodness me. Yes, sir, seems Sam had a ranch up north of here. A railroad come along bringing settlers and had big pardon, ma'am, sheepherders. And drove his herd off in the free grass. Sam, he fought like all good out, but didn't do him a mighty good. Said he'd rather sell out than have any truck with a railroad than buy George he did. Yes, sir, as he hates railroad worse than he does a horse. Coulter and all the cattlemen in Kansas aren't going to stop me from running a line to employ you. Oh, here's a man of spirit, madam. Indeed, a man of spirit. It might I inquire, sir, I see you don't carry any firearms. Firearms? Well, I'm sure I have a few spare ones, ma'am. Yes, here are the good ones. Oh, my, what a pretty pearl handle. They are just... Sorry for the love of heaven to put that thing down. Thank you kindly, ma'am, but I don't think I'll need a gun. Yes, you will. Perhaps not. Perhaps not. Oh, Cyrus, do take the gun. It has such a pretty pearl handle. Mary, please. Ah, yes, darling. No, I don't think we'll need guns to build the Santa Fe. At least, I hope not. Yes, Mary. I'm glad you decided to be a railroad builder after all. I might have been a coach road builder and made roads like this. Like a pistol shot. Oh, my, whoa! Whoa, the coach has shot. What is it? Hold up. Don't wait till you sit and iron, Jake Carter. We're no higher to get your bristles up. Coach, sir, Cyrus, isn't that the end of it? Yes, sir. Now, don't worry, dear. What do you want, Cody? One of your passengers. Come out of that coach, Holiday. If you have anything to say to me, Coach, say it and let us go on our way. Step down, Holiday. Why? This ain't no concern of yours. You coming out, Holiday, do we have to come get you? All right. I'll come out. Oh, no, Cyrus, they might just... Stay in the coach, dear. Don't worry. All right, boys. Let's take them and get a go. What the fuck? The lady's packing a shooting iron collar. He'll... Harry, put that gun down, and please let me handle this alone. Ma'am, it won't please me not to make smoke with a woman, so I'm asking you politely. I dropped that gun. I won't drop any darts with ma'am. Ma'am, if you wasn't a lady... If I wish I weren't a lady, then I'd really tell you what I think of you, Harry. Ma'am, we don't need none of you slick tongue easterers to tell us how to run our fairs. These are free-open ranges, and we aim to keep them that way. Have you say, my friend, I'm listening. Come on, boss. Enough of this chin music. Let's go. Now, wait a minute, Pete. All the day I warned you once. Now, this is the last time. You keep your blasted prairie burners away from our grazing land, or the only way you will ride will be when you set a straddle. Come on, boys. I guess they won't dare bother us again. Not while I've got my pretty pearl handle shooting iron. Now, dear, give me that gun. Oh, all right, dear. Where in heaven's name did you... Oh, I see. Where are Windham? Yes, darling. I just couldn't resist it. It has such a pretty pearl handle. Well, I'll keep it myself. If I know Kohler, I'm afraid I'm going to need it. I'm listening to Ralph Bellamy and Louise All-Britain in the Prairie Burner on the Cavalcade of America, sponsored by the DuPont Company, maker of better things for better living through chemistry. The second part of our story opens a month later. Cyrus Holiday is building a railroad from Topeka to Santa Fe. The rails are being laid in record time. Everything is going well. And... Just before sundown one day, the public trouble starts. Keep your head down, Mike. Oh, sure, Mr. Holiday, those cowboys hate the shots they're made out to be. The way they're shooting... They're aiming high, Mike, on purpose, trying to scare your men of the quitting. Quitting? Well, quit. We've raised the last fight down in Santa Fe. And then a mysterious fire broke out one night in the supplier. Stop the men, Mike. No use waiting until they're finally under. The Sheds of Bonner. But the railroad ties, Mr. Holiday. I'm afraid there's nothing we can do about them now. Oh, black cross on them. This is going to set us back for a month or more. Yes. And we meet each month with the government deadline coming closer every week. And then the rails were torn up almost as fast as they were laid. Mike, tell the operator to get on the keys and raise Kansas City. We'll need a new batch of rails to repair the section they tore up last night. But Mr. Holiday, sir, are you sure that we have the money to cover? I don't know, Mike. But one thing I do know, one more setback and we're through. Mr. Holiday, sir. I know, Mike. I know what you came to tell me. The men are all quitting. Well, no, not exactly, sir. Well, I can't say I can blame them. Can't expect them to work without the certainty of being paid. Well, no, sir. Tent as bad as our lads only about half the hands have quit. You might as well tell them all to put down their tools, Mike. Good morning. It looks like Sam called her wins. Good morning, darling. Morning, dear. Well, what's everyone looking so darn them off about? Oh, sure, no, ma'am. There's only the set of my face. Uh, I guess I'd better get back to the men and tell them Mr. Holiday. Oh, I know. No, now I know money. Heavens as if that was something to worry about. Look what I've got. What? Three thousand in cartwheels and gold. Mary, where did that money come from? From the men, sir. Good. I'm going to be pulling out on the new Santa Fe tracks two weeks from today on my name is Michael O'Day. I'm baking Mrs. Holiday, ma'am. Oh, I'm glad to. Never thought Jake Carter would be driving the first iron kiosk on your railroad, Mr. Holiday. Never thought anyone would, by the way, it looked for a good while. When do we let it book, Mr. Holiday? You know as well as I do that nothing gets started around here without a speech from Mayor Wyndham. Ah, time nation. How do you like your new saddle, Jake? Driving an iron horse is a little more complicated than a stagecoach, huh? Ma'am, I feel as good as a coast harbour's horse in fly time. Ah, no worry, Jake. Mary and I will be riding in the engine with you on this run. Ah, Mr. Holiday, sir. Oh, and more. A most memorable occasion, ma'am. Ready, sir, for your speech? Sir, I've been ready for weeks and this day is memorable for most resort record in the great, unwritten future of that strategy. For reaching on and on and on to Galveston, to San Francisco. I even back east to Chicago. I can see the coming tide of the Great Ones flowing along these lines like an ocean wave and fans of the tide. Mr. Hargane, ever thought we'd pull out into a picnic? Yeah, it wasn't very nice, it was, Jake. He was trained for no wind and had a chance to finish his speech. No, he wouldn't want the first trainer even late, would he? Like he never even missed us. Wouldn't surprise me in the least if he was still there in his run. Uh-oh. Look at there, Mr. Hargane. What's wrong? Look what's in front of us across the track, sir. A herd of cattle. A herd? I didn't know there were so many cows in the whole world. Here's to me, Mr. Hargane. They've been herded and bedded down for the purpose for life. What do you mean? They're just chung out? Yep. Bar, tea brand. Coders marking all right. Here they come, riding up to us. Well, there's going to be gunplay or I reckon it's might easier shooting from the cab over locomotive than this from the seat of a stagecoach. What do you think that up to, Jake? I can't say, Mr. Hargane, but I know Sam Coders can't be up to no good. Anyway, we'll find out soon. Now, here he comes. You sure look mounted for the inside of that tea cattle, Jake. Get your heart off in them tracks, Coders. I reckon I just can't, Jake. Why not, Coders? What do you see, Mr. Railroad Man? My cows are sort of peculiar. They don't understand a mighty English. Ah, Jake, keep away from your gun or you'll have a mighty short career nursing that prairie burner. Mr. Coders, I hope you're not going to keep that herd on the tracks until they learn the rudiments of England. Don't fandy words with him, Manny. Jake, stop the locomotive. I'm warning you, Jake. You hit one of them cows. What are you expecting to do, Coders? Wait here until they make up their minds to move. I reckon if you don't fancy waiting, Mr. Railroad Man, you can back this rattle to Topeka. But I ain't moving that there or hers. Stop the engine, Jake. I reckon that won't be necessary, Mr. Harday. No, sir. What are you going to do, Jake? I'm going to practice on my little tutor and if I know cows, they'll run and keep running until kingdom comes. It looks like the cattlemen are beginning to change their ideas about railroads. After six months of running our little lion, they're getting wise and beginning to ship their cattle by rail. Yes, I know. Isn't it wonderful? But according to Jake, there's a reason for their change of mind. What reason? It's been this drought, the grass and the range has burned to a crisp. The streams are all dried up on the cattle trail to Abilene. I see. So they were forced to ship them by rail. What about our friend Sam Coders? Coders? I guess he'd rather see his cattle die than send them over my railroad. Shall some up, cut plug? Coders, what's the use of driving the poor critters any further? They ain't had a lick of water for two days. Look at them. They make the marketer today, but... Some up, sir. Look here, boss. What need to do like I say? If you don't... No, blast. You cut plug, I'd sooner see them cows dry up and bust them on them on the railroad. I won't have no trouble them blasted prairie burners I tell you. You'll have to hog time me first. I'd make 722. That'll all cut plug. I reckon that's tally, Mr. Holiday. 722 head. Mm-hmm. Sure glad to see him bedded down in them cattle creek. Mm-hmm. And I'm glad the cover outfit finally came around, but where's Sam? I don't see him about. Sam? Well, skin me for a mule I've forgotten. We got him hog tied in a chuck wagon. Well, Matt, after six months of running our little railroad, we're beginning to show a profit. Yes, my dear, to peek us in for a boom at the cow business. And are you listening, my dear? Sorry, is that that man? What man? Digging at that desk door and tell me, Mary, will you stop playing with that gun for the last time? You don't need that gun, ma'am. Coulter. Yeah, Coulter. Tell your Mrs. to sit down and shoot in our holiday. I want to have a talk with you. Mary. Yes, dear. I'm putting it down. Well, Coulter, what can I do for you? I want to know what I'm owing you, Holiday, for shipping my cattle abalone. I won't be beholden to no railroad, ma'am. Well, I got your bill here, but I'd much rather you'd pay me off in good will. No, you won't have no more trouble for me, Holiday. I had to be hog-tired first, but I reckon I know when I'm licked and come the next cattle run, I'll sign that contract right regularly. Can we shake on that, Coulter? Well, never shook hands with one of four, but you know, Holiday, for a railroad, man, you ain't such a bad umbra after all. Shake, partner? Shake. Partner? And now, Mary, I think you can give Wendy back his gun. Oh, must I do? Mary? Oh, yes, darling. But it's such a pretty pearl-handled revolver. Holiday lived to see his road go over the desert to Santa Fe. Up over the mountain passes to Denver, down to the gulf, east to Chicago, and west to the Pacific. He lived to see his twelve miles of road go to twelve thousand. His plans were opposed by some who, like Sam Coulter, thought his own interests were threatened. Yet his faith in his enterprise, the kind of faith that built America, not only carried the road through to its destination, but converted those opponents into supporters. So it has been many times in America, and so it will be many times again, as it must, in a land that is dynamic and still growing. Gain Whitman speaking for a depart. The other day, I had some oil put in my car. While the man at the service station was pouring in the oil, I happened to pick up the can and read the label. Gee, I said to myself, this oil manufacturer claims a lot for his product, but then I realized, say, these aren't just claims, these are facts, or the oil companies wouldn't print them on the label along with their brands. Listen to some of the things a modern motor oil does. It has a detergent in it, what you and I might call a cleaner that prevents carbon and sludge from dirtying up your engine. The oil you buy today tries to help keep your engine clean. Today's oil must operate under much higher temperatures and pressures than motor oil used to. But today it doesn't break down so quickly because it has been made more stable, stands more heat, and it runs more freely, even when the thermometer gets well down below zero. But perhaps the most striking improvement of all is that chemistry has developed compounds called lubricant assistance. When these are added to oil, this is the thing that seems unusual to me, they actually make it oilier. So I asked myself, there at the gas station as I looked at the label, how did all this happen? How did this lubricating oil we buy nowadays get to be so much better than the oil my dad used to buy for his car in, say, 1920? There are two answers, and they both begin with a letter C, chemistry and competition. Years of scientific research in the laboratories of the oil companies and the laboratories of industrial chemical companies like DuPont have made oil better. Why have scientists done all this just to give you better oil for your car? I suppose partly because human beings are that way, always trying to develop and improve things. But mainly because that other C, competition leads business men to give you the best oil you can buy so that you will continue to be satisfied customers and keep buying their products, the best oil or the best baking powder, the best refrigerator. That's the burr under the blanket of our American business system. Competition, petroleum additives helping to make modern lubricating oils as good as they are, deserve their place on the roster of the DuPont companies for better things for better living through chemistry. Next week the DuPont Cavalcade brings you William Holden and Marcia Hunt in Builder of the Sioux. It's the true story of a man who had a wonderful dream and of the woman who stood by him until that dream came true. Charles Harley believed the canal could be built across the Great Lakes. So did Katie Bingham. They fought ignorance, bad weather, sickness and financial problems. But they won out and Harvey built the Sioux canal in two years instead of the ten that Congress set aside for this project. Be sure and listen next Monday at the same time to Builder of the Sioux starring William Holden and lovely Marcia Hunt on the Cavalcade of America. The music for tonight's DuPont Cavalcade was composed by Arden Cornwell and conducted by Donald Borey. Our Cavalcade play was written by Henry Walsh. In the cast with Ralph Bellamy and Louise All-Britain tonight with Ted DeCorsi as Coulter, John Griggs as Wendy, Joseph Boland as Peake, Cameron and Andrews as Jake, Walter Kinsella as Mike and Ted Osborne as Cup Club. This is Ted Pearson inviting you to listen next week to William Holden and Marcia Hunt in the Builder of the Sioux on the Cavalcade of America brought to you by the company of Wilmington Dalloway. This has been being a national broadcasting public.