The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1890-10-31
A Few Grievances Only.


pany have this community at their mercy,
and they arc imposing upon it.
A box was sent to the depot Tues
day October 81, the contents of which
would he greatly injured by delay in ship
ment The express agent received it.
The shipper, knowing the bad manage
ment which had characterized the office
here, some days ago had inquiry made to
learn whether the box had been shipped.
The agent in charge said it had been
The party to whom it was addressed how
ever. notified the shipper that it had not
been received. Another inquiry was made
at the express Office Oh Monday, October
81. and it was asccrtaincd that the box
had never been shipped. Goods have
been known to remain in the Office days
after inquiry had been made for them and
after the consigncc had been told that
they had not been received. One package
shipped bv express from Louisville to a
gentleman here was not delivered in two
months.
These delays and such negligence con-
stantly occur, though the most cxOrhitant
rates are charged.
The South Atlantic & Ohio Railroad is
hardly less gougng. y number OF bills
of lading are before US in which from ten
to twenty per cent more is charged for
freight from Bristol here than from Gin
cinnati to Bristol 1t is with great diff
Guilty too that freight can he obtained
on these terms.
There is nothing more hurtful to COM
munity than such discrimination against
H. There is nothing more irritating to
those who are compelled to have dealings
with these corporations than to have goods
hid in some corner and be denied accu-
rate information about them when in
uuirv is made. Elsewhere freight and
express agents notify parties on arrival OF
consignmcnts to their address. Here they
are denied the information when they
apply in person.
These Irregularities. this gouging and
these delays have gone OH until the
companies in question seem to think the
people of Big Stone Gap have no rights
and cannot acquire any. it matters not
1, 49,. ,,,,,L tI,n, NOV. for fhnm
Major Bates has been informed Of the
neglect and ineficiency of his agents
and he showed disposition TO correct the
abuses. but they continue.
The Express Company have been in
formed of the feeling Of outrage and in
Justice which prevails in this community
against their exactions, but they do not
seem to care an atom.
We submit that ii is time for the citi-
zens of this community to organize and
bring their united protests to bear against
the injustice. 1t is disgraceful in the
companies to take advantage of our ncccs-
sites. but it is humiliating to sec how
tamcly the people submit to such mis-
management and oppression. Elsewhere
these acts of petty tyranny would arouse Il
storm of indignation. They should have
that effect here. We arc gouged by the
South Atlantic e. Ohio Railroad; We are
goused by the Southern Express Company;
and there is good prospect that, taking
it's queue from these corporations, we
shall he gougcd by the Dummy line.
Gen. Ayers is at the head of Il corpo-
ration here which is hand in glove with at
least two of these companies, and, as he
is largely interested in Big Stone Gap, it
is 10 he hoped he Will give our grievances
his personal attention. He certainly has
sufficient influence to correct many of
them, and he cannot do 50 too soon.
Meantime our Commercial Club must
show what stuff it is made Of We must
RELY after all chiefly upon ourselves.
There are too many complications, in
tarcicies and mysteries of management
among corporations to expect that any one
of them will take ground against another,
when all are more or less benctciaries
and enjoy Il direct or indirect division of
the spoil. We must look to our own
unbackcd, but determined energies for
remedies and apply them unRinchingly
whenever We can, and where they will do
us the most good. 1.-The whirla-gig of
time makes all things cvcn," says the
Proverb: and it is high time, indeed for us
to have square deal all around.