The Daily Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Or.) 1876-1883, 1881-02-25
Defense Of the Railroads

a friend of railroads, and reaching
Chicago, under the most adverse
circumstances, on Sunday the 9th
the editor became iRcensed at
the foolish fault-fnding Of such
"stupids" as w. r. Storey, and
men of like ilk, who assume to be
Editors, and writes as follows, hav-
ing just crossed three of the best
railroads IN America, the Central
Pacific, Union Pacific, and Chicago
and Northwestern, passing through
all the rigors of winter: "Judici-
GUS readers of certain newspapers
ard uncertain alleged ditto must
have been greatly annoyed during
the last several weeks Of extreme
cold weather, by daily diatribes
against the management of rail-
ways on account Of delays in the
arrival of trains. These senseless
complaints are conceived in the
pettiest spirit and expressed IN the
most frivolous manner. Three
hours later exclaims one so-called
editor, day after day, referring tc
the mails, zoe hare heard that ec-
preston before SOmesOlsere. AHd
the Eghtsome genius wakes quite
witty as he cheerfully proceeds to
demonish the whole railway and
postal service Of the country
Actually he remarks, with crush,
ing sarcasm, actually, a boy whC
came into the editorial room moi
long since and reported the mails
on time was kindly told to g
hsme, take something hot, go Il
bed, and try to break up a threat,
ening fever"
Actually this silly sophomore
satire is gravely printed in the
large type reserved for the leading
editorials Of A once-dignified daily
And the same feather Drained
writer is actually allowed to urge
congress TO abolish the ''fast mali
and to demand the infiction Oi
severe penalties upon the railway
managers for failures to make
time, in this unusually inclement
season, as if they did not have
trouble and anxiety enough in 50
running the trains as to avoid the
occurrence of frightful accidents.
The brains of the alleged news
paper from which we have thus
quoted are to be found somewhere
belew It's head, If one must Judge
by its treatment of the railways
in this emergency. In the local
department we find the fact stated
that "last night was the coldest OF
the season." One OF its reporters
has sense enough to see that "the
present extreme cold weather is
having its usual effect of cracking
car wheels" and candor enough tC
admit that fortunately these Gcci.
dents hGUe been discovered in tim,
TO preUe'at any serious results. .
The humble reporter is also fair,
minded enough to suggest that
considering the danger from this
source, the trGoeLiag public can
torgice the roads for making such
poor time," and discretion enough
to remind impatient passenger.
that ''slow and safe travel rs inf
nitely better than rapid and dang
erous transit" But the addle
pated so-called editor, regardless
Of these circumstances and as if tC
sharpen the contrast between hi
snbordinate's sober judgment an,
his own utter lack of it, in tn,
same issue repeats the parrot-hk,
editorial scolding about the un
avoidable delay. "rhe fast mai
from New York now runs regular
ly-three hours late" shrieks tn
nominal editor; and then, wit
whitening irony, he allows that a
is a great advantage to be able t
tell from day to day just how man
hours behind time a fast mail
sure to be-"
The Rochester Union puts fort
very sensible and timely remon