The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-01-29
THE GATE SYSTEM.
manager VIM Week Answers IN.
Criticism of a Traveller

manager Vim Week Answers IN.
criticism of n Traveller.
10 the Editor of The Houston Post.
In your issue Of January 49, under IN,
head OF Letters from the People" there
appears an article criticising the gate sys-
tem' written by Mr. j. f. Capron, which is
80 unjust that I feel 1t my duty to make
reply to same We do not object to criti-
cism when 1t is confined to facts and I'm
exaggerated. Mr.. Capron says that on De.
cember 10, 1896. "a large crowd OF pas-
sengers. among them an old lady. were held
out at Houston In a driving rain. while
gatemen examined tickets; that her escort
was not permitted to enter the train to
carry her bundle of Christmas presents into
same, and that the gates are not suspend
cd in rainy weather. etc"
On December 10 there were 1871 passen.
gers boarded our train at Houston, con-
sisting of n lot of excursionists returning
to their homes. Upon the arrival of the
train from the west they made rush for
the cars, and were prevented from entering
same for several minutes. because 1t was
round necessary to switch the 'raiu III
order TO put on more coaches II was not
raining and had not been raining during
that day. The passengers were Permitted
TO enter the train at three separate oren-
Tugs. There was no delay "aused by ex-
aiming tickets, and Mr. Capron is mis-
taken in the date or has misrepresented
the matter. We do not object to the escort
of Il lady boarding train with her to carry
her valise or bundle except when to do so
would materially interfere with the COM
fort o: our other passengers. AS evidence
that Mr. capron Is mistaken and has been
misinformed regarding suspension Of the
service during rainy weather. invite at
tcntion 10 the following copy Of ustruc-
tons:
Superintendent.
Houston, Texas, May 10, 1so6.-one of the
objections which has been urged against
our gate system is that in rainy weather
IT. will work a hardship upon passengers
10 stand al cars and show their tickets To
overcome this objection and keep down
complaint 1t is desired that the following
arrangement be carried out on such days
as there is rain: The agent should ask all
passengers desiring to take the rrain to
remain in the waiting rooms until all pas
sengers have been discharged from the
train. after which they will be admitted
without having to present tickets for can
collation.. The conductor and brakeman
should assist in preserving this order OF
loading and unloading passengers on such
days, and the conductor should be careful
to see that everyone Is out of the waiting
room before he starts his train.
Please issue the necessary instructions to
! agents and trainmen. Yours truly,
W. &. Van Week, Manager.
Mr.. j. p. Long. Special Agent.
Houston, Texas. May ~. ls9e.--Dear Sir:
| hand you herewith copy Of instructions !
have this day issued to superintendent.
relative to handling passengers on and off
gated trains during rainy weather. Please
| instruct gatemen in accordance herewith.
| Yours truly, w, q. Van Week,
As evidence that the above instructions
are complied with. I show below few oi
many instances with date. train and sta
| ton at which no tickets were cancelled,
| account rain, as reported TO us by gate
mon.
| January I, No. 1S-Mnrgan City, Patter-
| SON. Bayou Sale. Franklin, January II. NO.
| II, Jehnerottc Sorrell Baldwin. Franklin,
| Bayou Sale; January 3, No. II, Iowa, Welsh.
| Crowley. Rayne. Scott January 2, No. IL,
| Houston: January 10. No. 10, San Antonio,
| January ., No. I'll Rosenberg, Richmond.
| Harlem. Sartartia Sugarland. Stafford,
Missouri city: January %, No, 10, all sta
| tions between Houston and Lafayette; Jan
uary %, No. 90, all stations between Hous-
| ton and San Antonio: January 20, No. IL,
all stations between Aleiers and laiay-
| ettc.
The above are but few instances. taken
| from our records. and AS a matter Of iact'
| there Is hardly train passes over the
road that the rule is not suspended at one
| or more points.
Mr.. Capron SAYS: al have no objection 70
| this road. or any other. taking Whatever
| prccaution they may deem necessary to get
| what is due them, etc.
| The gates were put on for the beneilt VI
| the travelling public. rnd have been found
| beneficial in numerous ways. They prevent
| passengers from takins the wrong tram
and there Is hardly day that we 40 not
| turn back people from our train at iious
| ton and other junction points who shonld
| 70 on other roads Yesterday. while our
gates were practically suspended. over the
! entire limo. on account OF extreme cold and
| stormy weather, we had rhree Instances OF
| passengers taking the wrong train ana pc
| ing carried I'm the opposite direction Iron'
| Tint In which they intended to go Ihey
| prevent bows and loungers around STATIONS
| from running through the cars. to the great
| annoyance of the travelling public, ana ne
| 1uently stealing any small article they can
| Law their hands urcn. They are oil henen'
] 10 the travelling public In numerous ways,
| got the public and particularly the eiess
| to which Mr.. Capron belongs, are the 'hiy
ones who have assumed that they We're pn,
on Cor any other purpose atter .,s,,
months trial under the close obserVatiun
! OF many who were at first opposed to mem
they are pronounced good thing now, anu
! all falr-minded men can not refrain from
admitting It. w. o. van NiccN,
January 2s, 1896.
tGuif aud Interstate improvements
<..tx