The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1909-07-15
For Passenger Trains on the
West Virginia & Pittsburg
Branch Of B. 8 o.


roads Of our state. Wherever the mat
ter has been taken up in our courts.
the Jaw has been declared unconstitu-
tionai, and there seems little doubt to
my mind that the law will be repealed
at the next session of our legislature.
Just why this should be done. or why
the railroad companies should ask It's
repeal. is hard to understand. as Il
causes them no loss. while It Is q
great benefit to the public: for, after
the law became effective. the passen-
ger traffic over some of the roads has
almost doubled. which, added TO their
gain through the annullment Of the
free pass system. has made them more
money than they did under the ttree-
cent fare. and the pass system. III the
railroads have not earned as much iin.
der the present system. It ds because
of a falling Off In freight tonnage, and
not the loss IN the passenger traffic.
But, the question that concerns us
most Is: II we are again made to pay
three cents per mile. will the car SER
Vice be improved so that the patrons
OF the roads can have comfortable
seats IN clean coaches, Instead of be-
Ing compelled to stand crowded into
the atsles, and upon the platform of
filthy coaches as is now the case on
some of the roads? Perhaps, there
Is no noad in the state that Is better
patronized than the w ct Virginia &
Pttsburg road between Clarksburg
and fleetwood; and there are few
roads with worse car service. We do
not complain of the number OF trains.
nor their time-t1ney are ample-bnt
we DO complain of the number OF
coaches provided for the carrying of
50 many people. Unless 1t be on some
special occasions. only two coaches are
provided for each train to carry
enough people TO I'LL three. II all are
seated.
The writer OF this article has had
occasion very frequently to ride oven
some portions OF this road for a NUM-
Der OF years. and my observation. for
the last twelve months at least, has
been that most trains northbound
leave Weston with two coaches, one OF
which Is fairly decent, but the other
(the smoker) J. very dirty and unfit for
use OF persons who wear decent
clothes The seats Of the rear coach,
and most OF tarUse In the smoker are
generally occupied, when the train
leaves Weston. and by the time the
train reaches Lost Creek, every seat
Is filed to the limit, but when the
train reaches Byron. crowd Of any
where from twenty 70 forty persons
scrambles aboard to find only stand
Ing room, in the aisles Of the car. and
most OF The male portion OF this con-
ttngent have no alternative except to
take their stand" In the smoker,
whether they like the fumes of the
smoke or not. AT Lynchs mines, If
teen or twenty more people get aboard
to further augment the standing
crowd in the aisles, or ride outside on
r
the Platform. Upon returning south
ward the coaches are packed, when
the train leaves the depot; and. when
the large West End" contingent get
aboard. they must at least stand un-
gu Byron Is passed before they can
get seats
This y but the normal condition Of
the passenger trafitc on tris road. On
saturdays and all public days the
condition is often worse. For instance,
we VIII name Monday July though
u was holiday, and races were adj
Isslkised Tor one OF the fair grounds at
Siarksoarg' and a basket picnic at
tne otner' the morning train left Wes-
s soh win the Same two antiauated
eoacnes WIN every seat taken, before
ehe e.am nad reached Byron, where a
crowd Q. nIty or more had to be
packea INTO every available standing
spaee, ana nan as many more at
., :,sI : Nnines mad % ihang on 70 the
PLATFORM or ma a place in any nook
:. se tnslus;
VOW, wan. 90 ask the question
aisse NO. consiaefans he accommoda-
' ..yn - .ne .rayenns PUBIC; Why
H., w. nv. ~. a.s sa,.roaa company look 70