The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-03-13
PASSENGER DEPOT CONFERENCE

Atlantic Coast Line Officials and
Committee of City Council and
Chamber of Comemrce Discuss I'm
proyements.
From the Daily Item March u.
General Superintendent A. W. An
derson and Freight Traffic Manager
r. A. Brand, of the Atlantic Coast
Line, arrived in the city this morning
on train 70, due at II o'clock. They
came in the private car of Superin-
tendent Anderson, which. was side
tracked opposite the passenger sta
ton. They were met on their arrival
by the committee from the City
Council and Chamber Of Commerce,
consisting Of Aldermen J. H. Chan
dler and H. c. Haynsworth and
Messrs. r. I. Manning, W. A. Bow
man, r. D. Lee, E. I. Reardon and II.
]. McLaurin, Jr. Messrs. Thomas
Wilson. president of the Northwestern
Railroad, c. G. Rowland and J. c.
Cooper and H. G. Osteen were also
present. The committees and other
gentlemen were invited into the car
of Superintendent Anderson, where
the conference was held.
Mr.. Manning, chairman Of the COM
mittee, presented the recommends
tions for needed Improvements agreed
on by the committee. Superintendent
Anderson, Capt. Brand, President
Wilson and members Of the commit
tee discussed the suggestions Of the
committee in detail, more than two
hours being spent in the discussion.
The discussion was full, free and cor
dial and the net result was a fuller
and better understanding Of the mu-
tual and inter-dependent relations of
the public and the railroad.
Superintendent Anderson stated
that he and other officials of the At
lantic Coast Line realized and were
free to admit that Improvements
were needed in the passenger station
accommodations and that they had
already decided to make certain i'm
provements prior to the request of
the committee for a conference, but
that they were glad to meet the rep
resentatives Of the people Of Sumter
and to confer with them in reference
to the needs of the town.
In q general way the railroad Off
cials granted that the recommends
tions Of the committee were just and
reasonable, and that the improve
ments suggested would be made inso-
far as possible In respect to big
car shed extending over all the tracks
at the passenger station they said
that it would be impossible to grant
that request, the cost being prohibi-
tive. However, measures will be ta-
ken to afford better protection to pas
sengers from the weather.
> II. was decided that the recommen-
dations of the committee should be
received in writing and q copy was
given Superintendent Anderson. He
and the other officials will give them
careful consideration and will then
inform the committee of their de-
cision. Then if it is thought desira-
BILE another conference will be held,
and the entire matter will be discuss
ed before final determination is ar
rived at.
The conference today settled one
thing, however, namely, that Sumter
is to have a larger, better and more
convenient passenger station and that
in future there will not be so great
and just cause for complaint that the
patrons of the road are not provided
with reasonable and adequate pro-
lection against the weather while
getting on and off the trains at the
station.