Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1873-01-24

E. WELLS, Esq,
Editor Port Tobacco ISnses
My Dear SIR: I am indebted to yourself,
or to an unknown friend, for your paper of
10th inst, with its editorial upon 1.-THE
Railroad Time Schedule" marked to at
tract attention.
Agreeing with the sentiment Of the edi-
torial, that "the company and the people
have mutual interest in the road" will
you allow me to say in your columns that
this schedule, of which you complain, was
arranged, as we supposed, expressly in the
interest of the people. Prior to the open
ing OF the road to Pope's Creek Gen. Du-
Barry, our able and experienced Vice Pres
ldent and General Manager, and myself,
had careful deliberation as to the best
schedule in the interest, and, for the con-
yenience, of the travelling public. -
AS 1t was then, and is yet, impracticable
TO run more than one train each way daily,
between Pope's Creek and Baltimore, we
agreed, decidedly, that it was much more
In the interest of the people" that the
train should leave Charles county in the
morning and return in the evening; as by
this schedule persons having but little bu-
slness to transact in Baltimore could leave
home in the morning and return the same
evening; or, if they did not desire to re-
turn the same day, they could have two
days in town, with only one nights absence
from home. Whereas, by leaving Pope's
Creek, or any other station at that end of
the line, travellers would be compelled to
pass two nights in Baltimore or Washing
ton to have only one day for business. ]
have seen many persons from Charles, and
the lower part of Prince Georges, since
the road was opened; and having particu-
larly inquired of them which schedule
would suit best their wishes and interests,
have met but one gentleman who coin
cldes with your editorial as to the policy
of leaving in the afternoon. AN the others
preferred going to the cities, as by present
schedule, in the morning and returning in
the afternoon.
As to the early hours of departure in the
morning, and the late hour of arrival in
the evening, the present schedule certainly
does entail discomfort and inconvenience
ut this season of the year. But to be able
TO attend to any amount of business in one
day, persons must arrive in Baltimore by
eleven o'clock. And as 80 many go and
return the same day, we felt bound to ac-
commodate them.
The hour for leaving Cox's, however, and
consequently other stations along the line
to Bowie, may now, or shortly, be made
somewhat later, and still arrive in Balti-
more at same time. But when the road
was first opened, as it was neD road, and
the banks and cuts likely to be affected by
changes Of weather, we felt that we ought
to consult the safety of our employees and
: Passengers at the expense of time; and, con-
sequently, we made early starts to risk
nothing by fast running. And in this con-
nection Iwould remark, that we have been
running now nearly seven months, between
Baltimore and Washington, and have not
had single accident to passenger. How
many of the old roads, even, of the country,
can say as much?
have recently been over the entire road
with the superintendent, and it is proba-
ble that when the present dangerous frost
Is out of the ground we will feel justified
In starting the trains later in the morning,
and having them arrive earlier in the even
ing, and yet, by increased speed, retain the
same hours of arrival at, and departure
from Baltimore
The houses for the different stations are
being built, and will shortly be sent to
their respective sites ready to be put to-
gether. Feeling as much as our passen-
gers possibly can do, the inconvenience
and discomforts to which they are subject
cd, bat so]tick are unavoidable on az ,seo road,
have felt it due to them, and to our man
agenseut, thus to notice your article; which
am sure; fom its tenor, and the unvaried
kindness of your paper always to the road,
was written more to facilitate the comfort
OF your travelling readers, than in spirit
of complaint or cavil against the railroad
and its managers.
Very respectfully,
ODEN BOwTE