Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1907-10-11
An Open Letter
Pres. l.. f. Johnson, n. 4 w. Ry.,
Roanoke, Va,
Nv naar NJ

tSS. H. r.. Johnson, n. " w. Ky. +,
Roanoke, Va,
My Dear Mr.. President:
AS an old and sincere friend-once
an employee-of the n. Il w. Rail-
way, it was with no little pleasure
and cordial approval, in the main,
that standing by your side, had
great satisfaction in listening TO the
very conservative and sensible ad-
dress made by you, at "Ivor" last
summer, the general tenor of which
then, and do now, heartily endorse,
regarding IL at the time as a dignifi-
ed and unusually strong plea for fair
dealing, in order TO the preservation
of cordial mutual business relations
as between the public utilities of the
state and the people. Sentiments as
expressed by you on that pleasant oc-
casion, and previously in the session
OF the Farmers Institute, held in
Roanoke, have justly placed you high
In the confidence of the people. This
confidence imposes responsibility,
and people are naturally looking TO
you, and to others occupying like
responsible positions, TO make
good. " To do this your own excel
lent judgment may suggest, can
never be accomplished arbitrarily or
through any effort TO worry the tray
cling public, by the sale Of tickets
as at present arranged, that are so
veXatious, annoying, troublesome
and unreasonable, as TO make even a
trip from my town To your goodly
city, burden, restrictions as now
imposed being impracticable of full
filment under present schedules gov
erning passenger trafiicand train run
ming. TIE a plain man who wants TO
travel ii is more than apparent that
little or nothing is 10 be gained by
such troublesome and incomprehensi-
bic requirements rs now obtained ex-
cept bountiful accumulation of
bile. Say, between Virginia and
West Virginia, as now witnessed
every day, in going east or west, ex-
eept on the Clinch Valley Division,
from this section. Travelling folk
land The two cent rate will largely
increase the number) are fast COM
ing TO feel and believe that il is n
game of nag to which they are being
treated on the part of the Railway |
Corporations. An attempt 10 re-
taliate by making desire TO retain |
the new rate law, odious and unpop-
ular. Bettre cut all this "red tape
out of ticket regulations, which |
compels every passenger who wants |
TO travel east from this section nj
least, TO first get ticket TO Graham,
then TO Bluefield and again at Glen |
Lyn, provided his train makes a stop
that will enable him TO do SO. All
this too in order that he may entitle
himself TO enjoy the new rate as fix
ed by the Sovereing State of Vir-
glnla. Most men, of even average
intelligence, we'll know that il is lust
rs easy and practicable in railway
passenger service TO arrange with
each other proper methods for cutting
out the troubles above referred 10. as
it is TO pro-rate with perhaps half
a dozen independent lines running
through many states. Only veaxtion
and loss of temper can grow out of
the present intolerable arrangements
which will Gas did the refusal TO
promptly execute the rate" orders |
of the Corporation Commission last
july we fear ultimately prove n
Boomerang" TO all corporations
who may engage in naggy proceed
ings. 1t is a subject of wide regret
particularly as to the n. & W., that
the first opportunity was not accept
ed promptly. However the hope is
now universally cherished that all
of the great transportation corpora
tions involved will without needless
loss of time cease what certainly
looks to be a factious and useless re-
sentiment and address themselves to
the pleasant and we hope profitable
business of 'making good" along
the lines of mutual concession and
agreement. This once entered upon
in good faith, we hazard little in
predicting and asserting, that no cor
pOration given To fair dealing, need
to fear injustice either at the hands
of the commission or the state.
A. j. y.
TaZewell, Va, Oct, 7.