The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-02

ME-. wells > tys It Has Is en- Run at u Loss

The following letter from Supt. Wells
of the Southern Railway explains itself,
and is published for the information Of
those concerned. We re sret very much
that the travel docs not warrant the en-
tension Of this service, and that after
December the train will not even
Greenwood.
Still 1t cannot be expected that q
railroad would run u irain that does
not more than pay one-half Of operating
expenses.
Columbia, S. c., November 20, 1898.
Mr.. e. Fl. Aull, Editor Herald and
News, Newberry, S. c.:
Dear Sir: Referring to the various
petitions from citizens of Newberry,
Greenwood, Anderson, Abbeville and
other towns between Columbia and
Greenville, for the extension Of present
trains II and l8 to Columbia, which pc
titions were presented to us by your
committee at the meeting held in Co.
this entire matter was referred to our
management, and has been given care
full attention.
Trains II and 1S were established be-
tween Greenwood and Greenville, as
you know, about the middle of June of
this year, and in response to the desires
of the people of Newberry and Pros
perity were extended to the latter point
about two weeks later. This train was
an experiment, and has not, we regret
to say, come up to our expectations.
The train has but little mole than
half paid actual operating expenses,
and if we consider proportion of the
general expenses OF the various depart
ments connected with railroad opera
tiol, of which each train is expected to
bear It's proportion, then may say that
this train has not paid one quarter of
the cost of operating it. The eXten-
sion of this train from Greenwood to
Prosperity has been practically Il dead
loss, while the service between Green
wood and Grcenvillc scarcely paid run
ming expenses. We feel sure that your
petitioners will not ask us to continue
this service at loss after having given
it fair trial,
AS to the extension of this train tC
Columbia, VIC do not feel that the earn.
| ings of the G. & G. Road justify our max
ing further experiments at this time
No,
| ston suggested by your committee with
| out disarranging present very satisfac
| tory schedule and discommoding q great
| deal of the local travel on trains 8 anC
mountains, and between Greenville ant
! Columbia. The early morning freight.
from Columbia give the newspapers al
| opportunity reach the up country q
a reasonably early hour, and it does
| not seem wise to inaugurate passenger
service on schedule SO very inconve
nient for travellers. 1t was our under
standing that the people OF Columbia
wanted service similar to that at Green
vile, viz, q morning train into Colum
bia and an evening train out. W.
should be glad to arrange this, but th
country is so sparsely settled between
Columbia and Newberry, as compares
with that between Greenville AM
Greenwood, that the idea is impracti
cable.
We will on our new schedule, effect
i've December 4th, continue presen
trains II and 18 between Grcenville an
Greenwood, with the hope that tn
schedule may be made permanent, an
with the hope that we may before lon
see our way clear to still further in
prove the service
, We beg to assure you, and throug
you the petitioners, of our readiness q
all times to maintain the best schedul
that conditions will justify.
Thanking you for your interest
this matter, | remain,
, Yours very truly,
p. |. WELLS.