The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1904-07-27
"CITIZEN" MAKES PROTEST..
LaurcDs Railroad Accommodations arc
Source Of Disgust and Annoyance.

LaureDS RailrOad Accommodations are
n Source OF Disgust and Annoyance.
MIR. EDITOR: Please allow me O few
words of remonstrauce at what the
people of Laurens are compelled to suf-
Ter at the hands of her railroads. In
the hrst pace our passenger depot
station | believe would be be.ter-is so
located as to endanger both life and
iimb OF every man, woman and child
coming in or going from our towr,
Even citizens, visiting this so-called
passenger depot, during the incoming
or outgoing of any passenger train, to
welcome a Visiting guest or friend or bid
adieu to departing ono, are subjected
10 the same dangers-m of whom
should be entitled to damages now by
reason of fright. How long or soon
before these fears become realistic, I
shudder to thiuk.
Then again, only few days ago, on
the 18th of July, when all the papers.
secular and religious, throughout the
State are advertising round trip rates
to mountains, seashore and watering
resor's, we are told at our miser-
able little shanty of depot and ticket
ofhce, that they have a rate, but M
tickets, all sod out some time ago,
that the General Ticket gent, or some
one else in high and mighty official al
thority has failed to honor requisitions
for more. SO, IL you wi h to send tired
mother aud the little ones to the noun
tatns for few days OF rest there is
nothing to do but TO buy ticket to
Spar:anburg straight and there sub
iect them to few miouses hurried
transfer in jammed crowd and op-
pres5ivc heat alone and unaccustomed
to travel: 10 the necessity of buying a
second ticket, with its accompanying
annoyance, before proceeding on their
way. This Mr.. Editor is the actual ex-
perience OF mother and four littls
girls few days ago, when bound for
point just over the NorthCarolina line.
L haYe heard tina. we have in this
state Railroad Commission to whom
1T would seem, if they have any power
at alI--and ii not why keep tho Office.
such alters asab)ve mentioned should
be brought for Correction, but | SUP.
pose, if not handicapped by the law,
must be totally bind, deaf and dumb,
SO far "a the situation here In Laurens
az least IS concerned, notwithstanding
| ON whenca they come.
La fact, sir, to tn ordinary man it
seems unless they have been of more
benefit to other points than to Laurens
that the State colld Well afford to abol-
ish the whole thing. We have heard
a great deal said about reduced rates
on fertilizers in order to tickle the ever
credu Gus firmer, the great voting
class, hut | learn from one Of the larg-
est dealers in upper Carolina that the
rate on fert liz rs is today the same as
Ia lS0l-thirteen years ago. Then
again, the principle on which the COM
mlssIoners receive their salary is en-
ureiy wrong. To be officers of the
State, representing the people their
pay should come from the State and
not from the railroads. So really the
people a. large are now being put to
very great expense 10 the way of time,
etc, to see which one OF the six very
worthy gentlemen now in tho race to
succeed Mr.. Garris, the railroads are
allowing them to select as their high
sa'aried officer and .cr its all done
with great hue and cry, what proof
have we but that they will run the Of
flee in the same old way. But Mr.. Edi
tor, am digres3ng and to come back
To the point.
Now, Mr.. Editor, | do not believe
there is II town in this State one half
the size of this which would quietly
submit to such disregard of her vel.
fare as we are doing
Ours too is people that once had
the repu 'ation cf demanding aud Sc
curing their rights, but it Sc ans we
have been so long, numerically and
persistently trampled down by this
small and IDEAL railroad monopoly that
We know nothing or rather have for
gotten all cls,, but submission. Shall
we stop with protest meetings aud uuan-
imously signed petitions foe these nee
essary changes, which are being disre-
garded?
Wake up brethren. There is rom
edy thai would prove effective. Shalt
we apply il? Let us hear from others.
CITIZEN.