The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-06-26
LAND WITHOUT THE PEOPLE
Why Railroads Refuse PendletoD
Improved Train Service

PORTLAND. June 26.-Big ranches
and few settlers, sage brush plains
and little traffic, and many other miti-
eating circumstances are given by the
management of the o. r. & N. for not
complying with the petition Of Pendle-
ton people for the extension of the
Portland Biggs local eastward and
the inauguration of daily local passen-
ger service.
The railroad commission met with
the officers of the o. r. & N. at the
Worcester building to listen to the
railroad side of the question. June 4,
the commission had hearing in Pen
dleton. at which time the people Of
Pendleton told their troubles and
asked the assistance of the commits
sion in getting the service which they
were entitled to according to their
arguments. ..-.
Pendleton residents and business
people contenjed that the overland
| trains running through Pendleton were
always late. or practically so, that the
cars We're filthy from long use be-
tween Chicago and Pendleton, that the
toilet rooms were unusuable, and that
the coaches were SO crowded most of
the time that the PendletOn-Portland
passengers were compelled to stand
for long distances before seats could
be secured. They pointed out that
Pendleton is a junction point and that
the traffic from there to Portland is
heavy and uniform, and that extra ser
| =,
justice be accorded by the o. r. & N.
At the hearing attended both by
representatives from Pendleton and
| by the management of the railroad
company, it was argued by the O. r.
4 n. interests that the conditions ex-
| listing between Pendleton and Port
land did not justify an additional
train
j. H. O'Neill, travelling passenger
agent for the company, testified that
the country was SO sparsely settled
that an extra train would not have the
| traffic necessary for it's support He
went into the question station by sta
ton and estimated the amount of
business which each gave to the road
as general thing. He contended that
there is really less business done on
the line than used to be the case, owing
to the fact that large numbers OF
people had left the country surround
ing PendletOn, leaving the wheat Sec
ton in the hands of large land hold
ers with but few permanent rural
Travelled but little.
Mr.. O'Neill gave it as his opinion
hat one additional car added at Pen
dleton to the overland trains would be
SUFFICIENT to overcome all existing
contentious of the Pendleton people
except that regarding the DELAYED
trains. This condition would be hard
to overcome.
}. kerrigan and w. Dunn, conduc-
tors running over the Pendleton-P Port
land division, testified as to the
amount of business done by the regular
| trains. A. Gavin. ticket auditor for the
.. K. d n. presented statements of the
passenger business done by the diff
ferent divisions of the company's lines.
compared to the small business coming
from Pendleton.
General Manager O'Brien and Attor-
ney Arthur Spencer also testified re-
garding the light business done, al
legfng that the operation of a local
train between the two points would be
loss to the company.
At the conclusion of the hearing the
commissioners announced that thew
would take the evidence offered at the
two sittings under consideration and
would announce their decision at Ia
ter date. The full membership of the
commission was present. c. B. Aitch-
ison presided. All three. Mr. Aitchison
t. K. Campbell and Oswald West, re-
turned to Salem following the conclu-
sion Of the hearing.