The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1907-01-19

nothing has been heard and nothing
can be heard till the weather modcr-
ateS. 1t is always cold in this country
in winter time, and this year in addi-
ton to having the thermometer from
10 to 80 degrees below zero there have
been Unusual SHOWS, so that the home
stead settlers off the line of the rail
road are completely cut off from COM
munication with the towns Most OF
these people are living in little frame
and tar papercd houses, holding down
their hOmcsteads in accordance with
law, and it is feared that there may be
sad story to tell OF suffering and
death among them before the weather
modcratcS sufficiently to send them re-
lief
The trouble is laid largely at the
doors of the RAILWAYS. Both the
Great Northern and 500 Lines, which
Scrvcthe afflicted territory. devoted all
their energies last summer and fall to
track laying in the new territory.
They transported equipment with ut
ter disregard for service to the COM
munltics belonging to distant lines.
and the result has been that the set
tiers have been unable either To get
their produce in market. or to provide
themselves with sufficient food and
fuel against the deadly northern win
ter.
These are not pleasant days for the
railroads. Almost everyone in au-
thoritv seems to unite in making it I'M
pleasant for them and in addition to
the passage OF the rate bill and other
adverse" railway legislation, they
are apt to face world of condcmna-
ton in the car shortage and block sig
nal reports soon to be rendered against
them by the Interstate Commerce Com
mission. Eight employees OF the Balti-
more and Ohio railway, including
three OF the higher officials have just
been held by the grand jury as a result
OF the notable wreck at Terra Gotta,
near Washington The officials in
question were allowed to go free pend
ing the settlement Of their bail. but
the trainmcn having fewer friends,
were incontncntly locked up. Repre-
sentative Murphy, OF Missouri, has al
ready introduced resolution into the
House inquiring why this iavoritiSm
was shown, and it is probable that the
District Attorney will have much cx-
planning to do before he makes this
act OF favoritism appear in a favorable
light
Along with the other matters that
are likely to receive attention in the
report on the inadcquacv OF the block
signal system is the paw OF the men
and boys employed by the railroads as
block signal telegraph operators 1t
has already been made clear in the in
vcStgation that these men are over
crowded with work, and receive such
miserable pay that none but the low
est grade OF telegraph operators can
be found in the railway service. There
are in fact three distinct classes of op-
traitors, the operators in the employ OF
the commercial companies, and the
press operators employed by the news
papers and the big press associations.
It might appear to the outsider that
the railroad tcIcgraDhcrS having so
much responsibility, would be the high
est class OF men. rs a matter OF fact
they are the lowest. Their wages run
from $50 a month to SIS or 500, and
most OF them are mere boys who are
just learning the business Ii they
prove to be good operators they grad
uatc from railway work into the com
mcrcial service, and the exceptionally
good men are picked from this to man
the newspaper wires. The Interstate
Commerce Commission intends to de-
vote one section OF its report to this