Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-07-15

TOOK lie IN an easy, matter-of-fact
way, and II a passenger train got or
ders to pull onto u siding and wait
for No. a, or, II it otherwise became
late, the conductor would not come
through the car with his cap hanging
over one ear and slam the door and
refuse to recognize an old gentleman
in home-built pants and q hickory
shirt who had got up to ask him >for
the eighteenth time if they had
reached his destination yet.
In those days, too, the pamphlet OF
folder which is to-day considered as
essential to successful railroading as
q safety valve or terminal facility |
was unknown, and railroad never |
thought Of patting its own scenery
on the back OF Of coming out in .
plain and uncompromising indorse-
ment of It's smooth roadbed.
What changes so years have
wrought In the matter Of travelingt
Back In the pioneer days OF railroad
ing, train might pull out in the
morning in good shape and with
every prospect of feet and pros
porous journey, but before It had
gone far it would be delayed by a
washout or writ Of attachment, and
there would be no telling when traffic
could be resumed. To-day, however,
a passenger may be knocked down
on depot platform and run over by
rumbling and remorseless baggage
truck, he may be vilified by the con-
ductor, Inundated by the brakeman,
scolded by the porter and whipped
by felow-passenger, but as he goes
OH in his Journey he is soothed and
comforted with the assurance that he
will reach his destination on times
dead or alive.
With all its excitement and smoke
and head-end collisions and hot boxes
and hot employees, we believe we
would rather take 9 Journey In rail-
road coach to-day. even Il the man
across the aisle from us has taken of
his boots to enjoy the scenery, than
we would travel under the conditions
which existed 50 years ago when o
train frequently had to stop and welt
for the fireman to go out ahead and
now of the right of way.
II It must be admitted, however, that
some OF our modern roads are not oil
that heart could wish. We remember
OF having ridden recently over Q road
, Of this kind. We never learned Just
: what was the matter with It, whether
j the coach in which we rode had hur-
ried off that morning and had for-
gotten 10 put on its springs or
whether the roadbed had curvature
OF the spine We suffered great dis
appointment, we remember, as well
] as several other inturtes, for only
j the day before we had caught tnis
] same railroad making the remark
Z in a pale gpeen circular that It was
universally acknowledged to b. the
; finest and best equipped paalrosd syB
{ tenn that ever aoated bond or hred
j o section hand
8 We believe that any eai1noad makes
z mistake when It treats the public
b in this manney a railroad whose
d righs Of way = bothered With l.ln'
q baeo. end the upholstartng Of whose
d passenger seats has become lean and
9 emaciated with the onward march
h of time will not make friends il II
e continues to come out in pamphlet
5 form year after year and allude t.
$ the comfort Of its train service sne
), tho culture and refinement Of I'll
o roadbed. The great majority of thu
IL railroads OF the present day, how
k ever. do not attempt to trifie with tn,
e affections Of the public, and the,
stand ready at all times to prov
n whatever claims they may make il
n regard to their affable and whole
Is souled employees, their pleasant ant
o clean-shaven right OF way, their wide
Is awake and alert passenger coacl
k seats, their accommodating roadbe<
n and their choice and well selected
~ eu,lipmnet Of scenery.