The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-12-16
4 COMPLAINT FILED
Against the Seaboard and the
Southern Railway.
WITH THE r. r. COMMISSION
Asked TO Make Trains Connect
at Raleigh.
ny rF4e METHODIST DELEGATES
Passengers Kept Over All Night in
Raleigh--An Order to the Roads
lssued--Freight Trouble
in Hickory.


in Hickory.
All North Carolina and the travelling
public genrally will rejoice in an order
which was issued yesterday afternoon by
the Railroad Commission. This order is
addressed to the Southern Railway Com
pany and the Seahoard Airline system,
and it's object is to effect reform III
the matter of connections here between
these two railroads, and is rs follows
''You and each of you will take notice
thaI-wheras complaint has been made
before the Railroad Commissioners.
and we know from our own
knowledge; that you fail to make the
proper connection of your trains, Nos.
10 and Al. leaving Raleigh at about $40
.. M, for the interchange of passengers,
and ii appearing that this connection is
practicable and necessary for the con-
yenience of the travelling public,
Now, therefore, you are requested to
appear before the commission on Tues
day. the 22nd day of December, TO show
cause, if any, why a more reasonable
and satisfactory connection should not
be made at Once"
This ORDER was made upon complaint
of a nassxber of delegates and ministers.
who, on Monday afternoon, returned
from the Methodist Conference at Kin
ston Just as their train came in they
saw the Seaboard train, the one some
40 of them expected to take here for
their homes, pulling out of the station.
Five minutes delay, or even less, would
have enabled them to change cars with
their baggage; but these two roads, as is
well-known, are fighting one another and
one viii not wait for the other to come
in and transfer its passengers if 1T
chances to be a few minutes behind time.
1t happens almost every day that a num-
Der of passengers coming in on one or the
other of these roads have to stay over
in Raleigh all night because their train
is a few minutes late. This, with
Raleigh's very limited hotel accommoda
tons, is both unpleasant and expensive.
sive-
At least that is the view these Metho-
dist delegates and preachers took of the
situation and yesterday morning, before
they shook the mud of Raleigh off their
feet, they held a sort of informal out
door conference and delegated Rev. Jesse
III. Page, than whom there is no better
man in North Carolina, to go before the
Railroad Commission and prefer formal
complaint.
The complaint was made with the above
result. 1t is preliminary step in the
right direction and unless these roads
can show some good cause for their
action in this matter, which does not yet
appear, they should be made to make
connection here when it can reasonably
be done.
And just here let me say that these
roads, especially the Southern, cause
great annoyance aud loss of time to their
patrons by their reckless way of reporting
trains when they are behind time. Often
when reported half an hour late they
are an hour late. They seldom, If ever,
come at the time reported on the bulletin
boards. This is also an evil that should
be remedied. While it is impossible to
always give the time Of arrival exactly,
there is no reason why it should always
be given so inaceurately.
The time is rapidly coming in the
South when railroads are being made to
understand that they are intended to be
operated for the convenience and accom-
mediation of the public, as well as for
their own profit. And usually, in the
case of the roads operated in North Caro-
lima, it is only necessary to call their
attention to any abuse to have it cor
rected.
FREIGHT TROUBLE AT HICKORY.
In reference to the freight trouble at
Hickory, where it is reported that all
freight delivered for shipment over the
Southern is held until the amount of
twelve thousand pounds is received, ex-
cept in case Of perishable goods, Mr.. I'll.
G. Brown, clerk of the Railroad Com
mission, said yesterday that he thought
there was some mistake. He said no
such order had been filed with the Com
mission by the railroad company and
that he did not believe any such order
had been issued by the Southern Rail-
way, as it would be direct violation Of
the rules OF the Commission
"There must be some error in the
statement published in sthis mornings
News and Observer. The Commission,
however, is investigating the matter and
if the report is found to be true the
grievance will be corrected at once. The
rules Of the Commission in such cases are
that all freight must be receipted for
when rendered and forwarded by first
regular freight train"
Chairman Wilson left for the West
on the afternoon train to look into the
matter. He did not believe there was
any ground fMS3he complaint, but he
wanted to find 0&f3he facts in the case.
NEW RALEIGH PREACHERS.
mn \. Al.