The Opelousas courier., 1899-03-04
A Nuisance or a Convenience ?
On THE ROAD, Feb. %, 1899

On THE ROAD, Feb. %, 1899.
That is the question the peo-
pie are asking themselves all along
the line OF Morgan's La. Il. X. from La
tayette to Alexandria, a distance OF s.
miles. From Lafayette to Washington,
% miles inclusive, there are five offices
with waiting rooms and agents from
Washington to Eola, distance "a miles
including six stops, there are neither
waiting rooms, telegraph service or
agent-only III open barn sometimes
locked) called by courtesy IA depot"
To these six points, Beggs, Garland,
Dubuisson, Whiteville, Barbreck and
Gold Dust, all freight must be prepaid.
There are Determinations made against
these flag stations as to freight. Alex
andria was delivering goods to these
points ut satisfactory rates until now
from Eola 5 miles to avoid excess OF
freight to their own station. But aside
from this, think OF a wreck, say Ill some
Plantation about Wlliteville. What
means have the u~nfortunates OF calllns
for succor for needed medical assistance
or for food for those who are able to
eat ? 1t was the misfortune Of the writer
to wait for the train OF said road ut Que
of these cherries flag stations on the
night of Feb. 12th last without lire or
shelter depot locked waited until 10 p.
H.; no train, no possible way OF know
ing when it would come. Train passed
up at 5 a. III. next day, IL hours late.
Then there was nothing to do but wait
until Monday evening. Train time 5 p.
H., but no tram, and at 10 p. ~. sharp
the train for Alexandria s hours late
again, came along. We boarded it,
paid our fare and reached destination
with q most malignant case Of "Grippo'
for which We are indebted to thee
cellent management Of this branch OF
the great Southern Pacific Il. H.; and all
this delay was 0ccasloned by Il freight
wreck on the main line below Lafayette
which could possibly offer nc excuse for
delay yer this branch any more than
if it had happened in California.
Ladies and children suffer the am rs
tho men. These flag stations are all
isolated, being generally in the middle
of some plantation away from any hab-
itation that could give shelter and per-
nit the waiting traveller to catch the
train. 1t is time to put Il stop to such
utter disregard for the welfare Of the
supporters of this road, as is evidenced
10y its management and the treatment
its patrons receive. They tried their
shameful gate system until the other
roads in the country termed it the
convict tra!n,' and then in Difference
to the wishes OF the public CD aban-
doped it. Much they care for public
wishes. Let them put telegraph ope
waiting rooms with fires and
agents at the following places, at least
Whitevi'!e, Dubuisson and Garland.
Failing to do this, we respectfully ask
what have we a Railroad Commission
for. En!a has practically u store,
Gold Dnst has four, white Whiteville
had three the last time We were there.
Get this railroad to spend some of it's
earnings for the comfort of its patrons,
oven ii it necessitates the decreasing of
lesser dividends. Or. better still, let the
people along the line OF this road join
with the Texas & Pacific or some other
company and give this monopoly com
petition. ~Foreiearance has lost its vir-
tue in this case. Respectfully,
SUFFERER.