Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-04-28
The Blue Envelope.

"The blue envelope has been the en-
blem of misery on the New York Cen
tral since 1868, " said conductor on
that line whose service has extended
over period of twenty-five years A
train ON which a reporter was going
west the other day was in his charge.
The story he told of the origin of the
envelope beguiled the tedium of the
journey.
1T was twenty-five or thirty years
ago, ;" he said, reflectively. ''when to be
a conductor was 10 have berth which
was sure to land You safely into COM
potency. OF course | don't mean 10
say that the opportunities for what is
called knocking down made the differ
ence, although there were dishonest meIi
among us then rs now. But the times
for ten years preceding the war were
fluSher than they have been since Peo-
pie were not so careful about the change.
About half the travellers used to pay
their fare on the trains, rs it was not the
rule then to have gatekeepers and door
tenders. That. like the duplex coupon,
- a lllilONdllOll
fic. The old timers have told me that
many's the day that they have had over
pay to the extent of s. and $40. Pas
sengers were in the habit of handing
the conductor bill for their fare and
asking no change. 1t was the custom
and all conductors recognized it. With
out robbing the company picayune he
could make nice wages off these per-
quisites And nothing was thought of
accepting them. The conductors in the
early days were higher-toned lot of
men than they are to-day. So there was
no disgrace in accepting these little eX-
traS. The through trains TO New York
and nack again were the best to have
knew conductor who used TO run out
of Albany south, before the Hudson
River consolidated, who got rich in
seven wears. He lives at PoughkecpSie
in elegant style, although an old man
over 80 years. | don't believe he ever
stole a cent. They tell me that along
about 1850 the road was overrun,
however, with fellows who used to di-
vide with the company. From Albany
To Buffalo their families are to-day liy-
ing on the fat of the land. \ good
story is told of one of this crowd. now
a resident of Rochester. He had been
on the road about five wears, when one
day he received a dispatch SAYING his
presence was urgently desired in New
York. Proceeding there no found that
Commodore Vanderbilt sought the in
terview. The old fellow WAS as cross as
blaZeS that morning.
$50 you are Conductor So and So?"
he said, as he sized up his man.
Yes, Commodore" was the reply.
How long have You been running on
my road?"
Five years.
'.Humph! And YOU carry a better
watch than do, " the Commodore said,
spying a ponderOus chain on the vest of
his employe.
'.It isn't, is it:'' said the conductor,
cOolly removing it and exhibiting
timepiece that he said had cost him
round $500
They tell me you have farm just
outside of Rochester," said the Com
modore quizZingly.
$50 they say. It's pretty fine piece
of property, as you may guess, for /
paid $4,000 for il without building on
it a year ago.
Keep any horSeS?'
Nobody in Rochester can give me
their dust when I'm up behind my pair"
was the proud rejoinder.
Five years on the Railroad" medi-
tated the railroad king, '.and how much
of this show did You have five years
ago?"
Mary 4 bit. Why, l borrowed
money TO get from Rochester to SYRIA
cuse TO ask Superintendent Crittenden
for job"
stDon't you call that stealing?n
ssNo, sir said our friend, knowing
by this time that his days were num-
bered and getting independent in con-
sequence, ''and what is more You don't.
1t will cost you as much again to tell
me that it is
''The next day he got blue envelope.
From that day to this the color has
never varied. The company had several
lawsuits, / believe, for having discharg-
ed conductors under suspicion. The
blue envelope was hit upon by Wander
bilt to avoid trouble. \ line inside
states that further services are not re-
quired. When the conductors first be-
gan to get them they used to demand an
explanation. Never was one gratified.
The blue envelope has its meaning was
The only reply. They have been rather
scarce for the past three years. 1 see
that several have been distributed lately.
No one can tell whose turn will come
next