Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-30
HANDLING THE BIG CROWD.
How the Railroad. Did It-some Detail,
of the Work.

OF the Nork.
The uninterested never pause to consider the
vast amount Of work and mental strain required
on the part of railroad officials and their subor-
dinates to handle a big crowd OF people.
Sitting quietly in the train Won are brought
with promptness and safety into the depot and
you leave the station without pausing 70 con-
template how or by what means your destina-
ton was reached in safety and without DELAY
after passing miles Of freight trains numerous
passenger trains and through the network of
switches in the CITY yard aud without a single
interruption. To do this requires an army Of
men, and the success OF the whole system de-
ponds upon the superintendent and the prompt
execution OF his orders. Upon the superintend-
ent lis concentrated the whole management of
the movement of trains. This is what is re-
CURED on big road when ordinary business is
being daily transacted, but to handle n tr.men-
dous crowd like that of the late O. A. II. en-
cnmpment requires double tie force and as n
result double the amount OF mental strain upon
the superintendent. Ii is estimated that $50 600
people were brought into the CITY bv the Penn
sylvania, the Baltimore and Ohio and other
roads.
A STAR reporter made inquiries at the Ralti-
more and ohio road. the results Of which show
the manner by which the railroads handled the
crowd: During the period from September IL
10 ~, inclusive. the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road brought into Washington 100 600 people
from the west and north and on the 10th from
Baltimore Il. GOO. making total of I75, 600. On
same day Goth. in the afternoon and evening,
they returned the l5.C0O Baltimore people and
about 5000 north. making in one dav IS. 600
handled. and from 2lst TO oath. inclusive. they
returned west and north l50. 600. making a
grand total of $50. 900 handled in eight days.
This does not include the regular business
which is always heavy, and the numerous ex-
cursions during this time to Gettysburg VIM
chester, Hagerstown and other points of interest
during the late war.
HOW IT WAS DONE.
From information received in advance Mr..
l. fitzgerald. the superintendent Of the Balti-
more and Ohio railroad. saw that he had big
task before him. and he Immediately took steps
10 master 1t His first move upon his arrival
IN Washington was to consult with General
Agent VIM. Alvey, and together they went over
the held where operations were soon TO
commence. To Mr.. Alvey he made known his
ians previously mapped out and which were
subsequently followed
10 meet the demand for track room toac-
commodate all the special trains the supe<fu-
tendent had most of the side tracks in the
freight yard heightened and additional sidings
butt outside the city limits. He then. on the
nieht OF the 10th instant. had all freight cars in
the city moved out. This gave HIM room at the
New York avenue yard TO park lbs sleeping
cars, which were used by various posts as their
headquar ers during the encampment. This
yard also served as the terminal of all local
trains on the Metropolitan branch
USING THE FREIGHT YARD.
The large freight ward between North Can't
tol street and Delaware avenue was given up
entirely to passenger trains. Platforms were
lad between the tracks sufficient in length to
accommodate trains of ten cars and during the
interval above mentioned il was tested to its
utmost capacity. Aside from this two tracks
were reserved TO accommodate sleeping cars
that arrived on early morning trains. These
sleepers were here he'd until vacated BY their
occupants.
In order that everything should be dis
patched with promptness the superintendent
had on hand several private cars in which were
htted up "a telegraph and telephone Office, a
dring car and sleeping. apartments for the
several officials, also two cars known as Bar
retts Camp. TO furnish free of charge meals
for the railroad men.
THE TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT..
The telegraph department was under the i'm
mediate charge of Mr.. Charles Selden. super
intendent of telegraph and consisted of some
thirty telegraph and block system operators,
also chief operator. Divisional operator
several hnemea and all the paraphernalia
necessary to run a big telegraph system.
THE BAGGAGE DEPARTMENT.
1he baggage department was in charge of
General Baggage Agent b. E. Peddcord. who
had an army of assistants and porters. Here
some excellent service was rendered. Over
10000 pieces of baggage were received and de-
hvered and again handled during the return of
the big crowd. To provide for this abnormal
amount of baggage Il house was built at the left
OF the depot cai able of holding 10 600 trunks.
but even this failed TO meet the unusual de-
mand.
The master car builder. Mr.. E. W. Grieves.
was also on hand during the week to look after
the equipment of the numerous coaches from
other roads and his dates in this line were
numerous. he had coaches from almost every
railroad in the country
The superintendent of Pullman cars Mr. J.
5. Merrell, was also present with his private
car. His arduous duties can be imagined when
1t is stated that he had $50 sleeping cars to
look after, each containing crew of two men,
THE LOCOMOTIVES.
The motive power WAS looked after by Mr.
Geo. W. Humphreys. He not only had his
regular engines to look after, but all the freight
engines of the road were pressed into service
and he had under his charge many locomotives
from other divisions
The road department was in charge Of Mr.
b. Fendall. who held a large force of men
ready for any emergency. also a ringers train
fully equipped and ready for immediate sery-
ice, but the men OF this department failed TO
distinguish themselves for the reason that
nothing occurred to call them to DUTY
The absolute block system was used on the
road and no trains were unnecessarily DELAYED.
The single track block system on the west end OF
the Metropolitan branch. originated by Superin-
tenient Eitzpprald cav. optiro