Rock Island Argus., 1903-02-19
LAID OFF FOR GOOD.
This Seems to Be Fate of Gales.
burg Passenger on the
c., 3. & @.
REPLY TO PETITION Is RECEIVED
son and Speaks of
Substitute.

Tri-City Passenger Agent +. a.
Hart, of the Burlington, has received
a letter from p. S. Eustis, head of the
traffic department of the road, reply
ing to the petition signed by large
number of Rock Island business men
and presented to. the officials of the
road last week, asking that the train
known as the Galesburg passenger,
recently taken off, be replaced in serv-
ice. Mr.. Eustis says:
Il received communication dated
the 9th, signed by many OF our good
patrons in the tri-cities, protesting
against abolition of passenger trains
No. and No. 10, on the St. Louis di-
vision. 'Cs A
Il appreciate fully the force of the
objections they make, and at this
time can only say that the fact that
We have taken off these trains and
Others, upon very short notice. and
without discussion of the matter to
any great extent with our patrons, is
the best illustration / can give to
show that we are in great difficulty.
Our patrons everywhere are pressing
us for more prompt delivery of
freight, especially of coal, and not
withstanding the extensive purchase
of engines in the past, as prudent,
far-Seeing business men should, we
find ourselves this winter unable to
move traffic as promptly as our pat
rons desire. and as we would like to
do it. In order to help out. therefore,
it became very important that we
should release motive power now in
FC,
could do so with the least damage.
While it is true the removal of No. 0
and No. 10 may have its bad effects
here and there. in the main il is n
| train that paid rather a small income
per mile, and belonged to that class
which it seems to me clearly should
| be the first to be taken off. if it is alb
solutely necessary to remove any.
In other words. if'it is clearly nee
essary to takefepgiaes out efPassen-
ger service, it follows that it is wise
to take off tlie passenger trains that
earn a small amount, rather than
those that earn a large amount, be-
| cause the average earnings per mile
run is the best Indication of the pub
lie necessity of a passenger train.
Just as soon as the present pres
sure upon the operating department
is relieved the whole subject will have
attention, and l shall hope to be able
to so rearrange the train service as
to leave it reasonably satisfactory, if
not wholly SO, to our patrons at Rock
Island, Davenport and Moline
| In Monmouth citizens have taken
lup the matter of interviewing
General Supt. Rice. on the question
Mr.. Rice openly stated that the train
had not been paying, holding out no
hope that the service would be resum-
ed at future date. He stated. how
ever, that the officials are considering
the advisability of putting on another
through ST. Louis-St. Paul train.
which, if done, will improve present
conditions somewhat. The people of
| Monmouth are now desirOus of get
ting a branch of the Santa Fe.
| One Travellers Experience.
| In the above connection the story is
told of a Rock Island young woman
who occupied an entire day in travel
ing from this city to Henderson,
about sixty miles southeast of here.
She left home on No. AS, due to leave
at 6:35 a. m. However, No. As was
considerably late, in fact, matter of
about two hours, and when the train
reached Rio. where the young woman
lexpected to change cars, it was found
| that the train for Henderson and
| Galesburg had already departed.
This was due to the fact that the
train was due out of Galesburg for
Peoria at 10:1 a. m. Not wishing to
walk from Rio to Henderson, she re-
manned on the train until she reached
| Monmouth. Owing to the fact that
No. 16 had been discontinued some
weeks ago. the Rock Island girl was
compelled to wait in Monmouth until
AFTERNOON as there was no train by
(which she could reach Galesburg.
i She boarded No. 10 at 3:47 p. IN. and
arrived at Galesburg at 4:05. After
[waiting at the depot in that city for
/ the space of one hour. she boarded a
.lnorthbound train, and after a day
/ spent in travelling and waiting the
1 young woman finally reached her des-
II ltinatiOn.