The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-12-23
CHRISTMAS
TRAFFIC IS
HEAVY


real beyond question. The trtbulations
are more often creations OF tired imagina-
tions than actualities No comment Is
necessary upon the seasons Joys; some OF
the tribulations are worthy of notice.
Tribulstions and trials are one and the
same. The people that buy at Christmas
t-,e have their joys; the people that walt
UPON the people that buy at Christmas
time are beset with trials. Their trials.
however. are nothing compared TO the
tribulations OF some other types Of holi-
day workers.
The train men and freight men have
woes galore. The expressmen are sadly
misused. the postmen are literally loaded
down with troubles and the holiday ex-
psriences OF local rotormen and con-
ductors are indeed mournful.
CROWDED TRAINS.
This is notably a season OF heavy pas
senger traffic on local trains. Providence
is mecca for the country folk OF the
state bent on Christmas shopping and
they come 10 the city Ia great numbers.
Country passengers are as a general
thing harmless. doeile and easily handled.
but when the excitement OF Christmas
shopping attacks them the train men
would prefer 20 have them foot IL to the
city. The return trip with bundles galore
Is, OF course, a delight, more TO the happy
shopper than TO the conductor.
From Pawtucket and other smaller
cities the people descend upon Providence
in hordes The trolley car Is a little slow
for most OF the holiday travellers and the
steam trains catch IL with a vengeance
To stand in front Of the city hall shortly
after the arrival OF a train from the
north and watch the crowds pouring from
the entrance OF the Union station is
revelation as 10 the magnitude Of holiday
trafric on the passenger service.
Thousands OF people enter Providence
daily during such a week as this has been
and the patience OF the railroad men IL
sorely tried. The hbliday traffic, besides
being abnormal, is beculiar. The people
that use the trains at this time are many
OF them little used 10 the ways OF the
service and where the cars are so crowded
their innocence and ignorance is often far
from blissful.
The hours Of heavy traffic are unusually
long. the crowds coming early TO the city
and remaining late enough TO swell the
regular theatre crowds. The stores are
open evenings this week and the trains
are kept well crowded until well towards
midnight The conductors catch the
hardest part OF the work In managing the
real
HEAVY FREIGHT TRAFFIC.
The Christmas crush OF freight is at It's
height now. The local freiqbt yards have
been threatened with congestion for some
weeks and night work has been In order
OF late that a local tie-up, most trying
OF railroad mishaps might not be pre-
cipitated.
Christmas boxes. barrels and sacks are
i,.tz
average Christmas box Is dangerously
overdeveloped, that IL, its size is all out
Of proportion TO its strength The holi-
day freight Is exceptionally hard 10
handle. being OF such Heterogeneous
nature.
The shipment OF Christmas stock to
this city from the great mercantile CEN
tres has been heavy and has caused a
deal OF enxiety at the freight offices.
Much OF such freight is fragile and de-
mands care In handling. so that II is
bothersome at times OF rush work
The express companies are having the
most strenuous week OF the year The
business transacted at the local offices is
tremendous. Everybody seems 10 be max
ing OF receiving shipments and the rush
is very trying The articles presented for
expressage are OF infinite variety, many
OF such peculiar nature as to demand
special precautionary measures In the
sending The labor OF securing losely tied
packages. deciphering and clarifying ad-
dresses and similar directions. passing In
judgment on a thousand and one irrcva-
lent matters and transacting the myriad
petty details OF the Christmas traffic is
arduous and constitutes a very realistic
tribulation OF the clerk In the office.
RUSH FOR DELIVERY TEAMS.
The men on the delivery wagons. driv-
ing around all day In the dirty siush
and slime, their duties made manifold
through the increased business of the
season have good cause TO feel wearied
by the holidays. That In all departments
Of the work OF the express companies the
men retain their cheerfulness and jollity
Is gratifying.
The delivery wagons OF the big and lit
tie stores are on the 60 early and late la
den 10 the extent OF their capacity with
going for the horses and II the
stores do not fall behind CT
their work OF distribution. their
success will speak volumes for the pluck
OF their men and horses
The seasons tribulations are visited
upon the postmen The mail service this
week is most uncomfortably strained. The
pile OF boxes. bundles and letters that ac-
cumulate In the postoffice at all hours OF
the day and night would shake the cour-
age of the uninitiated. The local carriers
manage 10 take care OF all the Christmas
matter and nothing but commentator
can be said OF the service here In this
city.
FOREIGN MAIL
Much foreign mail comes In at this time
and gives the authorities added trouble
In that II is so frequently incorrect as 10
address. and too often illeg1bly directed.
The trials Of the postoffice men are ty-
pical Christmasy trials, but never was
there more CHEEKY group OF fellows than
the local force OF postmeu
Traffic Of every sort and description fs
heavy this week and at no time I'm the
year are the various systems OF transpor-
tation subjected TO such severe tests. The
railroads catch the bulk Of the work and
manage To dispose of ~ easily Columns
might be interestingly written on the
methods followed by the great railroads.
express companies and other institutions
In the handling OF the Christmas traffic.
but slight. passing comment must suffice.
But single day now separates the
world from Christmas. The peculiar con-
dition which provides a virtual double
holiday lends distinction TO tho festival