The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-01-18
Passengers Baggage by railroad.

The following remarks by the New York Courier
and Enquirer, in regard to the reception and deliv
cry of passengers baggage at the various railroad
1ermini in this country, will be confirmed by ma
ny who have suffered the inconvenience which are
pointed out; and the suggestions offered are, we
think, entitled to the attention of those who have
the regulation of such matters:.s,
''There are few things in which reform is more
imperatively demanded than in the arrangement
and steamboat routes throughout the country.
With one or two exceptions, the methods ex-
isting arc among the most serious annoyances of
travel. AT the depot in Canal street, for example,
the owner of baggage is required to deposite il
board the baggage car, or upon the top Of a table
near it, before the porters of the company take
any cognisance of it. Now this is always exceed
ingly inconvenient and often almost impossible.
When ladies travelling alone, their baggage is
set upon the sidewalk by the hackman, who con
siders his task ended; and it then becomes a seri-
Gus difficulty To get 1t placed in the baggage
Meantime tickets are to be obtained at seventy
nine window, where fifty people are scrambling
for chance, and the strongest carry the day. BY
the time the baggage is disposed OF, and access TO
the ticket window feasible and safe, every seat in
the is taken, and the lady is compelled to stand
or throw herself upon the courtesy of strangers.
Snow. those who at all in the habit of travel
ling know that this is most serious drawback
upon its comfort The remedy is TO be applied by
the railroad companies. They ought 10 provide
OutStde porfcTs 10 receive baggage and passengers
they come TO the door of the depot, and
TO dispose Of the former and direct the latter Two
or three men for this service at any depot would
put a new face on the appearance Of things at a
railroad station, and dispel much of the dread and
discomfort which now attend the starting upon n
journey. The expenses would be but trifiing,
while the advantages 10 the public and of coursc to
the railroad companies, would be very great
"rhen, on delivering baggage when the end OF
the journey Is reached, still greater annoyance,
confusion, and danger are experienced. The bag
gage cars from Philadelphia, for example, arc
opened on the ferry boat--and every passenger il
expected TO come forward and claim his baggage
when the number Is called. This, with hundreds
crowding around and pushing in every direction,
IL almost impossible, and for ladies Is absolutely
dangerous. The Housatonic terminus at Green
bush of the worst managed i'm this respect we
have ever seen. The baggage is thrown upon a
platform, and each one is required, in a dense
crowd Of hundreds, TO come forward and claim his
own. These eases are mentioned, because they
are fair examples Of the general manner in which
this most important matter is attended TO ON near
ly every railroad route in the country.
"Therc Is ono exception, and that should be the
rule. On the road from Baltimore 10 Philadelphia
n man Is allowed by the company 10 20 through the
cars and ask permission 20 take charge Of baggage
belonging 10 passengers reaching the city. He
receives their checks, takes the street and number
at which each trunk s 10 be delivered and gives in
return a card certifying his security for the bag
gage TO the amount of 500. This ends The trav-
cller's 10 his baggage. When the train
reaches Philadelphia, be goes 10 his hotel or his
house, and in half an hour his baggage il deposited
at his door, for which he pays twenty-five cents.
Those who do not choose 10 avail themselves Of the
offer, can Of course take charge Of the baggage
themselves, and then the annoyance and trouble
arc voluntarily assumed.
"Now, why cannot this method be adopted on all
our railroads. Let the company license some one
or more every train thus TO take charge Of and
deliver the baggage Of passengers, taking care 20
select careful, reliable and responsible men, and
giving them proper evidence of their authority.
This. .wc believe Is done On the New Haven road and
IL may be on some otherselso But ON many, indeed
most Of the rosds Il IL not done; but every thing is
left 10 the confusion and turmoil and danger We
have described. The same method ought to be
adopted on the line from Philadelphia 20 tins city,
and, indeed, on every line in bocountry. II would
render travelling infinitely more easy and more
safe than Il s at present and would thus be for the
benefit, direct and decided, Of railroads and the
public.''