Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-05
CONCESSIONS BY RAILROADS.
Carrying Passengers Free-Traveling
Bath for Employees.
From London Tit.Bits.

From London Tit Bits
The news that the Belfast and Northern
Counties Railway OF Ireland has offered
free travelling for ten years to proprietors
or tenants of new houses along its line be-
tween Belfast and Tough Larne has been
widely commented upon.
One of the chief grievances OF male trav-
elers has been the Invasion by ladies Of
smoking compartments The writer has
noticed that the Midland Company has re-
Gently labeled a number-possfbiy all--of
their smoking compartments Smokers
only"
French railway carriages standing higher
from the platform than ours do it has
long been a source OF complaint on the
part of ladies and invalids that they were
most difficult to enter or descend from.
The Paris, Lyons and Mediterranean Com
pany is remedying this matter BY the pro.
vision of portable steps for the convenience
of those who are not able-bodied. These
steps are a yard In breadth and covered
with thick carpet. The employees are d.
rected to place them at the disposal OF
any one who asks for them.
Another most excellent regulation which
has recently come into force on French
lines and which our own companies would
do well to copy is to the effect that any
first or second-class passenger travelling
with yaluabies, such as specie, important
documents, jewelry, paintings or the like
may have a compartment reserved for him
either by paying the price of n single
culated on weight ten times that of the
package.
If the weight of the object or packages
exceeds q certain fixed amount whole
truck is placed at the disposal of its guar
dian, and he Is then allowed to. travel free
on condition that he keeps guard over his
property and relieves the company of all
responsibility. .
Russia is not usually supposed TO be par
ticuiarly up TO date in any respect, yet
there is one line. at least the kursk-cbar-
kov-Sebastopol, which has shown that It's
methods are very far removed from those
of barbarism. The company has built
travelling bath for use along the line by
ali their employees and their families. The
bath consists OF two cars connected with
each other by covered way. One con-
tains baths fitted with hot and cold water;
the other consists or dressing rooms. IT,
travelling bath is moved along from ore
station to another according TO a regu-
lar schedule, and remains there for so
many hours, during which time the emf
pioycs and their families can use 1t free
or charge
Certain American railways, especially
the South Florida and other southern lines,
carry clergymen In the dress of their pro-
fession free of charge. This Is a most
valuable concession 10 the clergy, whose
parishes are in some cases large as an
English county. The late Episcopal bishop
of south Florida once told the writer that
his average yearly Journeying by rail with
in his own diocese was 400 to 900 miles
Though English companies do not grant
any such privilege to the church. IL may
not be generally known that the late Bish
op of Gloucester possessed life ticket
available between Cambridge and London.
This was granted to him by the Great
Eastern Company 10 return for services
rendered at an accident which took place
on February 20. 1860. and In which ne him
self was injured The pass took the form
OF silver medallion. and this Is probably
the only instance of any Individual NOT
connected with railway company pos
sessfng lie ticket. The bishop used his
curious privilege for more than forty
years.
Speaking OF free travelling, there is one
railway In existence which does-or did
until very recently-carry passengers alto
gether free OF charge This IL the steam
tramway which runs from Bona. capital
OF the Congo Free State, down to the
River Congo. 1t was built and princi-
paily exists to carry goods from the
town to the wharves, some miles Distant
but four times a day 1t runs = couple OF
passenger coaches. In which any ons wha
pleasss On r1ds aboooues1y INA