The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-01-21
Numerous Delays and Inconvenience,
Augmented by the State Currency.

From the Chicago Inter- Ocean.
people who travel nowadays and get
a single ticket straight through TO their
destination and have their baggage all
checked and off their mind at the start
ing point. have no idea what Il trip by
rail- meant back in 1876 and lSis. when ev-
cry state used different money said n
veteran colonel
Il lived in Brooklyn then. and once a
year. or once every two years at tho
furthest, ] took my wife and family to
visit my old homo in South Carolina. /
have vivid recollections of the struggle
which those trips were, and of the sense
OF relief | felt, when, after several days
of travel. | landed the party, handbnxes
and ALL safe and sound under the pater-
nal roof. Occasionally IL happened that
some piece of luggage went astray. or we
narrowly escaped losing one of the chill
dren ON the way, but generally we got
through all right. There were few por-
ters on the cars then. except those en-
ployed To look after the railroads inter-
ests. 1t was case of every man for him
self, whether there were transfers to be
made or eating houses to he hunted up,
and the difference in the currency of the
various states added considerably to the
travellers troubles.
This was how ii would be: Getting off
the ferry boat from Brooklyn. we would
pack ourselves into am omnibus and be
trundled over to the Courtlandt street
L L
bought tickets for Philadelphia, paying
for them in New York money. Arriving
at Philadelphia we We're packed into an
other bus and We're carted across the city
to the railroad station on the other SIDE.
That part of the journey stands out as
the most tedious and dsagreeable There
was always delay and much erowding
and waiting to see how many passengers
We're To be provided for and then the bus
took its time about moving. At the sta
ton bought new tickets that would take
us as far as Baltimore. If happened to
have any gold along. after paying for
luncheons. dinners and suppers at the eat
ing houses, | paid for my tickets in gold.
II not | used New York money or the
money that had got in Philadelphia. and
paid something for the exchange. Certain
of the road houses at that time made rep
utations either for serving very good fare
or very bad. The refreshment rooms at
| Wilmington. Del, We're on the good list
when We got to Baltimore we were put
into cars drawn by four magnificent
horses and taken over to the railway sta
tion on the other side of town in fine
style Really. this was a great improve
ment ON the omnibus system, and every
/ body applauded IL, The first street cars
! had not been put on in New York very
! long then, and Baltimore was considered
/ up to date. There were two things that
that city was noted for then-its pretty
women and it's fine horses. Some of the
best OF the latter We're hitched to those
f new street ears. At the Baltimore sta
\ ton tickets We're bought for Washington.
/ and there was fresh changing of money.
i Arriving safe in the capital early in the
I morning. we We're treated to a true
/ Southern breakfast. meal that was so
| good as almost To make UP for the trou-
4 bile one underwent to get there. We had
! delicious fried chicken. hominy that was
cooked as homtny should be. corn waf-
Z fies and cakes. mullins light and ffakv.
/ and all served by black walters in the
| deftest manner. There were only a few
/ negro walters in service Ia Northern cit
les then, and they were always n novelty
! that interested people greatly. partfcu-
/ larly the children. At Washington We gnt
! tickets for boat travel on the Potomac "a
! Acquia creek. The day OF Akgufa wreck
as point OF interest and Importance
| passed away long ago. but i'm 1876 that trim
/ on the Potomac 2vass looked uBen as i,
i treat. There Was much 10 see and enjoy