The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-25
ANEW RAILROAD REFORM
VANDERBILT LINES WILL STOP RUN
MING SUNDAY FREIGHT TRAINS.
Except in c&aea of Perishable Goods
Chauncey aQDepew Talks at Length
About the Reform, and Tells Why the
Experiment VIM be Made.

New YORK, April 24.-All the Wander
bilt roads east Of Chicago will, on May LIST,
abandon great proportion OF their Sun
day freight trains. Even next Sunday
fewer trains than usual will be run.
For year past" said President
Chauncey NJ, Depew, last night, "Mr.
Cornelius Vanderbilt has been urging the
change. The presidents OF the Wander
bilt roads hold monthly meetings, and at
the meeting which preceded Mr.. Wander
bilrs departure for Europe on March 30.
1t was decided to make the experiment.
for that is what ii is. 1t is not proposed
to stop all Sunday trains. The change
affects the freight business only, although
we have already succeeded in curtailing
the number Of Sunday passenger trains by
giving up excursions and in other ways.
ut Is not possible, Of course, for us to
stop all Sunday freights. There are GER
tain kinds OF freight which must be
moved. We cannot let perishabe goods
rest on the road; cattle and other live
stock must be cared for and forwarded,
and certain market trains cannot be aban-
doned. II some OF our trains did not get
to this city on Monday morning, there
would be a famine here; that is, you
know, famine in some things. We ex-
pect TO reduce the number OF men en-
ployed in the Sunday traffic by from 33t
TO 90 per cent"
"Are the reasons for this action religious
or economical or both?"
almost purely religious, although we
do expect that II will improve the morale
OF the men and give them more time at
home. The latter is, however, going TO
be difficult matter to fix; that Is, TO ar
range so that freight crews will be at home
at the end OF Saturdays run"
"Are you in favor OF the change, and
who else besides Mr.. Vanderbilt wanted
III"
al am in favor OF It, and so were nearly
all the presidents. Tho most serious
trouble Ia TO arrange II. We cant refuse
to receive freight from connecting roads,
nor can We afford TO lose ono days bust
ness In the week--that would ruin u.s."
"But the men will have 10 lose one
seventh OF their income. will they not?
Are not freight crews paid by the rum"
YES, they are 30 paid, and OF course
they will lose just so much money, but the
men have repeatedly said they did not
want TO work ON Sundays. Now, We will
take them at their word. Perhaps thoy
may not like II. have known such cases.
They clamor fora theory, but they realize a
condition."
Mr.. Depew said The change would affect
all the Vanderbilt roads east OF Chicago.
1T would be much easier 10 accomplish IL
the roads west Of there could be- brought
in, but that Is impossible. The Lake
Shore & Michigan Southern Is 80 sur
rounded by competitors that II would lose
half its business II we should try II there,
and We can't Afford that you know"
Mr.. Depew said that the change would
make the business OF the roads redhot on
Mondays and Tuesdays, and that 1t would
necessilate greater yard facilities all along
the road as we'll as perhaps larger num-
Der OF cars. The roads would try, he said,
10 get along without employing any addi-
tional crews no