The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-01-17
THE SELMA ORDER
Full Text of Decision of
Corporation Com
mission.

) The following is the full text of the or
der of the Corporation Commission, di-
recting the Atlantic Coast Line to make
the much desired connection at Selma by
extending its train from Plymouth or
Spring Hope via Rocky Mount, connect
ing with the Southern there at 2:25 p. M:
IL the matter of the schedule and con-
nection of trains of the Atlantic Coast
Line Railroad Company and the South
ern Railway at Selma.
This cause coming on to be heard upon
exception by Atlantic Coast Line Rail-
road Comapny to order heretofore made.
and being heard on the 18th of January,
1904, the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
Company being represented by Mr.. b.
Borden, General Superintendent OF Trans
portation, and Junius Davis, Esq, coun-
sci and the Southern Railway being rep
resented by Fl. w. Miller, assistant to
First Vice President and upon a thorough
and fuller hearing, the following facts APP
peared
On, December 2rd, 1898, a schedule was
established by the Atlantic Coast Line
Railroad Company on train No. 80 for its
arrival at Selma at 2:45 p. m. This
schedule has not been materially changed
since that time Since November. 80,
1902, the arriving time of this train at
Selma has been 2:5O p. m, and the leav-
ing time 2:55 p. m. This train runs be-
tween Richmond, Virginia, and Jackson
vile. Florida.
For number of years the schedule
of the Southern Railway on train No.
1876, running from Goldsboro to Green's
boro, was so arranged as to make close
connection with the Atlantic Coast Line
train No. 80 at Selma, and from Novem-
Der 30th, 1902, to October 18th, 1908, the
arriving time of this train at Selma was
- and the leaving tome 800 p. m.
The Atlantic Railroad Company oper-
ates a train from Washington, N. c., to
Parmele. This train leaves Washington
at 500 a. M, and arrives at Parmele at
S:55 a. M, connecting at the latter place
with the Atlantic Coast Line train from
Plymouth to Rocky Mount, and return
ing leaves Parmele at 5:22 p. m. and ar
rives at Washington at 6:15 p. m.
The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Com
pany operates train No. IS from Ply
mouth to Rocky Mount, which leaves
Plymouth at 1880 a. NJ, and arrives at
Rocky Mount at 1926 a. M, and return
ing leaves Rocky Mount at 1855 p. m. and
arrives at Plymouth at 6:S5 p. m.
The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Com
pany operates a train No. 40 from Nor
folk, Va, to Rocky Mount. This train
leaves Norfolk at 900 a. m. and arrives
at Rocky Mount at 1890 p. m.
IL r.
pany also operates train No. So from
Spring Hope to Rocky Mount. This train
leaves Spring Hope at 11:20 a. m. and ar
rives at Rocky Mount at 1910 p M, and
returning leaves Rocky Mount at 400 p.
m. and arrives at Spring Hope at 5:45
%. m.
The schedule of No. SO at Rocky Mount
was and is ITO p. For a number of
years this connection at Selma was kept
and it was a most important connection,
being the principal outlet for passengers
en- route from Eastern Carolina to Raj
eigh and other points on the line of the
Southern Railway.
For the past year, although announced
in the schedule by these railroad compan-
les the connection has not been kept. The
reason for this failure was the fact that
the Atlantic Coast Line train did not
make the schedule time. The record Of
train sheets of the Atlantic Coast Line
Railroad Company shows that No. SO
only, arrived at Selma on schedule time
twice between August 1st., 1903, and Jan
uary 18th, 1904, and that during this per-
iod No. 80 was more than ten minutes
late every day except twenty-four.
ho PaI
way to hold train No. 1875 at Selma ten
minutes after schedule time for No. 80
of the Atlantic Coast Line; and, if this
rule was adhered to, connection would
only have been made twenty-four times
during more than five months from Au
gust LIST, 1908.
The Commission was assured by Gen
eal Superintendent of Transportation of
the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Com
pany that the failure to keep this sehed
ule al Selma was not by reason of indif-
ference or carelessness, but was unavoid-
liable, and that every effort had been made
to get the train to Selma on schedule
time That No. 80 is local train, max
ing all stops and daily handling one or
two extra express cars. and these with
other cars making in all ten or more in
the train.
1t will thus be seen that while the At
lantic Coast Line train No. SO was SEIZED
uled for arrival at $50 p. m. at Selma,
passengers in this route were disap-
pointed and inconvenience by the failure
to connect.
On the 18th of October, 1903, the South
ern Railway changed its schedule of No.
1875 for arriving at Selma from $50 D. m.
to 2:25 p. m. The reason assigned by the
Southern Railway for this change was
that the 2:30 p. m. train schedule re-
Quired them to run at too great speed in
order to. connect with its own trains at
Greensboro, speed that was dangerous
Assuming that the statements made by
: the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Com
pany are true-that it was for the past
five months impossible for them to bring
No. SO to Selma by schedule time, to-wit:
2:50 p. M, more than twice, and that this
train was more than ten minutes late
every day except twenty-four-we must
conclude that it is impracticable to re-
quire them to make a faster schedule