Erased from history

WHEN the US celebrated the 100th anniversary of the railroad in 1969, John Volpe, transportation secretary under President Richard Nixon, gave the keynote address.

“Who else but Americans could drill 10 tunnels in mountains 30 feet deep in snow?” Volpe said. “Who else but Americans could drill through miles of solid granite? Who else but Americans could have laid 10 miles of track in 12 hours?”