The Mahoning dispatch. [volume] (Canfield, Mahoning County, Ohio) 1877-1968, 1909-10-01
EERIE RAILROAD

The Erie Railroad, to which the al
legged funny man turns when In need OF
a cheap joke, has suffered long and pa
tiently. Its locomotives have been lik-
ened to sneils and Its passenger coaches
have been described as miscellaneous
collection OF antiquated junk, while it's
time tables have been declared to be
about as unreliable as a ticket In o
cheap lottery. For years the Erie has
suffered this silence, content to ignore
the would-be jokesmiths, while IL
watches with great satisfaction the
steady growth OF Its traffic, both passen-
ger and freight. Recently 1t decided
to hit back at the alleged funny men
and the novel plan OF printing their
jibes on Its timetables and other litera-
ture was adopted. This was a unique
way OF hitting back, but It seems to
have been effective for the Erie is now
being treated with more respect. The
alleged funny hits at the Erie were
used by the railroad to advertise itself
and In time the Erie Railroad succeed
ed In turning the so.called witticisms
to Its own advantage. When the Joke
smiths realized that they we're supply
ing free advertising copy for the Erie
they quit.
One good answer to these criticisms
OF the Erie, however, was supplied by
the late Edward a. Hartman when he
selected as the cite for his country home
place on the Erie. In the past few
weeks the little place OF Arden has re-
ceived more free advertising then any
other place in America. Mr.. Harri-
man, the biggest man In the railroad
world, with millions at his disposal and
countless places 10 choose from, select
ed a place along the Erie as the spot
where he could secure the most enjoy
ment while resting from the cares OF
his busy life. MIR. Hartman did not
find the Erie joke.
And so 1t has been for years with
thousands OF men wise In their genera
tion who, while content to earn liveli-
he ID amid the turmoil, noise, inconve-
nlences and untold nuisRnces Of the city,
lC1e no time, when the days toll is over
In hurrying b. ck 10 their homes, set
amid zee aful surroundings along the
Erie. The scoffer need but take trip
any evening to the Erie depot In this
city aud watch the vest army home
ward tlund to the fresh air OF the coun-
try, to change his tune. Let him watch
the trains starting out on the various
branches OF the Erie for the pretty sub
urban places in Bergen county, this
state, and Orange and Rockland coun-
ties In New York; let him take trip
OF this kind himself and learn why 60
many go that way; let him revel in the
beauties OF nature, the fresh air and the
restiul quiet and he will come back an
enthusiast so far as the Erie Is concern
ed.
Nor need he confine his observations
to the commuter by any means. In the
vacation season let him follow the vast
army of those who go to the neighbor'
hoods of Tuxedo, Goshen and Middle
town, up In Orange county, or let him
go beyond to Port Jervis or Callicoor
and other places In Sullivan county and
go roaming up and down the rugged
mountains, along the ever beautiful
Delaware River and along the many
brooks that come tumbling dowI
through the mountains, making music
that Is sweet to the ear of the city man
Then he will realize why the Erie hal
such loyal army of patrons CONSTANT,
increasing In numbers. The Erie, wide
I'ly known as the "Picturesque Road o
the East" is destined to become still
more popular and it's development dur
ing the next few years will be worth
watching.-Jersey City Evening Jour
nal.