East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1907-06-04
First Session in Eastern Oregon Convened to Investigate the
Need for Local Train to Portland.
Witnesses Hems and Pndleton showing inc
Crowded sWhIe the Growth OF the County
Few Years the Train service re
mains the same-Peope SIN Great Incon
ycnence by Delays ny Trains.

traffic, crowded cars and difficulty
in securing seats on trains running
out OF Pendleton west and north.
f.. H. Brown, editor of the Echo
Register was next called by the COM
mission and testified as to the crowd
ed condition of cars between this city
and Echo and of the difficulty ex-
perienced in securing seats owning to
the crowded conditions. He also
complained that only the doors of
smoking cars were opened at small
stations. which often caused women
and children to pass through the
smoker in going to the chair car for
seats. Mr.. Brown also testified that
the population and business of Echo
had doubled in the past two years
since he went there.
c. Z. Baker, editor of the Hermis-
ton Herald, was next called and also
testified as to the congestion of traf-
fic on passenger trains. He had WIS.,
tied Hermiston on an average of
twice each month for the past five
years, he having been one of the first
settlers at Hermiston, and was IA
miliar with conditions. He also tes-
| titled as to the rapid growth of the
IIermiston country, there now being
| from 900 to 400 permanent residents
| there now, whereas there We're bu
three permanent residents there two
years ago. He said that while the
business and population of that sec,
tion of the county was rapidly in.
crftsing the train service remained
the same. -.---- ....
DIR. c. J. Smith Called.
DR.. c. ]. Smith of this city, who 4.
| president of the state board OF
health, was the most important wit
hess called in the forenoon and went
over the entire question of train
service, congestion of traffic, unsan
itary condition of cars, rapid growth
of the country. inadequency of the
present train service and other fea-
lures of the investigation most thor.
| oughly.
He declared that he had found
passenger cars greatly crowded and
in highly INSANITY condition quit,
often and that the health board had
taken steps on two occasions to rem.
edy tn" sanitary conditions. TIL,
greatest inconvenience in travel is ex.
perienced by residents living at small
stations where no agent is maintain
ed. In those rlaoes it is necessar,
10 rag trains in the night time anC
u" uncertainty of the arrival of tn,
trains makes 1t very unconvenien
md unpleasant.
statement From Mr.. O'Brien.
AT the conclusion of nr. Smith
testimony, General Manager j. P
OHrien of the o. r. & NJ. made ,
statement concerning sweeping an,
cleaning passenger cars and declare,
that the company had started in t
ohey the orders of the board O
health to clean cars. but had me
with such storm of objection from
passengers, who refused TO move on
OF the cars while they were bein
swept and cleaned, that they had bee,
forced to abandon their plans an,
that a car sweeper had been put 1,
service who sweeps cars as best h
can while the train is in motion. MI
o'Brien said that the company wa
very anxious TO find some suitabl
and practical way in which to clea,
their ears to prevent filth and i'll
odors from accommodating, but ths
! it was difficult and vexing probler
and was receiving the best efforts o
the officials.
| At the conclusion of Mr., O'Brien'
, statement to the commission, tn