The Columbian fountain., 1846-06-11
WHEELING, June 9TH. 1916.

WHEELING, June 9TH, 1916.
MEssERs. EDlToRs.--A constant reader OF
your independent paper, recently had occasion
TO cross the mountains, by the Rail road cars
and National Rail Road stage line, and 10 be
| graphic, he will begin with the morning OF his
departure from the city Of Baltimore
NARRATlvE.--Alter breakfast went to the Of
lice OF the cars and found the agent in his office,
SO engaged in talking TO another person that he
paid no attention TO my application Tor a ticket
lor sometime, at last he condescended to notice
me, but still continued his conversation |
rendered my money several times, he took it
and gave me the ticket, but had to wait for
the change until he was done talking 10 his
Impertubable interrogator--th there were Others
waiting as well as myself. complain of this,
because person on the qui vive Of starting on
Journey wants every moment Of time for re-
fleclion and action. My baggage was taken TO
the cars--the Captain charged me an additional
seventy-fve cents for a box We left in
wrelched dirty old train, and dragged along
slowly over the worn out rails between Balt-
more and Harper's Ferry the cars were stop
ped several times to repair-the horse car with
a horse in it and the Post Office car with no
body in il, broke down and were left on the
road. The heavy burdens carried over this
section of the road have so injured the rails
that they are very unsafe for transportation
The Captain is very civil man, but some Of
his employees are the reverse; for example
when the cars started from halt, was near
one OF the rear cars and endeavored 10 get up,
when one OF the. surly walters or laberers call
ed out TO me TO run forward and not get up
at that point, that my passing through the cars
disturbed the passengers; this same fellow
| passed along the interval with an old dirty wa
| terng pot (with the sprinkler Off and dirty
rusty TN cup, asking the ladies if they would
take some water; as he passed me, asked him
Tor drink; and in reply, spreading his mouth
and knitting his eyebrows, said, if you are too
lazy TO get water yourself, you will have 10 90
without it. Sometime afterwards, he returned
and thrust his dirty cup at me- Of course re-
fused, and my repulse saw, ranked in his
mind lor sometime, he having passed me sew
eral times, inviting me TO say something. / told
HIM should report his conduct, and trust |
may be graufed in your paper. At Cumber-
land my baggage was weighed, and an addi-
tlonal charge Qour cents per pound) made
This charge, with that paid at Baltimore, made
five dollars fifty cents, or sixteen dollars fifty
cents lor my passage 10 Wheeling. took my
seat IN stage occupied by five women, five
children and one negress besides an elderly
man from Tennessee, whose back with mine
were doomed TO lean against the front OF the
stage all the way-he however got out al
Brownsville and went in Steamboat TO Pitts
burg, where nearly all the passengers go, who
know OF the Infamous imposition Of four cents
per pound on all baggage over fifty pounds
No matter how small the trunk, box or bag is,
II it weighs three pounds over fifty, you pay
twelve and half cents for the excess.
Passengers going West had better take pas
sage for Pittsburg. Ii is only ten dollars, while
that 10 Wheeling is ostensibly eleven, but real
ly is indefinite in amount, on account OF the
abomnablc exorlion OF four cents per pound.
| would not object TO pay reasonable rate for
an excess Of baggage, but the above charge is
intolerablc. AT that famous place, called Cat
hsh station during the Indian war, wished to
shave and wash, having endured all night long
exudations Of close coach, kept SO on ac.
count Of ncessant rain. The agent said " do
you wish dinner sir" | replied want 10
shave first. The negro barber led the way |
followed, and whilst had the brush TO nv
ace, the Agent came TO the door which adloins
1.-THE Hotel and said, you must get into the stage
or it will leave you. replied if | had time to
eat my dinner | certainly had to shave myself,
he 5loped The fact is, the whole system is an
impo5itlon. You SIT down TO dinner and in
less than ten minutes the signal is given and
the order thatthestage can't wait. Such ctages
are accommodation stages with vengeance
The drivers over the mountains are cateful and
attentive. e1l ag s,# G,
NorE BY THE SENIOR EDITOR. had
the mlsiortuneto experience some Of the ncon