The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1904-03-04
REASON WHY.

always give n verdict against failroao
company. whyY Because the railroad
companies seem to do everything 10 their
power to incur the hate and luminosity
and prejudice Of the people.
They not only daily and hourly rod
the shipping and travelling public BY
arbitrary and excessive freight and pas
senger rates. but they run over ana
MAIN and wound and Kill people uu-
concernedly, ruthlessly and merciiesely'
rather than employ a gateman or h4g-
man to warn the public against their
approaching train. When the Il a
n ran down a man at the Hampshire
crossing last week, and the news spread
from mouth to mouth, nearly every man
exclaimed IL hope the railroad viii nave
70 nav high for it," And why did
they all SAY this? Because the Railroad
has for years turred deaf ear to every
petition to do something to avert the
danger at this dangerous crossing.
They pay no more attention to human
life than they do to cattle. With their
lordly right of eminent domain, they
run men down and kali them and pay for
them just like they were beasts OF the
field.
And then again they are so little and
penurious. After beating Columbia
out of $4,000 to help build their new
depot, they are now too stingy and mean
and unaccommcdating to keep tee-
phone to tell the people how late their
trains are; for they are rarely ever gu
time. As rule one can get mid-oay
dinner and then reach the station before
the 10 O'Clock train comes in. Bat, OF
course, they don't want to take the
chances. So now, for the lack of teie'
phone connection, they go to the station
at TO- and are told that the train is an
hour late, but may make up little OF
that time. Fearing to leave, and know
ing that they can get no Information
when out of ear shot of the building,
they wait the hour out, and then are
told to wait another half hour; and they
wait that, and still another half fire.
quently, before the train arrives And
this il not unusual. 1t is by odds the
exception rather than the rule for
through train at this station to be
strictly on time. And the people are
nut to all this Inconvenience OF waiting
and killing time, to save this arrogant,
naughty rich and powerful corporation
the pltiful sum Of the cost OF telephone
and boy to answer it.
No wonder the juries hit the old thing
every chance they get. They ought to
hit it, and hit it hard.
If the proper authorities, whoever they
pay be, had any accommodation, they
would put in telephone at their 20
lnmbia station, for the convenience of
their patrons. If they had any gratitude
they would do that lnu-h as a slight APP
probation of the enjoyment OF that
SIG, 900 they schemed and hoodwinked
and defrauded the tax payers Of this
town out of. If they had any care Or
respect for the rights OF others, they
would do it from a conscientious sehse
Of public duty. II they had any regard
for their standing before people they
would d. it, rather than TO daily ana
hourly incur their eDmity and adverse
criticism by so niggardly a policy But
they have none of these. BY strange
sort of metamorphosis, men who repre-
sent in high and controlling Offices soul
less corporations, become callous to the
opinion of their fellows, cruel and heart
less in their dealings with them, and
ofttimes conscienceless as well. No plea
of mercy. justice or right can reach
them. The government ought, therefore
to take hold Of them with strong arm
and control them in the interest OF
and for the general public good