Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-04-02
American and British Railways.

american anu BritlBn tk6llWDy1s
A correspondent Of the Scotsman,
published at Edinburgh, Scotland, thus
draws comparison between the Amer
lean and British railway systems::to the
disadvantage Of the latter.
SIR Circumstance Of friendship
called me suddenly in October last to
the Northwest of America. The sum-
mons came by telegram on Thursday.
On Friday I secured, by the same
means, a berth in the celebrated steamer
Alaska, which left Liverpool next fore
noon; and in seven days one hour from
Queenstown landed at New York.
Two days later l left for the West by
the limited express of the Pennsylvania
Central railroad. My ticket, which L
had secured the day before at one of
the railway offices in Broadway, not
far from the hotel, cost $40 to Chicago,
with SO extra for the use Of sleeping
and dining cars. The distance by this
road is little under 1000 miles, which
was done in twenty-five hours and
thirty minutes, and the cost was less
than for = corresponding distance at
home. But in the manner Of travelling
the difference is overwhelmingly in
favor of America. The car by which 1
journeyed was built of mahogany, in
laid with graceful floral decorations,
and furnished in the most sumptuous
manner. Heated by concealed steam
pipes, a comfortable temperature was
maintained night and day, and, al
though snow streaked the Alleghenies,
and smaller streams were covered with
ice, nobody among the passengers
seemed to think rugs, ETC., necessary
portion of their travelling impedimenta.
At either end of the car were capacious
lavatories and relative conveniences-
one for ladies. the other for gentlemen,
equipped with soap, clean towels,
brushes, combs, ETC., and filter with
fresh drinking water. From the time
of leaving New York, till arrival at
Chicago. no passenger need leave the
cars. Attached to the sleeping car is
dining car, equally sumptuously fitted,
and also a smoking car, both of which
are specially reserved for those who pay
the extra SO, and which, therefore, in
reality constitute frst-class accommO-
datIon. In the dining car, at 81 each,
one can have three meals daily, from a
bill of fare that erred only in its profuse
abundance and variety Of well-cooked
food.
On my return at the end of Novem-
Der, and having no use for rugs, etc,
and in the comfortable cars, checked
all my baggage, save dressing bag,
from a station not far from the Mani
toba frontier straight through to New
York. On my arrival there three days
afterwards, instead Of checking" my
baggage to the hotel where intended to
put up, L checked" it to the dock of the
steamer by which was to sail the fol-
lowing morning; and there, on arriving
from the hotel, found it awaiting me
at the shore end Of the gangway as I
was about to embark-never having
once seen or troubled myself about it
since 1 left Litchfield, 1000 miles away,
and having changed cars and lines of
roads twice-at st. Paul and Chicago.
Now mark the contrast. 1 arrive at
Liverpool, give up my baggage to the
Northwest Railway Company, without
any voucher or check being inter-
changed, and proceed to Lime street by
a suburban railway from the dock gates
in evil-smelling carriages which my
American fellow-travelers scornfully
stigmatised as ''bunks, "and into which
We were locked like criminals. 1t was
a wet, gloomy day, and after my pleas
ant American experiences l felt like
one who had ''come down in the world. I"
On afterwards applying for my baggage
at Lime street station, was not only
obliged to produce my card as evidence
Of identity, but had to 60 down into q
deep dark cellar to point out the pack
bother I had to pay more than at New
York, where baggage was carried double
the distance. But the charge is a mere
secondary consideration. 1t is the
restless anxiety and worry our system
or rather entire want Of system-need-
lessly impose on you from starting till
arriving at your destination that is so
provoking.
| But the most remarkable contrast
was reserved for my return to Scotland.
Travelling down by night train, l was
| Hall lIOLCu VIII COiu Jill dtklNa az
Carlisle, where We were detained an
hour and half for the London train,
and where the fire in the waiting room
merely served to remind one how cold
and comfOrtless the place was. Sleep
was out of the question, and landed
at the Princes street station stiff and
almost numb with cold.
Americans cannot understand how
we quietly submit to travel in carriages
in which we are half frozen in winter,
which are very, very stuffy in summer,
and III which murder and other out
RACES may be committed with impunity,
while our baggage system they regard
as simply barbaric.
Itis because agree with my Ameri-
can friends that 1 have noted down
these reflections, in the hope that they
may contribute, In however small de.
gree, to rouse our railway directors to 9
recognition of the disgracefully uncom-
Portable and inconvenient accommoda.
tions afforded by them to the travelling
public. 1 am, etc. ScoTUs.