The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-10-07
What Docs Il Mean?

4He Wrc!clied service furnished by
the street car company becomes daily q
source OF moro and moro public COM
plaint. Tho IHrELMGEScEn believes it
to be without qualification tho very
worst in the country. The ratte-trap
cars are filthy, ill-smelling, slower than
wrath, uncertain as n weather cock.
When you get in one OF them there is
no telling how old you may be whom
you get to your destination. Lost the
thing stop short not to go for half
hour or night. the collection Of your
nickel is promptly attended to. II the
motive power fails the next minute the
company has your money and you may
get out and walk for your health. No
body has yet brought suit to recover his
fare thus held without equivalent, but
somebody should.
The matter is OF sufficient Importance
to the community to mako test OF it.
and the way to get at it is for number
OF citizens to pool their issues against
the company and see what will come OF
it. There is little doubt that the fare
can be recovered. Ii the thing hap
pened occasionally and from unavoid-
able causes it would be right to make
allowance. 1t happens frequently and
because the line is not equipped for the
business it prctends to do.
The loss OF the nickel may seem n
small matter to men who handle
thousands, but to the man or woman
who has to work for days wages it
amounts to something At all events
the company has no right to take pay
and give no ride. 1t is q lottery en-
tcrprise-you pay the price and draw
ride if you can. We have been hearing
that all this was to be improved. Talk
is much cheaper than equipment.
The service on North Main street is
deliberately planned to punish the pco-
pie OF the locality for defeating the
company's scheme to lay double track.
The 1NTELLlGESCER advocated the propo-
sition. believing that it would be of use
to the company and TO the people.
From the hour OF tho denial OF the re-
quest until now the management seems
to have iatigucd its ingenuity to devise
means to show its resentment.
In this spirit the transfer at the cor
ncr Of Main and Tenth streets was con-
ceived. Tho run from this point to the
upper terminus is short, but it is skill
fully managed to eat up time and miss
the connection as Z rule. Passengers
going north are made to feel that the
company has special grudgc against
them.
After waiting fifteen minutes for
main line car-when they do not wait
longer-they reach the transfer station,
get out and wait for the cur going north,
get i'll that when it comes along, and
then wait for two more main line cars
before they can resume their journey.
1t may be raining pitchiorks-that
makes no difference. Passenscrs-men,
women and childrcn-sick or vol, old
or young-must get out and find shelter
where they can ii no car chances to be
there to receive them. 1t is Ill mat
ter OF chance, except the studied scheme
to inconvenience and annoy and punish.
The poverty plea has been heard Oh
behalf OF the company. So far as out
ward appearances 90 It's on its way to
the poor house, and yet it is not long
since the company paid dividend. It
is not paying the people any dividend
on tho valuable franchise it holds and
abuses, but until the people begin to
ask some questions and to force answers
they will not be taken into account.
Is it to be supposed that 4 railway
company can occupy the streets OF n
city merely to obstruct them, giving no
return for thing OF great value, run
ming down at tho heel every day, play.
ing some sort OF waiting game in which
the public isno partner?
| Council owes it to the people to con-
suit with the city solicitor with a view
to forcing the railway company to
render mn adequate service or get OF
the streets and make way for company
that will give decent service.