The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1867-04-12


proudly point to it as an example of secu-
rity against murders of the Franz Muller
order, forgetting the number of platform
deaths TO which it gives rise. We prefer
to be silent in large company, and sleepy
in vile atmosphere, to being social with
six or eight fellow passengers in a separate
compartment. We have but one class
for all travellers,-except few emf grant
cars on certain liI,es-and this is believed
to be democratic. One car. or sometimes
two, kept tolerably clean and comfortable
for ladies, may be enjoyed by the married
man or him ''intending marriage. u
others, the refined and the brutal, the
clean and the filthy, the invalid and the
swearing, tobacco-squirting rowdy, are
packed together Some of the latter, in
winter, when ones feet rest in an ice-bath
of bitter air, and ones head reels in a
burning, disoxygenized atmosphere, can
only be compared to one of the outer Cir
cles of Dante's Inferno. On many of the
Western roads, the single gentleman is
forced into such moving stable. We
have seen gentleman on the Ohio and
Mississippi Road knocked down by a
Slung-shot in the hands of brakeman,
because he wished to enter the almost
empty ladies' car, the only other car oil
the train being crammed TO sutfocation by
drunken and riotous soldiers This gentle
man covered with blood, was then thrown
among the latter, neither conductor nor
any other official at the station in East
st Louis taking the slightest notice of the
outrage.
We have frequently seen trains leave
New York, on the Hudson River Rail-
road. with four cars, all the. seats filled,
and i hundred persons standing in the
ai>ies The latter We're obliged to stand
thus for distance of from twenty to sixty
miles. until seats were furnished them by
the departure of other passengers. Even
where enough cars are furnished to seat
all, they may be filled with narrow iron
torture->crews. as on the Camden and Am
boy (seats which only admit persons of
moderate size.) or the seats NAV be 50
crowded, as on many other roads, that
each travellers knees are painfully wedged
against the back OF the seat in front. The
obligation of the companies TO furnish
seat for every ticket sold is universally
evadcd their liability to damages arising
from unnecessary delays has never, We
believe, been fairly tested. We know of
one instance. where 4 lecturer started from
New York TO fulfil IN engagement at Syra-
cu>e. There was no accident, but l care
less or incompetent conductor succeeded in
failing to connect at Albany The lee
turcr. thus Obliged to return 10 New York.
presented his ticket for Syracuse at the
Hudson Rivrr Railroad office. and. as he
tiaI used Just halt IT. value, requested re-
turn ticket Tor the other halt. This WAS
percmptoriIy refused the company had
received three dollars more than It's own
dues, and kept the money.
We are frequently told that the business
of the roads will not allow them to oiler
better accommodations, or 10 establish Il
more thorough system of operations This
is an uncandid plea. and scarcely needs ex
animation. Mr.. Quincy has shown that,
in cases of competition between English
railways, Il reduction of fares to one ,7ghh
of the ordinary rates onl " occasioncd 4
diminution of one mlt' Of one per cent in the
annual dividends so. on the other hand.
travel will increase in proportion rs it be-
comes safe. REGULAR, and comfortable. If
Il railroad company will take the sums ex-
pended IN consequence of accidents. given
away in free passes, devoted TO turthering
or preventing state legislation (as the case
may be), to fighting rival lines, and to all
forms of secret service, and apply those
sums strictly TO the improvement and or
ganizatlon required by the interests OF the
travelling public, there will be swift re-
turn to it for the investment. Whichever
main line of travel between the East and
the West first claSsities its accommodation
with corresponding rates of fare, reforms
the retreShment stations along Its route,
and takes special precautions TO prevent
detention, will soon acquire Il monopoly of
the through travel
When we speak of the manifold con-
veniences of European travel, we are told
to see Our own country as well, TO encour-
age home enterprise, enjoy home scenery,
and make ourselves familiar with our own
Great store of resources. This is all very
well, and the sense of novelty will carry
You once over the ground but we doubt
whether many would repeat q Journey in
America for pure pleasure. Upon most
of our thoroughfares, travel is simply an
unwelcome necessity. There is one car
upon the Boston and Fall River Road,
wherein, by contrast, it becomes delight ;
for two hours you enjoy air, light and
comfort, then the old bore takes you up
again.
five could detect any general indica-
ton of an improvement in these matters,
we might forbear complaint. But in our
railroads, as in our hotels, we find deteri-
Grafton rather than Improvement. This is
owing to the great increase of travel and
traffic, without a corresponding increase
in the accommodations to meet it. When
all the hotels are sure to be filled to the
extent of their capacity, rivalry ceases,
and the public, happy in being accommo-
dated at all, meekIy accepts whatever is
set before it. The proprietor, who makes
from one hundred thousand to half mil
lion dollars per annum, becomes sublimely
Indifferent to the comfort of his guests :;