The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-03-28
CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO RAILROAD

|
SHoPs.-It is not difficult matter to create
prejudice against corporation-and es
pecially railroad corporation-in the pop.
ular mind much casier, indeed, than to re-
move it. There has been growing feeling
of dissatisfaction in thi. community against
the Chesapeake and Ohio Roilroad Compa-
ny, dating with the change OF the terminal
points OF the Division, by which Staunton
was left out. From this fact various rumors
have originated and been received as actual
truth, to the effect that the Repair Shops
located at Staunton were to be broken up /;
the conductors, engineers, &c., who have
their homes here, were to remove either to
Charlottesville or Covngton, and that
Staunton was to lose the very desirable
population brought here i'll connection with
the operations of the Repair Shops. We have
been approached several times with the re-
quest that we ''pitch into the Company,
and show up Its faithlessness to promises
made, when certain grounds were donated
to it on coalition of the establishment of its
shops here, and to urge our citizens to ex-
press their indignation in public meeting,
or some other form. So frequently had our
attention been called to the alleged injury
that was being done, that we felt our mind
inclining to the impression that wrong
had really been effected A long experience
in journalism, however, has made us eau.
tious about jumping at conclusions, and i'm
pressed upon us old Davy Crockett's mot
to: ''First be sure you're right. then 90
ahead.' We, therefore, to learn the facts
and to get them from headquarters, and to
give them to our readers, few days ago,
we met Captain E. T. Smith, the Division
Superintendent at this point, and the sub
Ject being broached. he informed us that
there was an exaggerated impression in re-
gard to the change that had been made
| that it could possibly operate no detriment
to Staunton, as no thought OF removing the
Repair Shops was entertained, nor could
any disadvantage result to this place. 1t
was found that the former arrangement of
Divisions imposed an unnecessary expense
upon the Company, and great annoyance to
passengers, and that the change necessary
to correct this could be easily made, without
affecting but very few of the employees, or
in the least diminishing the work done at
Stanton. Instead of three divisions, it was
determined to have but two, making a run
from Richmond to Covington and from
Covington to Huntington, thus Swing to
the Company the use of four engines, cost
ing $50, 900, and relieving passengers on the
express from the inconvenience of being
disturbed in the night by another conductor
getting on at Staunton. Heretofore one
conductor left Richmond in the evening and
reached Stanton about 3 o'clock a. M, where
another conductor had to go through the
cars to examine the tickets of each passen-
ger. Now there is no distul blnce of this
kind, as the same conductor runs to Coving-
ton, which is reached in good time for
| breakfast.
We were invited by Captain Smith to Wis
it the shops, which we did, and Captain
| James Divine, master machinist, was very
prompt in giving the information we sought,
with the assurance that he was working
more hands than he had been Tor some time
and that instead of diminution of the work
there was an increase. The Round House
| was filled to its utmost city with engines
| and one had to be left out for want of room
| in the house. These were all ten-wheei
| engines-the largest Gil the road-necessary
| for the heavy grades between Wiliamson's
and Charlottesville. On inquiry we learned
that there were 81 engines which regularly
| stop here for repairs, &C., and that the
employees of the road at this place, or that
made this place their home, numbered 2l2,
viz: Eighty engineers and firemen; sixty
! freight conductors and brakemen; forty eight
| machinists, clerks, overhaulers and laborers;
seven train dispatchers, operators and mes
sengers twelve depot clerks and hands, and
S yardsmen. With the exception of change
in, the namber of divisions, reducing them to
three instead Ct two, as heretofore, and the
nj cessary change of the terminal points for
the first division, leaving out Staunton and
substituting Covington for the passenger
tIdI Us, WHiCu ltAfolFtS d Change OF r6SlueQCe
for nine Or ten employees, the advantages ac-
cruilrg from the present arrangement are all
in favor of this place. No one should CEN
sure the Company for reducing expenses
where it is practicable, and consistent with
the efficient operation of the road, yet the
change does not reduce the necessary force
for repairs at this point, nor the number of
engines subject to repairs.
We have sought the above information to
give it publication, to relieve the apprelen-
sions of our citizens, as we'll as 10 place the
Company right. We need have no fears
that the number of employees at the shops
will be lessened, if the business of the road
continues as it is. The probability is that it
will increase, iLasmuch as the minerals
along its line are attracting the attention of
capitalists, with view to de yelopment. In
deed, the probabilities are that the capaci-
" of the shops will have to be increased,
for we confidently expect a successful aug
mediation of the freightage of the. road
duriug the current year.